Primus Tracks

Barrington Hall is a legendary location in the Primus world, and its debauched past pairs well with the refined nature of the music from this Purple Onion track. Matt Hunter models the bass parts and harmonies, and we delve into the sordid events that led to Barrington's demise as a student housing cooperative. Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

Ding Dang is a forceful number, both in terms of music and lyrics. We speak with bassist Alex Dalasio about the musicality of the tune, and what makes it memorable, as well as unpacking the lyrics, which are meant to provoke, and perhaps even make us uncomfortable, but there's a lesson to be learned and a resonant, timeless message. We get to the heart of the matter and solve all of the world's problems. Just another day at the office in Primus Tracks Towers! Find Alex's musical efforts under the name Psychedelic Waves on Bandcamp and Spotify. Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

Les Claypool started banging on the Whamola on February 14, 2001, at a Frog Brigade show in Boston, Massachusetts, and it's accompanied him on nearly every subsequent tour, and numerous studio records. He popularized the one-stringed instrument that an enterprising person could construct for less than $100, and put his unique spin on it with percussive playing that utilizes distortion and evelope filter to achieve a big sound. Here, on the Purple Onion record, the track serves as a solo showcase for Les's side men, and they all deliver wild slices of sound, supported by drummer Fish Fisher of Fishbone. We examine the history of the instrument, numerous live cuts, and whether the track holds up 20+ years later. Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

With Long in the Tooth, Les Claypool takes a page from the Tom Waits book of music, and puts his own spin on the concept, evoking numerous auti-biographical details - some clear, some hazy - that act as an ode to aging and general acceptance of the process. We explicate the lyrics in depth, and sample a bit of ol' Stompin' Tom Connors in the process. Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

Frequent bass contributor Louis Ortega returns to model and explain the hooks behind Buzzards of Green Hill, Frankie's favorite track from the album, and perhaps his top Claypool track. This one seems to be the backwoods hick Claypool that had shone through with some Primus material, but takes the wheel here for a (sober, we hope) drive out in the county. Lyrically, we contrast drunk driving and nursery rhyme motifs; the latter likely a result of Claypool having toddlers at the time, and the former from Les observing the world around him. Some killer live cuts accompany this episode! Find Louis on Instragram Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

This week, we discuss David Makalaster, often referred to as Mak 1, which brings Purple Onion to life after the ambient opening track. Mak 1 and 2 somewhat bookend the Pruple Onion record, and we discuss this first installment in near-isolation, but it's difficult to separate the two. Lots of lyrical references to unpack, and the mass of instrumentation makes for a busy and full musical experience. It's also the first exposure to Skerik's fancy sax for many fans, and boy, does he deliver. Plus, we have live cuts from over the years and lineups/iterations of Les's solo bands. Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

As we begin to peel back the layers of Les Claypool's 2002 album Purple Onion, we discuss the background of the record, its place in (and out) of its time, the inspiration for the title, and we discuss the title track's ambience and ambiguous lyrics. Purple Onion stands as the jump-start to the Les Claypoo; 2000s solo career in terms of writing and performing original material with the Frog Brigade, Fancy Band, Fungi Band - whatever the name of the iteration, it's based on a Claypool record. Grab your local, organic produce and join us. Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

No Forcefield was an experimental collaboration of Larry LaLonde, Brain, Adam Gates, DJ Disk, and Extrakd for Stray Records, which produced two albums: 2000's Lee's Oriental Massage and 2001's God is an Excuse. They're wild, unpredictable, bizarre, and good, clean fun. Both albums are long out of print, but readily available on resale sites such as Discogs. We discuss the (lack of) notoriety for the band, its truncated live history, and what went into the recording of these albums (beyond stimulants). It's c ertainly a departure from the Primus and Claypool aesthetic, but who doesn't love pure, unadultered self-indulgence from Ler and company? No Forcefield at the Beta Lounge in 2001: https://betalounge.com/2001/02/22/no-forcefield/ Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

