Saturday, 25 June 2011

Genius With Crazy Primus



The only time I saw Primus play was when the earth was still flat. It was at the Pinkpop festival and they made the crowd bounce so hard it resulted in a 1.2 earthquake. A few years after that it looked like they had disbanded and it got silent. Until a few months ago when a new album was announced and a European tour to kick off in Amsterdam. It can't be a surprise that this guy was present as well.

Primus in Paradiso Amsterdam, June 18 2011 (Ronald Says 9 out of 10)
Two giant astronauts are waving at us from the stage. Their helmets are used to project a colourful collection of video clips, that are just as crazy as the band itself. Their music is impossible to describe and you get tossed between rock, funk, math rock, punk and more. Front man Les Claypool and the master mind of the band doesn't want to have it any other way. He thrives on the twists and turns of their music and the way it puts people on the wrong foot.



They head it off with 'To Defy the Laws of Tradition'. The threesome is back in the same line-up as they once were even before their first album release. What follows is a incredibly tight show with lots of variation in the set. A great overview of what Primus is all about and the quality of the band. They play a few songs from their upcoming record as well. Guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane have no trouble following the complicated rythms and twists. They even can afford to not play big hits like 'Tommy the Cat' and 'Too Many Puppies'. But with the two hour show and so many other great songs they don't have to. Especially when no one seems to mind what song they play. It all goes down great.



Claypool, with his collection of different basses and his striking appearance, is the big star of course. The way he moves around the stage easily earns him a position at the Ministry of Silly Walks. But the man is a brilliant bass player. His sense of humour explains the style of music. The small speeches in between songs are in the same line. After two hours there's time for one encore 'Southbound Pachyderm'. This show only makes you beg for more. I can't wait to hear the new album. Hopefully it won't be another 15 years before I see them again.




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