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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 also play an excerpt from Les's book tour in Iowa City. That evening was captured by the radio program Live At Prairie Lights and is archived here: https://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/node/797265
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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 viewing the synced video at the Patreon site (see "Burn your money" link below).
Drum derby finale
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Mangler du episoder?
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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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4NGvSR2waU
Drum Derby finale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFtaNtSYNYA
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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 contributor Matt Hunter, who models the bass riff, discusses the dynamics of the song, and helps us find where the pinky finger fits into the whole thing, as Les infamously broke his pinky finger during filming of a movie, and was unable to play this tune on tour for weeks as a reult. Lots to explore in this one - don't get radicalized!
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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 excellent tabla and sitar provided by Mike Dillon and Gabby La La, respectively. Dig?
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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 completed drum search series (more to come?!) and killer live cuts.
Buy me a theremin.
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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, it all comes together to create a unique experience in the catalog. Make good choices, kids!
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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 business. Plus, Cold War stories? Sign me up!
Find Luke on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukebemandbass/
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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 to spawn from this record, and turn some attention to the album opener, Back Off Turkey, an ambient track in which Les got to goof around with his children. Climb aboard!
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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 Mirv with guest turns from Skerik and Ler. Each Mars Mechanics release has its own musical theme; the latest has a 1970s Miles Davis foundation, and the outcome is a high-energy dose of unmistakable majesty. Plus, Steve tells us about some projects that have yet to be made public, and may hold the key to understanding the tornado of urine (details in episode).
Tracks sampled in episode, in chronological order:
Its Brain (Mars Mechanics)Technology Doctor (MIRV)Darkside Whiplash (El Stew)Surf Mission (El Stew)B-boy Showcase (El Stew)The John Rocker Redemption Clause (No Forcefield)Claudius The God (No Forcefield)9a (Mars Mechanics)Gonzography (Mars Mechanics)Don't Bite Contradiction Bomb (Gonervill)
Find Mars Mechanics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mars_mechanics/
Mars Mechanics Music
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXl_huq832S_MOC4OoCzgPw
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3sZiGJ55DnYXBpoBwYTqKE
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mars-mechanics/1468632210
Mars Mechanics Merch: https://mdpe.shop/collections/marsmechanics
El Stew - No Hesitation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y415bfxzoNc
No Forcefield - Lee's Oriental Massage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZqCqfViCug
No Forcefield - God is an Excuse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7-bbaQUS04
Marsupial's Belly Flop Breaks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4NQyZoYmj0
PhonosycographDISK Live at Slim's - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAKc2PAOkxk&t=7s
Lom. -
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 catalog. 5 Gallons of Diesel (2005) and Fancy (2007) work to define specific eras of Claypool's career, and we haven't seen anything like them since. Copies are out there on second-hand sites, and of course, they're on Youtube.
5 Gallons of Diesel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04hVR2OFOxQ
Fancy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyt-yoICsWU&
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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, but gathered enough steam for physical releases of the film (2007) and soundtrack (2008). We chart this curiousity and dig into the hidden jokes and references throughout the film, and its significance to the jam scene for people in the know - thank you to our Primatrons!
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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!
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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 Frankie's rapid-fire questions. We should note that his a capella versions of Primus tunes are top notch.
Find Tye
https://www.instagram.com/tyemus/
https://www.instagram.com/mekband/
https://www.youtube.com/@mekband2341
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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.com
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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 help in solving a major Primus mystery.
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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. We break it down with commentary on the set lists, lineups, our experiences, and Tim Soya (HE WAS THERE) drops in to share his perspective from behind the scenes.
Were you there? How was your NYE? Hit us up on the socials!
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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 the topic of jackalopes, Frankie shares his favorite cryptids.
Find Lalo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lalofierro/
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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!
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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 lespecial.net and @lukebemandbass on the socials.
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RORY DOLAN FOR THE PRIMUS THRONE! - Se mer