Sessanta spoilers abound Rejoice, for there is new Primus! As part of the Sessanta tour celebrating Maynard James Keenan's 60th birthday, Primus is supporting live and recorded a track with Maynard for the Sessanta E.P.P.P. We couldn't wait to discuss this track, the first new Primus recording in two years. We discuss its greater context in Sessanta, the tour, and the tune itself, which is certainly a departure from anything else in the band's established catalogue. Hop on a hippo and ride along! (Don't do that. Really.) Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

In this super-sized episode, we discuss the 1985/86 Primus demo tape informally titled Welcome To This World, and set it against its time period in the development of the band. From there, we welcome Peter Libby to the show. Peter drummed for Primus over 1984-86, and his skilled approach elevated the band in the Bay Area scene. Peter discusses those early days, his friendship with Tim Soya, his own musical path, and his takeaways from working with Primus. Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

We sample Frankie's newly-acquired 1984 Primate demo tape and give context to its origin, as well as comparing the primordial Primus tunes to what they'd become on official studio releases. Who knew that so many tunes were nearly fully formed as early as 84? We had clues from some bootlegs that go as far back as 86 or 87, but this is a whole new realm, including the infamous initial recording of Too Many Puppies! Enjoy chewing on this most delicate morsel of Primus history. At this time, we're deferring to the band and management as to whether to publish the audio in full. Thank you for your patience. Requests for full audio will be ignored, and offers to purchase the tape met with maniacal laughter. Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

Surprise! We're not quite through with Oysterhead yet. Weexamine the two "bonus" Oysterhead tracks created by Stewart Copeland shortly after the 2001 tour wrapped. Soya phones in from yet another hotel room and tells stories from the Oysterhead tour, including hanging with the men of Oysterhead and integrating with the Phish crew that largely staffed the tour, as well as the mysteries of Les's Shadow of a Man helmet, Trey's Matterhorn, and Stewart's snare drum sound. Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

We wrap up our coverage of the sole studio release from Oysterhead in style with Owner of the World, a sunny day feel-good track that closes the record in fine form. How does the album stack up for you? What lasting takeaways do you draw from the record? We want to know your thoughts! primustrackspod@gmail.com Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

We've reached the title track of Oysterhead's lone studio album, and its medieval bent invites comparisons between the futility of feudalism and modern capitalism. Les Claypool uses classic and crass imagery to expose our class system, while maintaining the happy-go-lucky jauntiness of the music. Tamborines to armageddon! Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

This one might be The Grand Pecking Order's top track for many listeners, and we get into what makes it so inviting in terms of musicality (Sabbath?!) and the tale hidden within the lyrics, some of it autobiographical for Les Claypool, and some of it hurtful to Buffalo Bills fans, me included. Dig in! Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

Have you spent endless sleepless nights wondering, "What does a Romanian dictator have to do with Oysterhead?" Friend, we understand, and will assuage these existential worries with an exploration of Stewart Copeland's lyrics and the underlying groove of the music. BARBER... Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

Birthday Boys is a little ditty that celebrates the accident of adjacent birth for two of the band's members, right? RIGHT? There's a bit more to it, and Les Claypool has hinted at some of the details over the years, which lend a tawdry bent to the lyrics, contrasted with the wholesome-sounding music. Rumors and innuendo swirl around Birthday Boys. Join in the intrigue! Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

We are thrilled to welcome Tim Alexander to Primus Tracks! The longtime Primus drummer has stretched his rhythmical and compositional skills through numerous projects over the years, and he is ready to share what he's learned throughout his career. We discuss his newly-founded Stick Academy, the foundations of his drumming, his abstract visual art, and what it means to be back in the Bay Area. Reminder that PT Patrons get episode video - this is one you don't want to miss! Find Tim: https://www.stickacademy.com/ https://timalexanderabstract.com/ https://www.instagram.com/timalexander65/ Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

It seems antithetical to describe anything Claypool-related as pleasant, but that's the word which comes to mind for this jaunt. The vocal layering is a highlight here, as well as the imadery produced by the lyrics. Feel the gravel between your toes and dance your way through this episode of Primus Tracks! Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money

The title "Rubberneck Lions" suggests a strange word soup, but there's some kind of meaning underneath the opaque lyrics, and they trend towards familiar territory for Les Claypool and Trey Anastasio. We closely inspect this track, which is one of four that survived Oysterhead's initial performance in May 2000. Get involved: Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money