When the crowd started chanting "Primus sucks" at the Greek Theatre this past Wednesday (August 6), everyone knew it was all in good fun. After all, Les Claypool's exalted alternative rock band is known for injecting a significant dose of humor into their music (hence why they were the ideal choice to write the theme music for South Park). Plus, any band that's been around for 34 years can't suck that much.
With such longevity, I had, of course, heard about Primus before this show. But this was my first time seeing them, and they absolutely, 100% did not suck.
I knew to expect a type of technical mastery and sonic manipulation of the bass that only Claypool can deliver. But seeing it live was seriously astounding. Before every song, he would flex the instrument's capability in some way. Whether clobbering the body with his hands to use the resounding frequencies to create ambient soundscapes, tapping on the fretboard like Eddie Van Halen to produce the same tone as Van Halen, or doing some unfeasible kind of slide technique that screeched the strings like a noise project.
It was like Claypool was leading his own sound art show in addition to fronting his band. When they got down to playing the songs, "The Ol' Diamondback Sturgeon (Fisherman's Chronicles, Part 3)" became a psychedelic improvisation session. Claypool played the same kind of circular picking as a banjo player while expanding each run bit by bit, like he was summoning new life out of the original melody.
The biggest jam, however, came when they covered "Polka Dot Rose" by Oysterhead, Claypool's supergroup with Trey Anastasio of Phish and Stewart Copeland of The Police. During this song, Claypool and Primus guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde were both soloing at the exact same time, but because of the difference in frequency range, they never clashed. It was a precise union of instrumental virtuosity.
Towards the end of the set, the band pleased the crowd with their heavy metal hits like "Welcome to This World" and "My Name Is Mud." Everyone was especially pleased with the latter because none other than Danny Carey of Tool manned a second drumset to play along and do some expert flailing to finish off the song.
Carey was not the only special guest during the set, though. On "Too Many Puppies," it was Carey's bandmate Justin Chancellor doubling bass and comedian Bill Burr doubling drums. Matt Stone of South Park snuck in to play the second kit during the cover of King Crimson's "Thela Hun Ginjeet," and to close the whole show, Mono Neon, one of the only living bassists who can rival Claypool, dueled with said rival for ten minutes of lumbering, low-end glory.
Even if someone does think Primus sucks, all those endorsements would have to spell doubt. Then the doubters would see them live and become fans for life.
