Primus Tracks
Primus Tracks chronicles the recordings of the rock band Primus, one track at a time. Join Josh, Frankie, and Primus friend/assistant Tim Soya as they create the ultimate Primus companion. The show covers the band's entire discography, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and hardcore fans. Each episode dives into a specific track, exploring its history, sound, and place within Primus's catalog.
Episodes
Primus Legacy - Kevin Comeau of Crown Lands
In this Primus Legacy subseries episode, Kevin Comeau of the impressive, progressive duo Crown Lands gets to talk Primus! Kevin discusses his fandom, how finding grainy videos of Les Claypool playing bass on Youtube in the mid 00s influenced his bass playing and opened doors to other influences (Rush!), and he survives our gauntlet of fandom questions. Great talk!Find Crown Lands @crownlandsmusic
The Ol' Grizz & A Handful of Nuggs
The "A Handful of Nuggs" 12" is out in the world, finally! We discuss the new material and dig into The Ol' Grizz, which serves as a teaser for a forthcoming Primus LP in 2027. If this is the direction they're taking, we're all for it! Plus, some new information about an older Primus song. Get involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money
Inter-album Interview: Vincent "Perm" Parker
That's right! Perm Parker, the very first Primus drummer (Linn drum machine is officially number zero) joins the podcast! Perm went to De Anza High School alongside Les Claypool, Kirk Hammett, Bryan Kehoe, Marc Biedermann, the list goes on. He recollects his time in the music room with Les, getting Primus off the ground, and where his music career took him. Plus, Perm has some interesting connecti
Primus on the Radio
Primus made numerous radio appearnces throughout the 90s and into the 21st century. Two standout radio appearances are the 1989 KZSU at Stanford University and 1990 at VPRO in the Netherlands. The Stanford performance is well-known for the accompanying video footage, and the VPRO performance also has two of the songs performed on video as well. Perhaps someday we'll see and hear both performances
Claypool Gold Tour Recap
We recap the madness of the Claypool Gold tour, from the stage production to the lineups and songs, sit-ins, cross-pollination, and all the little tidbits that made the tour special. Did you attend? How was it? Let us know!Les at Berklee: https://vimeo.com/1199432977Hoffer Grizz drum cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3LrE4BsE-oGet involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money
Master Class with David Lefkowitz & Tim Soya - Tales From the Punchbowl era
Former Primus manager David Lefkowitz makes his long-overdue return to Primus Tracks to discuss the Tales From the Punchbowl album cycle, whic pushed the band to their highest heights in terms of popularity, airplay, and a massive supporting tour. Dave and Soya take us behind the scenes to document seminal moments from the album promotion, live dates, and the wackiness along the way. Get involved
CLD - Lime and Limpid Green EP
CLD gave us an EPPP of four cover tunes in 2017, three of which had been performed live on the previous tour. We sample the originals, discuss some of the circumstances of the bands being covered, and compare to the CLD effort. Overall, it's a rewarding piece that might expand your musical pallette. If you're already familiar with Flower Travellin' Band, more power to you!Get involvedInstagramFace
CLD - There's No Underwear in Space
We conclude our Monolith of Phobos discussions with the album closer, in which we ride stardust to the furthest edges of known space. We also debate the song title and dig into the undergarments of astronauts. Note: we discuss the mysterious appearance of HEllbound 17 1/2 at the first Claypool Gold show, and behold! There is audio evidence: https://youtu.be/unlrRsnkZGk?si=i3kzl7-u2lPT0Ld2&t=68
New Music Alert - Handful of Nuggs
NEW PRIMUS MUSIC. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.I mean, it's mostly new. Handful of Nuggs is already out there on Youtube and other streamers, with a vinyl edition on the way. Collecting four tracks: a new studio song, a studio cover of Holy Diver with Puddles, and previously-released Little Lord Fentanyl and a performance of Duchess, the EP will tide us over until an announced Primus album in 2027.We get i
CLD - Bubbles Burst
The penultimate track on Monolith gainded the most notoriety for its music video and demo bonus track. Sean Lennon tells the tale of hanging with Michael Jackson and his chimp Bubbles at Neverland Ranch, and Sean has a lot to say about that portrayal, which we sample from a 2016 NPR interview. Most childhood odes wouln't sound or read anything like this, so it's a fascinating glimpse inside the we
CLD - Oxycontin Girl
