Dave Kloc is a prolific artist who designs posters for a wide variety of artists, but when PRIMUS comes calling, he ups his game. Enjoy a peek behind his creative process and unique approach to making these lasting images. This episode is best experienced on video at patreon.com/primustracks Find Dave at www.davekloc.com and @davekloc on the socials. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money...
We conclude our Of Whales And Woe coverage with this sendoff instrumental that airs a bit of mystery with its abrupt conclusion and sound samples/field recordings. We take a stab at what it might all mean, but perhaps it's just a bit of wordplay. Final thoughts on OWAW, and a preview of what's to come. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money...
Sam Stewart of Flagman returns to discuss Filipino Ray, an acrobatic bass jaunt that comprises the penultimate track of Of Whales and Woe. The bass lines go hard, but there is a lot of open space as well, which can be tricky for many musicians. Sam helps us with those intricacies, and regales with his own tales of whales and woe around procuting and hearing this record for the first time. We also share what we know about Ray Wing, the lyrical subject of the song, who Les played with in the Tommy...
We all know about the South Park theme, but were you aware that Les Claypool wrote and performed the theme to Robot Chicken, another long-running animated television program? Probably. We discuss his involvement in the show theme, its inclusion on this record, and Frankie takes the "miscellaneous instrumentation" quiz. Bob with keyboards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raehRGepI4w&t=6546s Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money...
The hips of the record have arrived! This utterly accessible, catchy track doubles as a slice-of-life study of a commercial fisherman, whose solace is the sea, despite its diminishing economic returns. We weigh how officially unofficial this track stands as a Fisherman's Chronicle, and and explain why it's the most-performed track from the record, although that's fairly clear to aficionados. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money...
The great Kello Gonzalez returns to the podcast on short notice to discuss Nothin' Ventured, which we interpret as our version of a Les Claypool motivational speech, particularly because the spirit of the song (bass solos) and lyrics (taking risks to achieve something) mirrors what LEs did with his career path. IT's also chock-full of cultural idioms amd a sneaky masturbation joke; everyone's favorite Claypoolism. Kello demonstrates the "five minute" interpretation of the bass line, and we dig i...
Les Claypool's ode to his wife, Chaney, starts side two of Of Whales and Woe, and there's certainly no woe to be found in this joyous track, which reflects the irrational emotional highs of fulfilled love, through the Claypool lens. Josh, a native Iowan, sheds some light on the lyrical references and discusses agricultural exports, because that's all Iowans talk about aside from the weather. We also play an excerpt from Les's book tour in Iowa City. That evening was captured by the radio program...
This week, we offer up a commentary track on the hour-long Primus Interstellar Drum Derby finale. Receiving this much video footage of the band auditioning, practicing, rehearsing, jamming, and recording music is so rewarding after years of shelved video-based projects. You can join in the fun by simply listening in, syncing the youtube video with the podcast ep at the 12:52 mark in the audio, or viewing the synced video at the Patreon site (see "Burn your money" link below). Drum derby finale G...
NEW TRACK ALERT! Primus have released Little Lord Fentanyl, the first track to include newly-minted drummer John Hoffman. The track was a part of the final drum auditions for Hoffman and Borlai, who each composed drum tracks for the song. We discuss the workings of the tune and the lyrical content in a knee-jerk reaction mode, and what it possibly portends for Primus. Little Lord Fentanyl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4NGvSR2waU Drum Derby finale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFtaNtSYNYA ...
Today's track tells the tale of Richard McCaslin, a self-proclaimed superhero, who, disguised as the Panthom Patriot, invaded the Bohemian Grove in search of child sacrifices and other horrific crimes...in the off-season when the economic and political elite were not present. We provide the background on the story, as does Les Claypool in our associated live cuts. We also have with us regular contributor Matt Hunter, who models the bass riff, discusses the dynamics of the song, and helps us find...
