Scene - Blogs - REVIEW and SLIDE SHOW Primus at Brady Theater

REVIEW and SLIDE SHOW: Primus at Brady Theater
Published: 5/31/2012 2:47 PM
Last Modified: 5/31/2012 2:52 PM

Wednesday night, a passionate refrain of “Primus sucks!” welcomed the quirky and iconic rock act to the Brady Theater.

In those two words was an outpouring of love that swelled into frenzied screams as the band took the stage.

It’s a common chant from fans, who are often just as unpredictable as Primus frontman Les Claypool himself.

He thanked then with a nearly three-hours worth of music that spanned Primus’ 27-year career, from “Moron TV” on his latest studio release “Green Naugahyde” and “American Life” from “Sailing the Seas of Cheese” and the title track from their major-label album album “Frizzle Fry” to a live version of the band’s earliest live single, “John the Fisherman.”

Claypool played his bass lows like a military cadence at a roiling riot, shot through with blasts from Jay Lane’s drum kit and staggering through Larry “Ler” LaLonde’s ecstatic guitar highs.

On the LED screen behind them, American flags waved, fractalized, morphing over the face of Abe Lincoln and the Statue of Liberty.

Hammering rapports echoed off a wall of guitar sound. The crowd was quickly punch-drunk with blows from Claypool’s frenetic bass.

The live show is mellow-meets-metal, progger-rock-meets-a-deep-huff-of-ether. And a punch to the groin.

In fact, every instrument in a Primus set has a percussive quality, a call-and-response that blasts into the chests of its fans. LaLonde’s guitar caterwauls like Indians galloping a hill in a spaghetti Western — a dream sequence on acid.

As Claypool sang into his distorted, tinny mic, two 10-foot-tall astronauts flanked the stage, faces swiveling slowly side to side as they surveyed the crowd.

There may have only been about 18 songs to the setlist, but they filled two sets full of music. Some raced — “Jerry Was a Racecar Driver” clocked about three minutes.

“Bob,” carried herky-jerky bass and staggering guitar riffs and heavy footsteps of lopsided drum beats right into a netherworld of art and suicide.

“Southbound Pachyderm” expanded exponentially with classic jazz restraint. The band could stop on a drop, leaving one silent second just wide enough to fire a cannonball through. Pow! Then they’d peal through an extended sonic wormhole of Jimmy Hendrix-ian proportions.

Primus always, always took the audience with them.

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Barrelhouse Beat

Barrelhouse: A colloquialism describing the low saloons at the turn of the century (19th) that served whiskey straight out of the barrel. It's also a reference to the type of music played in those venues. Ex: Barrelhouse music.

Beat: The time or timing. Ex: The band played with a solid beat. Also used as a term describing a reporters specific area of expertise. Ex: The music beat.

About me: I'm Okie born and raised, and have lived all over the state: Oklahoma City, Enid, Moore, Norman, Edmond and Tulsa. I am a music geek, writer, graphic designer and amateur photographer and videographer who's followed the Tulsa and regional music scene since I moved to Green Country more than 10 years ago. I've been enmeshed in Tulsa's varied and vibrant musical night life, what some of us affectionately call a modernized throwback to the Barrelhouse scene, since that time. I fell in love with it. I fell hard.

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Archive

Past Articles By Jennifer Chancellor

2/17/2013		Tulsan Johnny Polygon a rapper who delights in hometown crowd
2/15/2013		The Who brings nostalgia, ingenuity to BOK Center
2/15/2013		Lady Gaga tour is canceled
2/15/2013		Audio Adrenaline concert moves to April 7
2/14/2013		The Who brings 'other' rock opera to Tulsa's BOK Center
2/14/2013		Okies nominated for several top ACM awards
2/14/2013		Epic moments of rock 'n' roll history in Tulsa
2/14/2013		The Who talks about 'Quadrophenia' rock opera ahead of BOK show Thursday
2/14/2013		Shawnee songstress Samantha Crain to play Tulsa CD release show Friday
2/14/2013		Rick Springfield to play River Spirit Event Center on Saturday
2/14/2013		Local music roundup: Vaudvillian sideshows? Nerd nights? Live music? Parties? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
2/14/2013		Eli Young band coming to Brady Theater for first time

Jennifer Chancellor's Blog Archive:

2/2013	1/2013	12/2012	11/2012	10/2012	9/2012
8/2012	7/2012	6/2012	5/2012	4/2012	3/2012
2/2012	1/2012	12/2011	11/2011	10/2011	9/2011
8/2011	7/2011	6/2011	5/2011	4/2011	3/2011
2/2011	1/2011	12/2010	11/2010	10/2010	9/2010
8/2010	7/2010	6/2010	5/2010	4/2010	3/2010
2/2010	1/2010	12/2009	11/2009	10/2009	9/2009
8/2009	7/2009	6/2009	5/2009	4/2009	3/2009
2/2009	1/2009	12/2008	11/2008	10/2008	9/2008
8/2008	7/2008	6/2008	5/2008	4/2008	3/2008
2/2008	1/2008	12/2007	11/2007	10/2007	9/2007

Jennifer Chancellor
BarrelhouseBeat

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