Thanks for the downer, CLD! This tale of addiction (and another anti-pharmaceutical anthem) is possibly the saddest set of lyrics we've ever gotten from Les Claypool, but boy, does the song-writing, with it's catchy "so blue" repeptition and that heavy Sabbath-like riff in the middle, really make the words palatable. We now see why this one's buried in the back half of the record. Get involvedInst
CLD - Ohmerica w/ Sam Stewart
Sam Stewart of Flagman returns to Primus Tracks Towers to discuss Ohmerica, which he labels as possibly his top track from Monolith of Phobos, putting him in the vast minority. However, Sam espouses on the merits of this tune, and we all get misty-eyed nostalgia for those halcyon days of the post-9/11 Bush administration, when times were simpler. Find Sam @flagmanband anywhere and everywhere, incl
CLD - Captain Lariat w/ Jeff Roscher
Captain Lariat is a mysterious figure; a legendary carouser, or so he'd have you believe. Josh's pal Jeff Roscher, a recent CLD convert, drops by to discuss the finer points of the characterization of the "Captain," what the world sounds like when you're on nitrous, and learns some new words. Find Jeff at https://bluebirdsmusic.org/ and make a new friend. Get involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn you
CLD - Breath of a Salesman w/ Bret Crow
The great Bret Crow of TikTok fame joins the pod to discuss CLD's Breath of a Salesman. You've likely seen Bret's creations even if, like me, you've never used TikTok, likely because a friend or internet stranger has posted his videos all over creation. Bret digs into the songwriting details of Breath, and we find numerous connections to the tune via the Arthur Miller pun, annoying salespeople, ha
CLD - Boomerang Baby w/ Anthony Garcia
Frequent guest Anthony Garcia joins the pod to discuss Boomerang Baby, a Lennon brainchild that is disarmingly charming in its time signature and slow build to a flourish that calls home those lost in the sea of smartphone culture, using an ironic term in the process. Anthony's keen ear catches some details we may have otherwise missed, and Frankie educates us on other invectives used against youn
CLD - Mr. Wright w/ Kello Gonzalez
We resume our Monolith of Phobos coverage with Mr. Wright, which contains a very Beatle-esque bass lick that drives a lyrical story about a distasteful voyeur. Kello Gonzlez zjoins us to model the bass part and to explain Les Claypool's singular talent in terms of writing strong licks that can carry a four-minute track, and remarks about the Lennon-Claypool connection. Find Kello @kellogc just abo
Intra-Album Interview: CLD artist & video director Rich Ragsdale
We pause our nascent Monolith of Phobos episodes yet again due to irrational excitement for the forthcoming CLD record, and this time the great Rich Ragsdale joins the podcast to talk about how the visual components of the album came to be. Rich directed the CLD video Blood & Rockets, and returned to the fold to create the comic book that accompanies The Great Parrot-Ox album; he also directed
New Album Alert! CLD Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy Preview
The Claypool Lennon Delirium's The Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy is a really long album title, but it serves the purpose of what we can only imagine is a modern-day fable told in a retro style that may or may not end up with all of humanity being turned into paper clips. We have tracked down all the available information about the forthcoming CLD record and packaged it here, so you
CLD - Cricket and the Genie, Movements I & II w/ Jerry Roscher
It's a double dose of delirium! We've packaged both the Cricket and the Genie tracks together, as they were released as one to promote the release of Monolith of Phobos, and these two tracks have always been performed together at every single CLD show thus far. Josh's longtime pal Jerry Roscher drops by the pod to discuss why these tracks and this album as a whole speak to him so deeply; for him,
CLD - Monolith of Phobos (Album Track 1)
What do you get when you put on the early Pink Floyd, pair it with Carl Sagan's Cosmos, and throw Buzz Aldrin in for fun, then drink loads of red wine with Sean Lennon and Les Claypool? You get the title track to The Monolith of Phobos, a journey of whimsy and wonder. Get ready for psychedelic delights of all sorts!Buzz Aldrin on CSPANGet involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money
Claypool Lennon Delirium: Monolith of Phobos Overview
In 2016, Les Claypool had some time away from Primus and invited Sean Lennon to Rancho Relaxo; Sean had guested on some Primus encores during their 2015 summer tour and jammed backstage with Les, where a connection was born. They fished, drank pinot, discussed nuggets from newspapers and periodicals, in the process birthing The Claypool Lennon Delirium. We get into the details of how these two got
Inter-album Interview: Tim Slowinski, Oysterhead artist
