Claypool has lost it...

dukerutledge · #1 07-13-2006, 10:18 PM

I've been to many Claypool shows and one more tonight, they were all really fun, energetic and full of life, but the show tonight stunk. He has become a farse, he is bogged down in pulling the same tricks and gags and uninspired wankery. Its really sad, the man has made some really interesting fun music that has its own style, but he isn't doing anything new. Go to any show and you will see him in some kind of suit with a hat, lots of jamming that leads nowhere, him play his upright, more wanking, a drum jam with the whamola and monkey mask, him with his elvis glasses on, more wanking, and maybe that crazy helmit. Take all that and add in some over use of his harmonica mic and you've got a claypool show these days. I love the man and I want to see him break out of this trend, he needs to do something new, something completely different from what hes been doing and that doesn't mean it has to be weird. The fact is hes learned what his fans like and and hopes they are mindless enough not to get tired of the same old thing. Mr. Claypool please have some passion for your music again, or play with primus cause I know Ler still loves playing.

FalextheFalex · #2 07-13-2006, 10:23 PM

Amen, I love the guy, but it seems to me that all his shows with his various bands vary little if at all. Same gimmicks in each band, but different songs that end up sounding the same anyway with pointless jamming. Go see a Frog Brigade show and you'll see the same thing at an Oysterhead show. But it's weird, he seems to do a lot less "wanking" when he's with Primus, maybe he just takes Primus much more seriously.

Simball · #3 07-13-2006, 10:24 PM

I couldn't agree with you more. glimpses of greatness but a whole lotta qwirky BS.

superbassman2000 · #4 07-13-2006, 10:25 PM

how do you know that he doesn't like what he's doing?
maybe he likes doing what he's doing

gkbass13 · #5 07-13-2006, 10:27 PM

i liek that he tries to incorporate unconventional instruments into jamming liek the sitar and xylaphone...my main beef is his obsession with envelope filteres...it seems half the time he plays it is through that thing.

godspeed68 · #6 07-13-2006, 10:27 PM

+1, +1, +1. I was unimpressed the last couple shows I saw. Not that you have to be some mindblowing player to impress me, it just wasn't that great of a show.

Great things now happen in the underground.

tOm

FalextheFalex · #7 07-13-2006, 10:28 PM

I'm sure he likes what he's doing, but it's starting to get old, and as time goes on, he'll figure out that his fans are starting to see through his gimmicks. He one of the most creative men I've ever seen and I don't have any doubts that he can do far better than what he's doing.

godspeed68 · #8 07-13-2006, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkbass13

i liek that he tries to incorporate unconventional instruments into jamming liek the sitar and xylaphone...my main beef is his obsession with envelope filteres...it seems half the time he plays it is through that thing.

his envelope sound is pretty good. i like the unconventional instrument thing as well, but for what he's doing it seems like what he choses is misplaced somewhat.

that banjo bass??? seemed more like a gimick to me. it does have that twangy tone to it though...but i thought it sucked over all.

off of my soapbox,

tOm

dukerutledge · #9 07-13-2006, 10:35 PM

I don't think he is really enjoying what hes doing because of the way he acts and plays these days. It just doesn't seem like hes enjoying it like he use to. Eh its my opinion, believe what you want and I'll believe what I want, "its just a matter of opinion".

James Hart · #10 07-13-2006, 10:35 PM

Hmmm.... I've not seen Les on stage since around "Pork Soda" but I hear a lot of soundboards from his shows.

I was just listening to this one yesterday and I thought it was one the the better shows musically.

-=-=-=-
Les Claypool And His Fancy Band

July 11, 2006
House Of Blues
North Myrtle Beach, SC

source: Peluso CEMC-6/CK41(fob/dfc/8ft.high) > UA-5(BM2p+) @ 24/48 > MT2496
transfer: USB > Peak4.1.3 > shntool > FLAC @ 16/44
recorded and transfered by J.T. Lucchesi (Home Team)

- disc 1 -

01 Buzzards Of Green Hill
02 One Better
03 David Makalaster
04 Riddles Are Abound Tonight
05 Shine On You Crazy Diamond
06 Vernon the Company Man
07 White Rabbit
08 One Step Beyond

- disc 2 -

01 Rumble Of The Diesel
02 Drumz (w/ Bass)
03 Of Whales And Woe
04 The Big Eyeball In The Sky
05 D's Diner
06 crowd & tuning
07 Lust Stings

players:
Les Claypool
Gabby La La
Skerik
Mike Dillon
Paulo Baldi

Matt Till · #11 07-13-2006, 11:50 PM

i agree

fretlessspence · #12 07-14-2006, 01:36 AM

it has and will remain to be tired

gkbass13 · #13 07-14-2006, 02:13 AM

i thought seeing the original frog brigade lineup was amazing...hearing all those floyd songs...so good.

