Primus
Suck on This

THE REVIEW

After participating enthusiastically in the "Carnuval Vecc" of my neighborhood, with singing and dancing in sincere and contagious joy, before subjecting my tried and sweaty body to a necessary shower, I decide to give a quick read to the Debaser page dedicated to my great musical heroes Primus. And I realize, with surprise, that I am not listed among the connoisseurs of the Californian band; I keep to myself the epithets that came to mind, contemplating a tremendous revenge.

Revenge that unfolds in a few moments... take what follows then, my beloved and esteemed colleagues; there you go!!!

“Let's clear things up right away to give some minimal logic to my arguments today: for yours truly, the crazy trio, led by the equally crazy (even more, even more!!) Les Claypool, represents absolute love, the number ONE in music. (something I will have recited ad nauseam since I've been frequenting Debaser; repetita iuvant the Latins argued, who knew far more than I do).

On this day of revelry, at least as far as I am concerned, I want to tell you about their debut released back in 1989; a live album recorded over two successive evenings in native California. Title of the work and cover already give a very good idea of the bizarre and crazy world built around the sound of these authentic jokers, guided by the unmistakable, legendary bass and cartoonish voice of leader Les. Accompanied in his tragicomic gestures by the multifaceted guitar of Larry Lalonde, who had already made a name for himself at a young age in the Possessed (Seven Churches, Seven Churches!!), and the drumming of that acrobat and champion of countertime bearing the name of Tim “Herb” Alexander.

The live show starts off in an overwhelming way: for about thirty seconds our guys pay homage to the Canadians Rush and the track “YYZ”; right after begins the story of the fisherman John, “John the Fisherman” indeed. Syncopated rhythms, ironic lyrics: funk-metal, thoughtful hardcore, fusion, prog…etc..etc… A form of crossover never heard before, with that healthy fun that has always accompanied the gestures of these three musical phenomena. Next comes “Groundhog’s Day”, where they demonstrate uncommon technique, then moving through “Tommy the Cat” (still a live staple for them today) and reach happily and contentedly amid hearty laughter at the bombastic finale of the closing “Frizzle Fry”.

Take Minutemen, Frank Zappa (always praise be to the genius of Baltimore), Rush, King Crimson, Residents: blend them and rip them apart and you will get the wonderful and at the same time outrageous sound of PRAIMUS.

Seen live five times: endless delight. And I have always been fascinated by one thing at their concerts: the three brave musicians never exchange glances during the show. Everything is calculated, everything is finalized, everything is mathematical: at this point allow me to use the term for them, too often overused, of GENIUS.

The beginning of a career that still continues today: Les has always written, recorded, and produced what he wanted, without regard to fashion and trends; not caring about various hassles. He doesn't care about selling, he doesn't care about making it. He plays very simply for himself and the pleasure he finds in doing it; after all, “Primus sucks”!

With their crazy musical approach, which is not easy to assimilate it is good to remember, they have from the beginning carved bizarre furrows, transporting the listener into a never-ending vertigo of sonic oddities; without, in my opinion, ever showing signs of self-pity. Always with a frightening ease so effective and inimitable.

There’s no match for them."

Now I feel better; much, much better...Harold of the Rocks...

Hoping to have filled this Debaser gap (so G read and fix it...AZZ...).

Ad Maiora.