The great Gene Meyer (@genemeyelol on the socials) of Bandit fame returns to the pod to discuss Vernon the Company Man. We get literary with some associations to Kerouac, Ginsberg, Arthur Miller, but we even it out with jokes about PRimus shirts being more effective than chastity belts. This tune is certainly a unique departure in terms of this record, but also for Claypool in general, thanks to excellent tabla and sitar provided by Mike Dillon and Gabby La La, respectively. Dig? Get involved In...
We tackle the title track this week with the help of old friend Lalo Fierro, who, even as a seasoned gigging bassist, maintains an uneven relationship with Claypool's bass playing, mostly due to its unpredictable nature, which is emblematic of today's track. We also consider the eternal question: Do you humor the crusty old guy's stories, or do you not engage? Plus, commentary on the recently completed drum search series (more to come?!) and killer live cuts. Buy me a theremin. Get involved Inst...
After the bicep of One Better, we head straight to the crotch for Lust Stings. Les seems to want to highlight the body parts that the people want to see. Lust Stings gleefully swamps the listener with percussion and instrumentation that makes you want to take a hot shower, and adds to it off-putting yet matter-of-fact lyrics about the spread of STI. While all of that doesn't sound too appealing, it all comes together to create a unique experience in the catalog. Make good choices, kids! Get invo...
The great Luke Bemand returns to Primus Tracks to tackle One Better, the "bicep" of the Of Whales and Woe record. Luke shows us how Les flexes all over this track, and it's not limited to bass, as Les provides drums and guitar in addition to his usual bass and vocals. Luke also brings some commentary from Mike Dillon, who stars on the track.This is a Frankie favorite, so get ready for some fanboy business. Plus, Cold War stories? Sign me up! Find Luke on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luke...
Les Claypool followed up his Electric Apricot jaunt with a collection of taut, focused tunes in 2006's Of Whales And Woe record, which largely sees Les on his own in the studio, laying down bass, guitar, drums, percussion, and vocals for these tracks, and guest turns from the mighty Mike Dillon, Skerik, and Gabby La La. We discuss the album's backdrop, the physical releases, the Fancy touring band to spawn from this record, and turn some attention to the album opener, Back Off Turkey, an ambient...
We are thrilled to speak with Soya and Steve Freeman, aka Extrakd, who has created loads of diverse music over the years with the likes of Brain, Disk, Mirv, Ler, and Buckethead. We tread some of the history and releases from the 90s and 00s, but hone in on Mars Mechanics, which has a new album titled In Through The Drive Through. The record is primarily arranged and performed by Steve , Brain , and Mirv with guest turns from Skerik and Ler . Each Mars Mechanics release has its own musical theme...
Les Claypool was quite productive in the mid 00s, including these two discs - one a smattering of videos and live cuts from his numerous non-Primus projects; the other a live experience sourced from fan videos of the 2006 Fancy Band tour. Each DVD came about before the proliferation of Youtube and smartphones with decent audio and video capture properties, so they were welcome additions to the catalog. 5 Gallons of Diesel (2005) and Fancy (2007) work to define specific eras of Claypool's career,...
In 2005, Les Claypool spawned an idea that would form Electric Apricot, a fictitious jam band of goofballs and misfits chasing their dream gig at Festeroo. The "band" formed and recorded some tracks at Rancho Relaxo in early 2005 before hitting the road that spring for some gigs that allowed them to gather live footage in between principle shooting slots. The film had a limited theatrical release, but gathered enough steam for physical releases of the film (2007) and soundtrack (2008). We chart ...
Flapjax has been there since the beginning and seen it all in the world of Primus and Les - the long, slow rise to notoriety, life on the road, making music a sort-of career, and being with his friends through it all. Soya joins to reminisce and jog Dave's memory - it's a great old-school time! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money...
In our newest sub-series, Primus Legacy, we speak with pro musicians who have a fondness for Primus, and how the music impacted their musical paths. We begin with the great Tye Zamora, who you may know from Alien Ant Farm, \'mēk\, and his stints subbing in for bands such as Slightly Stoopid. Tye charts his Primus superfandom and how it influenced his development as a bassist, and handles with ease Frankie's rapid-fire questions. We should note that his a capella versions of Primus tunes are top ...
