Photographs by Dale Benvenuto
Whether it’s at a bar with other drunk friends or a late night share of pizza slices, it’s always the easiest and the most enjoyable to talk about the artists/bands I’m actually a fan of, but even better, is when the band/artist is someone I’ve been a fan of for many years. Primus, who provided the soundtrack to some of my most fucked up, weird and dark memories over the years, has been on my top-5 list of hearing and watching since early 2000’s, yet I’ve never had a chance to see them live … until last Saturday night.
I decided to walk to The Danforth Music Hall, on Danforth street, from my place around Bloor and Dufferin. About an hour and half later, I was in front a box office surrounded by bars and a medium-sized line up of people in the front, smoking cigarettes, talking and getting high. I knew I was at the right place. Excited for my arrival after a relatively long yet fabulous walk on Bloor street, I entered the building. After being greeted by a very attractive Asian security guard (good job Danforth Music Hall), I got in the general admission section of the venue, which was basically the entire ground floor with a tiny bar on the right side. Right off the bat, I noticed a huge warning message, projected on the screen, behind the stage between two giant space suits, saying:
WARNING:
Images presented here may cause symptoms of vertigo or motion sickness to those with sensitive constitutions. If feelings of dizziness or nausea become apparent, remove glasses, look away from the screen and try not to vomit on your neighbor.
Enjoy the show PRIMUS 3D
So, I had to go back and get a 3D glasses, while reminding myself how awesome it is to be living in the future.
Around 8 o’clock, the lights went off and a face appeared inside the helmets of both of the space suits, rolling his eyes and looking around. One by one, Primus formed the legendary trio setup on the stage. Larry “Ler” LaLonde first, followed by the drummer Jay Lane, and the bassist and vocalist Les Claypool, perhaps one the best known figures in the world of innovative Experimental, Rock music. And so the show began with “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers” from the classic, legendary 1991 album, “Sailing the Seas of Cheese” …
I’ve seen them out at Soco
They’re pounding sicteen penny nails
The truckers on the interstate
Have been known to ride the rails
The Sweat is beating on the brow
Can’t keep these fellas down
’cause those damned blue-collared tweekers Are runnin’ this here town
Beside the insane groove of the music and the tightness of the performance, what was incredibly impressive to me was the use of the animator David Firth’s infamous characters from his dark, surreal animation web series, Salad Fingers. The creative use of various imagery with an added layer of 3D visuals on the top, created an incredibly unique and interactive atmosphere which, I dare say, wasn’t envisioned by the crowd. Continuing by “Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread”, Primus executed the mastery of each of the four instruments, Les Claypool’s voice included, presented on the stage, as well as the ability to recreate the synchronicity of the album, mixed with the energy and power of the live performance, on each of the songs on their first set, including “Extinction Burst”, “Frizzle Fry”, Over the Falls”, “Tragedy’s a’ Comin’”, “Bob” and “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver.”
Four Popeye cartoons were shown during the 20-something minutes intermission, all hilarious and accompanied by the crowd cheers and applauds for every time Popeye the Sailor Man was chugging down the legendary spinach. I, for one, can’t think of a better way to keep the fans entertained during the break. What can possibly be more awesome than chillin’ to Popeye while waitin’ for the second Primus set? That, I would never know.
The second set began with a very nice tribute to the greatest Canadian band of all time, Rush, by playing the intro of “The Trees”, which was immediately followed by “Dirty Drowning Man” from one of my personal favorite Primus albums, “Antipop”. The band continued their mastery of performance with “the Pressman”, “Eternal Consumption Engine”, “Jilly’s on Smack” and “Eleven”, a sick 11/8 song from “Sailing the Seas of Cheese” which started with a very impressive drum solo by Jay Lane who, from Les Claypool’s Frog Brigade, has filled the gigantic shoes of Primus’ previous master drummers. Three more songs, “Del Davis Tree Farm”, “Hamburger Train” and “Harold of the Rocks”, concluded the second set of the show at 10:28PM. Returning on the stage, Primus blessed the packed-venue with two encores, “Fisticuffs” and “Tommy the Cat”, yet another absolute classic from “Sailing the Seas of Cheese”.
And so the 2 hours, 45 minutes of entertainment, magic, fun and ass-kicking was over. I hope you were there to experience the show by yourself.
At the end, I’d just like to add, and perhaps place a bet, that despite the millions and millions of dollars that are being spent to promote shitty music by brainwashing the weaker minds now these days, it is only real musicianship than has the ability to develop the culture and create the kind of following who will always support the band/artist, now matter how many decades after his/her/their prime time.
Many thanks to Embrace for media access.
