Last Saturday my buddy RCD and I went to the Primus show here in Edmonton. This was my third time seeing Primus in concert, and have to say, way better then the last time I saw them which was three years ago. This time around Primus are on tour in support of their album Primus and the Chocolate Factory. This album is Primus doing the soundtrack to the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and of course it is all done in Primus style, which makes it very weird.
The show was made up of two sets, the first set was an hour long and consisted of the three band members Les Claypool on bass and vocals, Tim Alexander on drums and Larry LaLonde on guitar, no special effects, no stage props and fancy lighting, just the band jamming out. The first set started and ended with the songs from my favorite albums of theirs Sailing The Seas Of Cheese. Opening with Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers and closing with Jerry Was A Race Car Driver. I have to admit the rest of the songs in the first set I wasn't all that familiar with, sounded great just didn't know them all that well, lots of jamming through out, more then I recall them doing before live. The best surprise in the first set was the little snippet of an old Stompin' Tom Connors song they did The Bridge Came Tumblim' Down, that's the second time I have seen Les pull out some Stompin' Tom in concert. Nice to see he appreciates a Canadian icon.
After a half hour break it was time for the second set, which means it was time for shit to get weird. The second set started with the Chocolate Factory album in its entirety. Primus brought out the Fungi Ensemble which was two more musicians Sam Bass on cello and Mike Dillon playing multiple instruments. Their rendition of the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory soundtrack was well done with a sinister twist to it. The stage now was adorned with huge wrapped candys and blow up mushrooms, and with Les Claypool dressed up as Willy Wonka, drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander in some kind of bunny costume and the Fungi Ensemble wearing weird old man masks. Then of course you had the Oompa Loompas making an appearance though out the show. Like I say, things got weird. Along with all that there was a screen in the back ground showing clips from the 1971 movie. It looked like the Oompa Loompas got out and about during the day with clips of them visiting the Gretzky statue, the Edmonton Eskimos office, Muttart Conservatory among other places around the city. The Chocolate Factory set was very entertaining and it took me days to get that damn Oompa Loompa song out of my head.
Right after the Chocolate Factory album was done Primus went right into some classics to close out the show, playing Too many Puppies, in which the guy standing next to me sang his heart out to. This guy knew his Primus I tell you. Then Les asked for a request in which a fan in the front row yelled out Is It Luck, which is what Primus did next, and that song has some amazing bass in it, excellent choice for a request. Then of course Primus had to play what is probably the most well known song of theirs Wynona's Big Brown Beaver, then closing out the show with another classic from Sailing The Seas Of Cheese playing Here Come The Bastards. An awesome show, and it just amazes me how effortlessly Les Claypool can play the bass, the man is an amazing bass player. A great show this time around. Weirdest thing I saw all night, a guy dressed up in Peter Criss of KISS make-up, what the hell was that about! Good times!!!
Primus setlist for Edmonton.
Primus in Edmonton.
T-shirt front.
Back of t-shirt.
Limited edition black light poster bought at show.
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