Primus concert review

72beetle · #1 10-20-2003, 11:10 AM

Oh MAN what a show - Claypool was indeed in fine form. He played the entire show on his Carl Thompsons, with the exception of a couple of upright moments.

There was no opening act - just a solid evening of Primus goodness. The first set started off with 'Harold of the Rocks' and 'Pudding Time' - then a couple of songs I didn't recognize (presumably from the new album, don't know their names but they were good tunes), and finished up with 'Groundhog Day'.

After the intermission, Les broke out the electric upright and launched the second set with an extended version of 'Seas of Cheese', and then proceeded to play out the entire album. Tim Alexander played a SMOKIN' drum solo that clocked in just a little under 10 minutes, after which Les came back out and did some genuinely sick stuff with a 1-string electric upright, detuning it from the peg while beating on it with a bow, creating a percussive counterpart to the drum solo that just grooved like nobody's business. During 'Is It Luck?', Les wandered out of the song and into a lighthearted version of the Beatles' 'Taxman'. The second set ended with a massive extended version of 'Los Bastardos', complete with a throng of masked, costumed people on stage beating wildly on tri-toms, and the encore was a stunning rendition of 'Southbound Pachyderm'.

This all took place at the Celebrity Theatre here in Phoenix, a venue with about 2500 seats and a circular stage, which was rotating throughout the show. The band played to the round room very well, utilizing the rotating stage like it was the arrangement they dealt with every day - I've seen a number of bands at the celebrity that just can't hang with a moving stage, and Primus is NOT one of them. Les was everywhere, and there was a huge ball-shaped projector screen above the stage that had scenes from marijuana propoganda films and '<a href=http://www.archive.org/movies/movies-details-db.php?collection=prelinger&collectionid=03534>One Got Fat</a>' shown on it. At one point, a crowdsurfer (after being repeatedly warned by Les (Get down, Monkeyboy!)) knocked over a mic stand, and was escorted out of the building. Les popped a string during the beginning of 'Sgt. Baker' and had to break for 20 seconds to get another bass, and at one point, Les traded a fan a couple of shirts in exchange for the fan's mask.

Great show. Great tunes. My only regret is that I'm too old to get into the pit anymore.

When they come to your town, GO.

-72

fhodshon · #2 10-20-2003, 11:22 AM

great report!

i saw Zappa at the Celebrity in 1980.

YOW!

f

Frank Martin · #3 10-20-2003, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 72beetle
Oh MAN what a show - When they come to your town, GO.

-72

Theres a when or an if there, it is not likely that they will come here... At least Marcus Miller will come the day after tomorow!

Mud Flaps · #4 10-20-2003, 11:48 AM

The one string bass which he was detuning and hitting with a stick is called a Whamolo Bass. Supposedly, a fan built it for him. He's used it with Oysterhead before.

clouddead · #5 10-20-2003, 01:18 PM

I correct you sir, it was used with the flying frog brigade. saw them live with drums and tuba, amazing show, les is a hoot.

72beetle · #6 10-20-2003, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mud Flaps
The one string bass which he was detuning and hitting with a stick is called a Whamolo Bass. Supposedly, a fan built it for him. He's used it with Oysterhead before.

Yknow, I was wondering if it was a homemade instrument - the headstock on it looked uncomfortably wishnevsky-ish. Whatever it is and whoever made it, though, in Claypool's hands it becomes quite the sonic weapon. Very, very cool.

-72

DaveBeny · #7 10-21-2003, 02:49 PM

In case anyone didn't know, each show from the current tour will be available to download (for a fee) along with CD artwork.

See www.primuslive.com

72beetle · #8 10-21-2003, 03:26 PM

That explains the signs all over the Celebrity stating that the show was being recorded for broadcast, and that by entering you waived all rights to compensation.

Although I don't have much interest in owning an mp3 of the concert, I'd be willing to pay the cost of another ticket (35 bucks after ticketmaster's 'convenience fees') for a multi-camera dvd of the show.

-72

bryan bailey · #9 10-21-2003, 06:07 PM

The Whamola is made of metal.

Planet Boulder · #10 10-24-2003, 10:05 AM

I have three VERY high quality bootlegs so far of this tour.

Maybe it's just me, but these guys actually sound better than ever on this tour. I have some older boots and they've always been great, but this tour appears to be pretty incredible.

I have:
10/14
10/18
10/21

chump stain · #11 10-30-2003, 08:36 AM

I'm going when they come next week to Detroit. I'm looking forward to buying the nights performance from primuslive.com. I think that's pretty cool that their doing that.

