Primus brought their “A Tribute To Kings” US Tour to Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards in Lafayette, Saturday, May 29th. This tour is especially fun because it is two separate sets, with the first one being strictly Primus and the second being Rush’s hit album A Fairwell to Kings.
Les Claypool is one of the greatest bass players and man did he slap at this concert. With smooth transitions and build ups, Primus performed 10 of some of their most fun and groovy songs on their first set. Starting off with a packed crowd chanting “Primus Sucks!”, Primus takes to the stage with the bassline of “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers” which set the mood for the rest of the evening.
Primus flawlessly played through the first set, stopping a few times to talk to the audience as well as doing a quick costume change to wear a pig mask for the performance of “Lacquer Head”. Primus played fan favorites such as “Seas of Cheese”, “Spegetti Western”, and “Professor Nutbutter’s House of Treats” before closing out the first set with “Shake Hands With Beef”, leaving everyone wanting more.
The band took a 20-minute intermission before beginning their second set of Rush. Opening with “A Farewell to Kings” into “Xanadu” showcased Les Claypool’s guitar playing as well as his vocal range. Hearing him perform songs other than Primus was really interesting and put a different spin on the band which was fun to watch. Following up with “Closer to the Heart”, Les Claypool mentioned how difficult the vocals are to perform, and that Rush fans are typically very critical while bringing up his own admiration for Rush, and how they were his first concert. The crowd applauded and cheered showing their support and satisfaction of the performance. Closing out the Rush set with “Cinderella Man” into “Madrigal” and ending with “Cygnus X-1” the crowd was roaring in applause.
Primus wasn’t done yet though, and with an epic 4 song encore of “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” > “Welcome to This World” > “My Name is Mud” > “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” the band closed out their show with the best possible songs they could have played. Seeing Primus is always an absolute treat, and this was no different here. The atmosphere at Beak & Skiff was incredible, the drinks were delicious, and the view was beautiful. Having Primus perform for over 2 hours was a fantastic experience, and one that will make me want to come back for more shows at Beak & Skiff.
Setlist: Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers > Lacquer Head > Seas of Cheese > Mr. Krinkle > Spegetti Western > Groundhog’s Day > Conspiranoia > Professor Nutterbutter’s House of Treats > Del Davis Tree Farm > Shake Hands With Beef.
Setlist 2(Rush A Tribute To Kings): A Farewell to Kings > Xanadu > Closer to the Heart > Cinderella Man > Madrigal > Cygnus X-1
Encore: Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver > Welcome to This World > My Name is Mud > Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
It’s been almost seven long years since Rush played what would become their final NY Metro area shows at Prudential Center in NJ and Madison Square Garden in NYC as part of their 40th anniversary tour. The talent of the trio – Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and the late Neil Peart – has left remarkable influences on many musicians touring today. Primus has been on the road performing their own songs as well as an entire set dedicated to performing Rush’s A Farewell to Kings in its entirety; the tour appropriately billed as “A Tribute To Kings.” A few of those recent stops were in Albany and this past weekend, The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester. Check out our coverage of Primus’ Albany show here.
NYC-based duo Battles, who formed back in 2002, put on an intriguing opening set as an excellent compliment to the rest of the evening. In some ways, the duo seemed like a live performance of a DJ, minus the turntables. Using samples, they crafted remixes and improvised jams on guitar, synths, and drums, and certainly held the attention of The Cap.
Primus took to the stage to the immediate delight of the full house crowd (which seemed to be nearly sold out at a quick glance of the room). Les CLaypool’s driving bass sound led a signature role through the first set as the band navigated through their repertoire, including the recently crafted ode to Volodomyr Zelensky, “The Man With The Iron Balls.” Proceeds from sales of that song, when released April 2022 went to benefit non-profit organization Nova Ukraine.
Donning bit of the spacey glam garb as a nod to 1978, Primus returned for the second set to perform Rush’s A Farewell to Kings in its entirety. The anticipation for this moment of the show was visible even before entering The Cap; the sheer number of Rush album and tour t-shirts in the crowd might make one wonder if they were actually at a Rush fan convention. But in fairness, for the loyal Rush fans it certainly felt that way.
Claypool noted his experience attending a Rush concert in his younger years, looking up to Geddy Lee as a tremendous influence and dreaming about someday playing bass on stage. Almost note for note, Primus recreated the album with remarkable precision to dynamics, tone and style, although Claypool joked about how difficult it was to mimic Geddy Lee’s high octave range (which he pulled off the few instances where he reached for that range).
