After seeing them half a dozen times over the past decade or so, I can safely say there’s nothing like a Primus concert. They’re one of the only bands around today that can bring kids, parents and grandparents along with rockers, hippies, trippers, metalheads and punks all together in one area happily dancing, smoking and getting along with one another.
Last Sunday night, Aug. 2, at the UC Santa Cruz Quarry Amphitheatre was a perfect example of that.
First off, for those who have never been to the Quarry Amphitheatre, do yourself a favor and find a concert you want to see there and buy the ticket. The 2,600 standing capacity, 2,300 sitting capacity, open air venue is nestled between the redwoods under the stars and has an air of magic about it. The sound in the natural amphitheatre is immaculate and the lights cast an enchanting glow. This was my first experience—despite having written about it when it reopened—and it definitely won’t be my last.
Unlike most of the fans there, I was working the show as a volunteer. The tickets were divided into several different tiers with VIP holders getting an intimate Q&A with the band prior to the show. The group I was assigned to wrangled the “Lucky Bastards,” as they were called, into the college classroom for the event. After everyone filed in, the band was brought out into director chairs in front of a backdrop featuring the “Onward & Upward” tour poster art.
Unfortunately, I was only able to stay for part of the Q&A and neither photos, audio recording or video recording was allowed. Fans were asking questions for the band’s new drummer, John Hoffman, about touring; questions for bassist Les Claypool and guitarist Larry LaLonde about recording with the late, great Ozzy Osbourne; and if Primus was a pizza, what would the toppings be.
“Cheese,” LaLonde laughed.
One of the more interesting questions was directed toward Claypool and LaLonde about if—and how—Hoffman has changed the dynamic of the band.
After explaining the band wasn’t expecting to be on tour at the moment, Claypool gave Hoffman credit for “blowing some exciting wind into the Primus sails.” He added they’re currently talking about going into the studio following the debut of their newest track, “Little Lord Fentanyl,” released this past May despite having no intention pre-Hoffman earlier this year.
One thing I took away from the Q&A was that Primus loves a good shirt. For the first several questions, either the band or the fans—or both—exchanged mutual respect and love for the various shirts each was wearing. It was quirky and fun to observe the pleasantries and something that felt so very Primus for some reason. Especially when Claypool said one fan’s shirt looks like the formica sinks at his Claypool Cellars winery in Sebastopol.
Despite being toward the end of the tour—which finalizes Aug. 8 in Sacramento—the band was in great form. While indie rock act Rooney was billed as openers, Primus went on without them around 8:20pm. Their first set was a mix of deep cuts and mellow jams like “Groundhog’s Day,” “Restin’ Bones” and “Bob’s Partytime Lounge.”
In a surprise twist, they ended the first set with “Thela Hun Ginjeet” by prog rock legends King Crimson. It was reminiscent of shortly after the Covid lockdowns were lifted in 2021, when Primus went on tour performing Rush’s A Farewell to Kings album in its entirety. Does the inclusion of King Crimson’s track hint at a future cover tour? We shall see.
After a brief intermission, Primus hit the stage for a second set that was packed with energetic bangers and fan favorites. They opened with “The Heckler,” off 1999’s Antipop, then went straight into “Little Lord Fentanyl.” From there they unleashed an arsenal of strange goodness like “American Life,” “Welcome to This World,” “My Name is Mud” and into the aquatically atmospheric “The Ol’ Diamondback Sturgeon (Fisherman’s Chronicles Pt. 3).”
Like I said, Primus brings all types of music fans together and I’ve seen some of the strangest—and nicest in demeanor—mosh pits at their shows. Surprisingly, not a single pit broke out until “Jerry Was a Racecar Driver,” the third to last song of the night. The set ended with a hearty version of “Follow the Fool” then came back out for a very extended (10- to 15-minute) encore of “Harold on the Rocks” where LaLonde went off on a jam that sounded like it had hints of Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” mixed in.
Maybe it was the outdoor venue under the stars. Maybe it was the three hours of sleep I got the night before working multiple jobs all day. But this was one of the more interesting Primus shows I’ve been to in terms of energy and songs played.
That’s not to say it was bad—not in the slightest. At this point in their career LaLonde and Claypool are finely skilled musical warriors, especially with the addition of new blood behind the kit.
From a longtime fan’s point of view, the inclusion of Hoffman signals a golden era for the band that promises plenty of new chapters. But first they have to see just what they can do with this version—growing without the pains—and this tour seems like it’s the starting point for an upcoming marathon of frizzle frying, rhinoplasty and those damn blue-collared tweakers.
One thing’s for sure, Primus sucks and we love them for it.