We conclude our c2b3 experience with the towering album closer, Ignorance Is Bliss. Peat Rains of You Bred Raptors? joins us to explicate the music and lyrics, and to discuss what makes this a grand statement at the end of the record. For those who don't know what a mohel is, we have you covered. Find Peats band, You Bred Raptors? on Instagram and at youbredraptors.com Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money...
Note: We recorded this episode prior to NYE, and I thought it fitting to include our postulations as to what we'd witness, you know, for s&g. 48 Hours To Go is another tune critical of the W administration and sticks with lyrics of its time. We dig into the time capsule lyrics and the heady jams that Brain brings to the fore. Plus, Josh is entranced by this week's live tracks, and Frankie gets help in solving a major Primus mystery. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money...
WE WERE THERE. The two-night stand for 2024 New Year's Eve dubbed Claypool Gold contained numerous surprises and delights to the senses as Les and Larry recruited numerous familiar faces to support them in performing a wide variety of tunes from the worlds of Holy Mackerel, Frog Brigade, and Primus. Limbomaniacs and Beanpole provided inspiring opening acts, making for two nights full of madness. We break it down with commentary on the set lists, lineups, our experiences, and Tim Soya (HE WAS THE...
Jackalope is the third of three instrumental tracks on the c2b3 record, and it doesn't stick around too long. However, it does have some unique aspects to it that separate the track from the rest of the record. Lalo Fierro helps us by modeling the bass parts and describing their singular elements, and how the band works together to make something groovy with very few theatrics. And while we're on the topic of jackalopes, Frankie shares his favorite cryptids. Find Lalo on Instagram: https://www.i...
The title track of the c2b3 record inspires divergent thoughts from Josh and Frankie, but Matt Hunter holds us together with his bass breakdown and a look the tune's foundations. If you like exaggerated fretless bass slides and excoriating the media landscape, you're in luck! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money...
The heavy instrumental Scott Taylor attracted the attention of our old pal Luke Bemand, who had to marvel at its wildness with us. This tune's title was a mystery at the time of release, but we've sleuthed so that you don't have to, and the title is surprisingly(?) germane to much of the subject matter in the second half of the record. Live cuts feature loads of Bernie madness! Find Luke at lespecial.net and @lukebemandbass on the socials. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money RO...
The first of many tracks on the c2b3 that airs grievances and frustrations with the George W Bush administration, Junior directly derides W through a variety of vocalizations, supported by a greasy soundtrack. Speaking of greasy, Sam Stewart of Flagman drops in to dissect the tune and reveal what he's learned from studying Les and c2b3 on a musical level. Find Sam's music at flagmanband.com Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money...
Possibly the most challenging track of the album for its messiness and seeming lack of structure, there are redeeming qualities - Bucket's strange guitar sounds, a guest turn from Gabby La La, and the mystery of the single lyric - Hip Shot From the Slab captures c2b3 at its most abstract. Frankie doggedly mines English idioms to make sense of the title, for which we spend an inordinate amount of time. Some fascinating live cuts and brave Primates' Takes round out this episode. Get involved Insta...
The epic instrumental positioned at track 4 is mix of wistful pathos and chill dub, eliciting a wide range of interpretations and emotional responses. At Primus Tracks, we tend towards the visual spark, and this track takes us on some strange trips. We get into the heart of the matter, and discuss some megafauna along the way. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money...
The tyranny of the hunt will take you by surprise, and so will the origins of this track! We have deep background on the lyrics of this track thanks to some interviews around the time of record release, as well as our recent episode with Les, Brain, and Soya. Who knew the gangrenous penis would become the stuff of legend? (Me. I knew.) The music is well-structured, with some inspired breaks among the stop-start verses, and Buckethead shows his versatility throughout. The lyrics lead us to a disc...
