Primus
Drums and Tuba
The Rave Ballroom, Milwaukee WI
November 18, 2006
Les Claypool always seems to find an opening act that is unique. This time it was Drums and Tuba, a trio consisting of Brian Wolf on tuba, Neal McKeeby on guitar, and Tony Nazero on drums and lead vocals. I didn’t know what to expect from them, but after the first minute of hearing them I was pumped. The sound reminded me of the Screaming Trees combined with the guitar of Rage Against the Machine, all mixed in with the deep, meaty sound from the tuba. What a great sound.
This is my second time seeing Primus this year. As always The Rave seems to pack 'em in, the floor was nuts to butts by the time Primus was ready to take the stage. The lights came down and the chant started “
PRIMUS SUCKS.� As with all general admission shows, as soon as the lights come up, the crowd surges forward into the barricade. Less than a minute into “Here Come the Bastards,� the show came to a halt, a young kid was lifted over the barricade, and security enforced). Les stopped the show and had security bring the kid back to him. Les then brought the kid on stage and announced he would be watching the rest of the show from the side of the stage. Les Claypool loves the little people. Even the kids!
Primus is out on tour to support their latest release
They All Can’t Be Zingers, a greatest hits CD of their work from
Frizzle Fry up to
Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People, as well as their new DVD
Blame it on the Fish, an Abstract Look at the 2003 Primus Tour de Fromage. The show was amazing. Les Claypool’s style of bass playing is like no other. They started out with “Here Come The Bastards� and “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweakers.� Les brought out his “Whamola,� a stand up electric bass, and went into “Seas Of Cheese.� Then Larry brought out the banjo, and they played “De Anza Jig,� which I don’t think I’ve ever seen done live. The show continued with a great mix of songs like “Frizzle Fry,� “Jerry Was A Racecar Driver,� “Southbound Pachyderm,� and “Mr. Krinkle.�
And yes Primus did suck.