Rounding out the night, Primus returned for an extended encore to dive back into their own songs.
Primus – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester – May 20, 2022
Set 1: Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers, Lacquer Head, Groundhog’s Day, Polka Dot Rose, American Life, HOINFODAMAN, Conspiranoia, Professor Nutbutter’s House of Treats, Hamburger Train, Harold of the Rocks, The Man With the Iron Balls
Set 2: (A Farewell to Kings): A Farewell to Kings, Xanadu, Closer to the Heart, Cinderella Man, Madrigal, Cygnus X-1
Encore: On the Tweek Again, Over the Electric Grapevine, Jerry Was a Race Car Driver, Tommy the Cat, Follow the Fool
Celebrating 518 Day on May 18th, bass-heavy psychedelic prog rock ‘bastards’ Primus made their triumphant return to Albany. Amidst a special 46 date, coast-to-coast tribute tour paying homage to fellow prog-rock legends Rush and drummer Neil Peart, the influential Bay Area trio performed two distinct sets; one of original music and the other, a full cover set of Rush’s seminal 1977 album A Farewell to Kings.
Curated by charismatic Primus front man and bass playing virtuoso, Les Claypool, the only logical venue suited for an occasion of such royal proportions was downtown Albany’s historic Palace Theatre.
Les Claypool of Primus performs at the Palace Theatre in Albany 5/18/22
The man, the myth, the compulsive entertainer, Les Claypool has arguably been one of rock’s most influential players of the last thirty years. Creating a mythical, almost cult-like following through his multitude of side projects, some may know him from his time with Trey Anastasio and Oysterhead , or with Buckethead and The Flying Frog Brigade, or more recently with his “Delirium” collaboration with Sean Lennon, son of Yoko and John. An impressive pedigree to be sure, but make no mistake, Primus has always been the bread and butter for Les and also his most successful.
But what made him want to start playing music in the first place?It all goes back to a single day in 1978 when a young Claypool attended his first ever rock concert. Performing that night was a young Canadian banned named Rush. Mesmerized by what he saw on stage, it was then Claypool decided music was what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. 14 years later and now spearheading a colorful band of his own dubbed “Primus,” things came full circle when they were offered a supporting slot on Rush’s 1992 tour. They say never meet your heroes or you’ll be disappointed, but in the case, the two bands shared an instant connection and would develop a close friendship organically through years of touring together. According to Claypool, paying tribute to Rush is simply a way to say “thank you” for all of their inspiration.
Primus performs at the Palace Theatre in Albany 5/18/22
Bringing the “Tribute to Kings” Tour to the Palace Theater this past Wednesday, fans turned out in droves, but not necessarily to see Primus. With the passing of iconic drummer Neal Peart, Rush played their final show in August of 2015, yet based on the sheer amount of vintage Rush t-shirts and memorabilia that was present at the Palace, it’s fair to say there is still a significant demand for their music. If there is any three-piece unit that has the talent and the chops to fill that void, it would have to be the mighty Primus.
Taking the darked Palace stage as the customary Danny Elfman “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” theme piped in over the PA, Claypool, along with guitar player Larry “Ler” LaLonde and frummer Tim “Herb” Alexander, wasted no time in letting their intention be known. Playing the type of songs that don’t exactly fit well with the radio format, class was in session early as Primus opening their performance with an “American Life” history lesson. Complete with a massive rear projector high above the stage displaying hypnotic video loops and depicting things like immigrants registering at Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, along with images of Mount Rushmore and Honest Abe, the projections would subtly change to a ‘military marching orders’ theme during classic Primus cuts like the songs “Too Many Puppies” and “Sgt. Baker.
The low-end pulse would beat a little louder (and darker) on the next song, 1989’s repetitive, percussion-heavy trance educing song “The Pressman,” after which Claypool claimed the band had not played in a while. One of the highest highlights of the first set came next with a rare “Professor Nutbutter’s House of Treats” which segued nicely into a “Del Davis Tree Farm” bust-out, played for the first time since 2017. Sensing an opportunity to slip in something new, Primus then unloaded their brand new sprawling and groovy single, the covid-inspired, tongue in cheek eleven minute opus “Conspiranoia.” The opening set concluded with a condensed mash-up of “Welcome to This World” and the always awesome “My Name Is Mud.”
Primus performs at the Palace Theatre in Albany 5/18/22
From there the Rush was on, literally. In an evening billed as a “Tribute to Kings,” Primus would honor their musical heroes by performing the 1977 classic Rush album A Farewell To Kings in its entirety. Other than a minor wardrobe change and Claypool trading in his signature Carl Thompson ‘Rainbow’ bass for a black and white Rickenbacker model, Primus tore through the set with such complete confidence it almost made you forget these were someone else’s songs.