I read on the website that "Taping is allowed". I wonder if this means video taping? that would be cool to video the concert, then match up the soundboard recordings to the footage.

Planet Boulder · #12 10-30-2003, 05:47 PM

I'm almost positive that video taping is NOT allowed. I would be shocked if it is, based upon the taping rules of virtually every other band out there.

chump stain · #13 11-10-2003, 04:45 AM

I went last night to see Primus at the State Theater in Detroit. I think it may have been the best concert I've ever been to! And I've been to a lot!

They opened with 'Southbound Pachyderm'. They had two sphere shaped screens behind them that had the claymation video being shown. Then they went into 'Pudding Time' where they thru in different riffs from classic Primus songs, kinda like a Frizzle Fry/Suck on This medley based on Pudding Time. Very cool! They proceded to jam out 'Piltchers Sqaud' and 'Mary the Ice Cube'. Then into 'My Name Is Mud', 'Nature Boy' and maybe a couple others I cant remember. The screens kept going throughout the whole show, showing shots of the band playing, and a bunch of weird stuff.

edit: I just remembered that 'Groundhog's Day' was also in the first set.

For intermission they played the 'Reefer Madness' video. Then came out to play the 'Sailing the Seas Of Cheese', the whole album, from start to finish. It was like a really extended version of the album. Every song was like 10 minutes long, with big JamBandish improvised solos. I think 'Jerry Was A Race Car Driver' and 'Fish On' may have been the only songs that they stuck to the album arangment for. They thru in the little 'YYZ' jam, I think it was durring 'Is It Luck?'. And just like 72beetle said, they had a bunch of crazy masked guys come out and play 'Los Bastardos'. Then came out for an encore and played 'Frizzle Fry'.

It was unbeliveable, probably the best concert I've been to. The format was cool, and they really seem to have a passion for playing. The last time I saw them was right before Herb left the band, they looked miserable. Played for about an hour then left, no encore. Like they were just going thru the motions. Last night was WAY better. If you have a chance to go, and you are a Primus fan, you owe it to yourself to see this show.

Brilliant Fool · #14 11-10-2003, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chump stain
I went last night to see Primus at the State Theater in Detroit. I think it may have been the best concert I've ever been to! And I've been to a lot!

They opened with 'Southbound Pachyderm'. They had two sphere shaped screens behind them that had the claymation video being shown. Then they went into 'Pudding Time' where they thru in different riffs from classic Primus songs, kinda like a Frizzle Fry/Suck on This medley based on Pudding Time. Very cool! They proceded to jam out 'Piltchers Sqaud' and 'Mary the Ice Cube'. Then into 'My Name Is Mud', 'Nature Boy' and maybe a couple others I cant remember. The screens kept going throughout the whole show, showing shots of the band playing, and a bunch of weird stuff.

For intermission they played the 'Reefer Madness' video. Then came out to play the 'Sailing the Seas Of Cheese', the whole album, from start to finish. It was like a really extended version of the album. Every song was like 10 minutes long, with big JamBandish improvised solos. I think 'Jerry Was A Race Car Driver' and 'Fish On' may have been the only songs that they stuck to the album arangment for. They thru in the little 'YYZ' jam, I think it was durring 'Is It Luck?'. And just like 72beetle said, they had a bunch of crazy masked guys come out and play 'Los Bastardos'. Then came out for an encore and played 'Frizzle Fry'.

It was unbeliveable, probably the best concert I've been to. The format was cool, and they really seem to have a passion for playing. The last time I saw them was right before Herb left the band, they looked miserable. Played for about an hour then left, no encore. Like they were just going thru the motions. Last night was WAY better. If you have a chance to go, and you are a Primus fan, you owe it to yourself to see this show.

I was concerned when Les threw down the whamola.

Poor whamola.

Planet Boulder · #15 11-10-2003, 02:33 PM

Here's what blows my mind: Primus has verrrrrrrrrrrry subtly transformed themselves into a more jam-friendly band (NOTE that I did not call them a "jam band" - just saying they are more "jam friendly"). If you listen to their performances on this tour, they are really stretching things out even more than they used to. "My Friend Fats", especially, is repeatedly stretched out (maybe because it's new?) and jammed and the performances are insane!

The thing is, they are now blowing away most of the "true" jam bands on tour right now!

Stephen Soto · #16 11-11-2003, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Planet Boulder
The thing is, they are now blowing away most of the "true" jam bands on tour right now!

I'm sure if they did a jam show they could compete

.