RoMeRz · #14 07-14-2006, 02:18 AM

He never had 'it' imo

phxlbrmpf · #15 07-14-2006, 02:38 AM

Personally, I've never liked his solo stuff, I much prefer Primus.

Kosko · #16 07-14-2006, 07:49 AM

ugh, he's still playing with gabby la la...

anyways, primus is his straight funk rock band. everything else is his jam bands. lets not forget he's been doing it for like 20 years or more.

the last time i saw him was at bonnaroo about 2 or 3 years ago with primus. and that was awesome, i really enjoyed the show.

i could never get into the frog brigade, fancy band, oysterhead yes, but most side projects no. i can understand why he's doing them though.

HeadSouth · #17 07-14-2006, 07:56 AM

Whoa, where can I get that? I was at that show Tuesday, I thought it was pretty good aside from having to watch Gabby La La's contrived weirdness. I couldn't even tell she was plugged in. I would love a copy of that set though, I'll PM you about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

Hmmm.... I've not seen Les on stage since around "Pork Soda" but I hear a lot of soundboards from his shows.

I was just listening to this one yesterday and I thought it was one the the better shows musically.

-=-=-=-
Les Claypool And His Fancy Band

July 11, 2006
House Of Blues
North Myrtle Beach, SC

source: Peluso CEMC-6/CK41(fob/dfc/8ft.high) > UA-5(BM2p+) @ 24/48 > MT2496
transfer: USB > Peak4.1.3 > shntool > FLAC @ 16/44
recorded and transfered by J.T. Lucchesi (Home Team)

- disc 1 -

01 Buzzards Of Green Hill
02 One Better
03 David Makalaster
04 Riddles Are Abound Tonight
05 Shine On You Crazy Diamond
06 Vernon the Company Man
07 White Rabbit
08 One Step Beyond

- disc 2 -

01 Rumble Of The Diesel
02 Drumz (w/ Bass)
03 Of Whales And Woe
04 The Big Eyeball In The Sky
05 D's Diner
06 crowd & tuning
07 Lust Stings

players:
Les Claypool
Gabby La La
Skerik
Mike Dillon
Paulo Baldi

MysticMichael · #18 07-14-2006, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukerutledge

I've been to many Claypool shows and one more tonight, they were all really fun, energetic and full of life, but the show tonight stunk. He has become a farse, he is bogged down in pulling the same tricks and gags and uninspired wankery.

The following comment is just a little OT, but I had essentially the same problem with Zappa - at least during Zappa's heyday. Unquestionably one of the most brilliant musicians of the 20th Century - but that just made it all the more frustrating to hear him fritter away his talents playing all that weirded-out, tongue-in-cheek, bullsh*t material for the McMasses.

I bring it up only because, as with all the displeasure being expressed here about Claypool, it seems to illustrate a basic truth about music: that knowledge, talent, chops and technical skill isn't the same thing as inspiration. Inspiration is an artistic and spiritual thing. And although knowledge, talent, chops and technical skill can and should support and facilitate the expression of inspiration - it can never compensate for a lack of inspiration.

MM

ElephantTalk · #19 07-14-2006, 09:19 AM

I've always liked and will always like Les' music.
It's something to do with cadence-like feel to it.

Admittedly, it does get old....but it makes you yearn for the changes.

I think most "musician" bands tend to fall into this same flow. I mean, look at Wooten [insert any most muscial / jam band]. I've seen a few of his shows, but it's the same thing.
It's just amazing to see it out of the gate, but as you get to the half-way point you just want to hear something different.
I guess it makes the differences stand out more.

PrimusNut · #20 07-14-2006, 12:52 PM

I like most anything Les does, but as has been said numerous times, it gets very old. He should have stayed with primus because thats where the money and fans are. Look at Of Whales And Woe.... record low seller. All i can say is i am a huge Primus fan and not a huge fan of his jam bands and solo stuff, although i can stand to listen to Frog Brigade a little bit.

I am still dissapointed that i never got to see Primus