Technically proficient, it was the vocals that proved to be the biggest challenge for Claypool. At one point addressing the audience between songs, acknowledging Geddy Lee’s high pitched (and often polarizing) vocal style isn’t exactly “easy” to mimic and then encouraged those who knew the lyrics to try and help sing the next one, then launching into one of Rush;s biggest radio hits, “Closer to the Heart.” For a brief time during “Xanadu,” both Claypool and Ler could be seen wielding a pair of huge, double necked axes. Allegedly the first to ever play an electric 12 string bass, Geddy Lee claims Rickenbacker specifically built the first one for him.
After witnessing Lee perform with the mammoth instrument at his first ever concert, Claypool confessed he’s wanted one ever since and joked that it took him all these years to finally be able to afford one. Always cracking wise, Claypool would also make several light-hearted jabs at the people in the first few rows who were still inexplicably sitting down, saying “it’s that mutual exchange of energy that [he] feeds off and that if he has to remain standing through the entire performance, everyone else should be up off the asses too.” Les then dove into his favorite Rush song of all time, the set closing “Cygnus x-1.” Just prior to the encore, Claypool would later apologize to anyone who may have been offended by his heckling and then proceeded to drop into the opening notes of Primus Frizzle Fry fan favorite “Groundhog’s Day” from 1990. Still not satisfied, fans begging for “just one more” were treated to a tune Claypool introduced as “a true story about a friend…who was addicted to crack.” His name was Harold.
Primus performs at the Palace Theatre in Albany 5/18/22
Coming to a close a little before midnight, most people stayed all the way to the end as the theme from the original “Charlie and Chocolate Factory” helped send them home with a smile. There was a little something for everyone at this show. Sure, real Primus fans want to hear all Primus all the time and the faithful Rush fans were probably a little overwhelmed by the undeniable heaviness and some of the weirdos the Primus scene tends to attract, perhaps even hoping for another radio hit like “Tom Sawyer” or “Spirit of the Radio.”
The real winners on this night were the scores of young fans in attendance. Similar to the way Les Claypool’s life was forever changed by his first concert, you couldn’t help but notice the abundance of skid fathers who brought their boys with them. Perhaps the sentimental notion of passing the prog-rock crown from Rush to Primus? Or maybe they just couldn’t find a babysitter? Or maybe, just maybe the next great virtuoso bass player was sitting right there in the Palace Theatre all along, absorbing the magic of live music at their very first concert. One thing is for sure, Primus most certainly does not suck.
Primus | May 18th, 2022 | Albany, NY | Palace Theatre
Set 1: American Life, Too Many Puppies(>)Sgt. Baker(> ‘Too Many Puppies’ reprise), The Pressman, Last Salmon Man, Conspiranoia, Professor Nutbutter’s House of Treats, Del Davis Tree Farm (First time live since 2017), Welcome to This World, My Name Is Mud
Set 2: A Farewell to Kings, Xanadu, Closer to the Heart, Cinderella Man, Madrigal, Cygnus X-1
Encore: Groundhog’s Day, Harold of the Rocks, Follow the Fool >Harold of the Rocks Reprise
Fandiem has teamed up with Les Claypool of Primus and Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello to raise funds for relief efforts in Ukraine.Their special sweepstakes will run until July 15.
Participants can choose to donate a certain amount of money to be entered into the sweepstakes or they can choose to skip donating. Donation amounts range from $10 to $500 and those who donate at least $100 will receive a custom “Man With the Iron Balls” t-shirt.
By signing up for the sweepstakes, participants have the chance of winning a trip to see Primus & Ween at Red Rocks Amphitheatre for “South Park: The 25th Anniversary Concert”, two VIP Tickets to the concert with preferred seating, round trip airfare, a two night hotel stay, local ground transportation to/from Red Rock Amphitheatre and exclusive signed memorabilia from performers on “Man With The Iron Balls”.
All donations will go to NOVA Ukraine, a nonprofit created in 2014 to provide aid to Ukraine while also educating the world. Proceeds will help fund humanitarian efforts, including first aid, medical equipment and refugee care.
Before Fandiem partnered with Les Claypool and Eugene Hütz, the duo had released “Zelensky: The Man With The Iron Balls,” a tribute to President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky. The single, also aimed at raising funds for relief efforts in Ukraine, featured a number of talented artists including Billy Strings, Stewart Copeland and Sean Lennon.