Tim Slowinkski, the man behind the excellent Oysterhead album cover art, tour poster and iconography, joins Primus Tracks to talk about his dinstinctive art style and subject matter, as well as the entire Oysterhead experience, which brought him some notoriety and remains a project that earns recognition. What does he think of all of it, 25 years down the line? Give a listen to find out!Find Tim a
Duo de Twang tours with Soya & Wylie Woods
The Duo de Twang album is a fun listen, but the shows were where the guys really let loose and silliness reigned. Soya and frequent Twang contributor Wylie Woods drop by to talk about their experience on the road with DDT, including a show that Josh attended which they described as one of the worst of the tour, lousy conditions at Jam Cuirse, and an unexpected success in Europe. The big question:
Duo de Twang - Origins & Four Foot Shack album
We turn our attention to Duo de Twang, the "vacation fuck-off band" that Les Claypool started after a couple special California gigs gave away to a full-blown vision for a sit-down campfire acoustic project. We chart the project's logisitical and inspirational origins, and discuss the album track-by-track. Grab some cowboy beans and don't squat with yer spurs on!Get involvedInstagramFacebookEmailB
New Year's Eve 2025 Recap
WE WERE THERE at the Fox Theater on December 30 & 31, 2025, to witness Primus send in the clowns over two nights of inspired musical madness. We detail how it all went down, and preview what we already know for 2026: Claypool Lennon Delirium record, Claypool Gold tour, and Primus in Europe. Get involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money
Inter-album Interview: Robi Bean
This week on the podcast we welcome Robi Bean, who drummed with Primus for about half of 1986. Although he doesn't appear on any demo tapes, and live footage of his playing with Primus is scarce, Robi played an important part in the formation of many early Primus songs that would become fan favorites, including Tommy The Cat. Robi details how he first worked with Les Claypool in a band called Manx
Primus DNA - Rush
For our next entry in the Primus DNA sub-series, we swing for the fences by daring to take on the mighty Rush as a major component of the Primus makeup. Gerry Schramm of the Something For Nothing podcast joins us to make sense of it all, including where to hear elements of each band's hallmarks in the music of the other, the enduring friendship between the two bands, and their commonalities, inclu
OFAF - Ol' Rosco
We end our Of Fungi And Foe review with Ol' Rosco, who may be one of the more abhorrent characters in the Claypool lyrical universe, perhaps for being all too real. This is the final "fungi" track in the sense that it was initially written for the Mushroom Men video game; Les later added vocal and percussion tracks for the OFAF record. Frankie provides a loving sendoff to this record, which he hol
OFAF - Pretty Little Song & Of Fungi and Foe
This week, we cover tracks 10 and 11 from Of Fungi and Foe: Pretty Little Song with guest Bryonn Bain, as well as the title track. These tracks are buried on the back end of the record and have never been performed live, so they're obscure nuggets in the catalog. Wail and gnash your teeth along with us as we explore the agony of Pretty Little Song and what the title tracks tells us about the whole
OFAF - Primed by 29
Primed By 29 has a fetching title for a Primus fan exploring the solo works of Les Claypool. Although the lyrics don't necessarily refer to anything Primus-related, they're certainly in the wheelhouse of Claypool, who pens another cautionary tale about going too far with recreational drugs in an attempt to create excitement from the mundane. It also happens to be Frankie's favorite track on the al
OFAF - Kazoo
This lounge jazz number is an ode to the dog, in particular, Les Claypool's hound, Kazoo. It's another musical departure for the man, and it sounds like Skerik wasn't available, so Sam Bass filled in on cello. It's not the deepest track, but we don't have to get deep with our dogs, right? They love us, we love them, now let's go for a walk, a run, or a ball toss. For another great story about a do
OFAF - Bite Out Of Life
Do you know a boy who's taken a bite out of life? I suppose that description qualifies guest performer Eugene Hutz, a man of fire and energy whose work with Gogol Bordello has delighted audiences the world over. Eugene brings a jolt to the side two opener of Of Fungi And Foe in the form of guitar strumming (the only guitar on the record!) and unintelligible wailing mixed with what might be Ukrania
OFAF - You Can't Tell Errol Anything
This week, we tackle a track that could easily appear on a Tom Waits record, most notably Real Gone, which Les Claypool actually guested on. There's something about the percussive backbeat and dirty upright that screams Waits, but Les puts his own spin on it with tripped-out high register upright and clean vocals. Josh and Frankie agree that this is one of the more memorable tracks from the record
OFAF - What Would Sir George Martin Do?
On this OFAF track, Les Claypool ponders what one of his heroes might do in numerous situations around a trip to London in which the airline loses Les's luggage, he's without UK currency, but he gets to screen a film with George Martin in the room and parties with George's son Giles until Les's pal Jason pukes on someone. It's certainly not your standard Claypool lyrical fare! Tune in to learn a b
OFAF - Boonville Stomp
The fourth track of the Of Fungi and Foe record, Boonville Stomp was composed specifically for the film Pig Hunt, which takes place in and around Boonville in the woods of northern California. Les Claypool has a small role in the film, as well, if you're at all curious. This tune has cinematic elements to it, which stands to reason. Does it all come together as a standalone song for an album? That
OFAF - Red State Girl
Remember 2008? What do you mean, you'd rather not? Yeah, me either, but Les Claypool won't let us forget the person who helped define the year and the followers who molded themselves in her image, or something like that. Red State Girl is a curious track with a music video and a live performance on national TV to boot, so it qualifies for the lead track from Of Fungi and Foe, as well as the first
OFAF - Amanitas
Fungi or Foe? Both! Amanitas is another cautionary tale that has a few unexpected twists and turns. It's another tune originally intended for the Mushroom Men soundtrack repurposed for release on OFAF. Mushrooms sure are wacky! Get involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money
OFAF - Mushroom Men
Of Fungi and Foe's opening track is solidly on the Fungi side, as the music for this track is exactly as Les Claypool conceived and recorded it for the Mushroom Men video game, with vocals added to the album version. We sample the video game music, instrumentation, and get behind the story of the lyrics, and evaluate the tune as a harbinger for the record, and try to categorize it for the Claypool
Of Fungi And Foe - album overview
As we chug along in the Claypool chronology, it's time to address 2009's Of Fungi and Foe, the second album to be credited simply to Les Claypool. Frankie has it on regular rotation; Josh listened to it once upon release, wasn't interested, and shelved it. WILL THIS SOW DIVISION IN PRIMUS TRACKS TOWERS? No, but it will provide a study in contrasts as the album unfolds. In this week's overview we p
LSD - Frog Brigade Tipitina's 2003 w/ Toaster
At long last, we welcome the legendary Toaster to Primus Tracks. Toaster is a prolific Primus/Les taper who started toasterland.com over 20 years ago as a respository for show recordings and a way to catalog performances for the masses. It's proved to be a priceless resource to hardcore fans, and we reference it regularly on the podcast. Toaster joins to share his experience at Tipitina's in New O
Onward & Upward Tour Wrap
Primus have completed their first headlining tour with drummer John Hoffman, who has been plenty busy since his hire in January 2025. This latest tour spanned 25 dates in 24 cities over 35 days, in which the band played 47 different songs! We dig into those numbers, the stage production, and the general excitement from the fanbase as Les, Ler, and Hoffer made a mad dash across the United States to
Better Call Soya!
Sometimes, Primus Tracks listeners have questions that we cannot answer, and that's when we fire up the Soya Signal for a round of your queries. Soya joins from yet another hotel room, this time teching for Oasis, and if you've seen their tour schedule, you know the man has some time to fill. Questions this time range from Primus lyrics to beer to skateboarding to perms and Taco Bell.Do you have a
Inter-Album Interview - Tim "Curveball" Wright
Tim Wright drummed in Primus from 1986-1988 as Primus gained a larger following in the Bay Area, and played a key role in helping advance the band's fortunes via endless practice and rehearsals and a grinding gigging schedule. Tim shares sme wild stories from that time period, the origins of his nickname, and some watershed moments from his own band, Curveball. Thanks to Tim for taking the time. G
Inter-Album Interview: Jordan Kravitz
Jordan Kravitz recently joined the Primus crew to photograph some 2024 dates, including New Year's Eve. He's currently out capturing the band on numerous dates of the 2025 Onward & Upward tour, bringing us our first comprehensive look at John Hoffman in the Primus drum chair. Jordan disucsses how he got the gig, his approach to capturing the energy and presentation of the music, dealing with d
Inter-Album Interview: Dave Kloc
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/primustracksFind Dave at www.davekloc.com and @davekloc on the socials. Get involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your mone
OWAW - Off-White Guilt
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 involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money Get involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your mon
OWAW - Filipino Ray w/ Sam Stewart
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
OWAW - Robot Chicken
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=6546sGet
OWAW - Rumble of the Diesel
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 i
OWAW - Nothin' Ventured
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 favo
OWAW - Iowan Gal
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 al
Interstellar Drum Derby Finale commentary
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
Little Lord Fentanyl - NEW TRACK ALERT
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:/
OWAW - Phantom Patriot w/ Matt Hunter
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 cont
OWAW - Vernon The Company Man w/ Gene Meyer
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 e
OWAW - Of Whales and Woe w/ Lalo Fierro
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 comp
OWAW - Lust Stings
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, i
OWAW - One Better w/ Luke Bemand
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
Of Whales And Woe - Album Overview
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
Inter-Album Interview: Steve "Extrakd" Freeman
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
5 Gallons of Diesel & Fancy DVDs
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 ca
Electric Apricot
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,
Inter-album Interview: Dave "Flapjax" Libby
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 involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money Get involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money
Primus Legacy - Tye Zamora
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
c2b3 - Ignorance Is Bliss w/ Peat Rains
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.comGet involvedInstagramFacebook
c2b3 - 48 Hours To Go
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
NYE 2024 Recap
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. W
c2b3 - Jackalope w/ Lalo Fierro
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
c2b3 - Big Eyeball in the Sky w/ Matt Hunter
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 involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your moneyGet involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money
c2b3 - Scott Taylor w/ Luke Bemand
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 lespeci
c2b3 - Junior w/ Sam Stewart
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 in
c2b3 - Hip Shot From The Slab
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 t
c2b3 - Elephant Ghost
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 involvedInstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money Get involvedInstagram
c2b3 - Tyranny of the Hunt
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
c2b3 - Thai Noodles w/ Rory Dolan
The great Rory Dolan of Lespecial rejoins Primus Tracks to deconstruct Brain's unusual drum performance on the second track of the c2b3 record, which, actually, already sounds like it was deconstructed? After rocking our faces off, this looser number reveals the more casual and spontaneous side of the band and project. Frankie reveals the thematic origins of the seemingly-nonsensical lyrics, which
c2b3 - Buckethead w/ Kello Gonzalez
The great Kello Gonzalez rejoins Primus Tracks amid his jam-packed schedule to discuss the fiery opening track to the lone Bucket of Bernie Brains release, Buckethead. The second biographical track about the mysterious masked figure with lyrics by Claypool, this one hoists him as a paragon of honor and excellence, with a towering track to match, but only after a whimsical keyboard intro courtesy o
Making of c2b3 with Brain and Les Claypool
As we turn our attention to Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, Tim Soya made sure we opened proceedings in style with two of the band members, Brian "Brain" Mantia and Les Claypool. We ask them about the origins and magic of C2B3 - which seems to be just that, given their commentary, but they certainly hold dear the experience of playing without a net and relying on one another to carry t
Primus DNA - XTC
We continue our DNA sub-series with a less obvious influence on Les Claypool and Primus: XTC. This English band influenced Les in his formative years, perhaps subconsciously influencing his own style, culminating in two Primus covers of XTC tracks from their album, Drums and Wires in Making Plans for Nigel and Scissorman. Here to provide a crash course in XTC And to describe what he hears of them
Hot Rod Lincoln, Locomotive Breath, Number Two
Les Claypool was busy enough in 2002 with the release and support of Purple Onion, but he also found time to complete a cover of Hot Rod Lincoln for a compilation album, land Frog Brigade Bonnaroo performances on two official releases, and start his journey with Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains. We dig into the covers and the improv nature of c2b3.Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn
2024 Summer Tour Wrap
As the 2024 Primus summer tour concludes, we take a look at the number of set list surprises and other goodies that packed the 33-date sojourn with much mirth, merriment, and mind-melting, mesmerizing musicianship. This tour was unique for being conducted without some kind of theme or conceit behind, nor any kind of official release to back. Primus was just out on the road, headlining some fetchin
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