Review: Primus and friends

Photos by Todd Zimmer, friend of B2R

Countless concerts are more glamorous and dazzling than Tuesday's event at the Uptown Theater. Very few, however, are capable of providing more unbridled fun than the inspired triple bill of Primus, Gogol Bordello and The Dead Kenny G's. A capacity audience of about 2,000 relished the evening of demented funk, crazed gypsy punk and rebelliously incendiary jazz.

Primus is precisely the type of technically-oriented band that favors extended drum solos. It's also the kind of band in which the bassist interrupts the tedious ritual with dive bomb effects while wearing a monkey mask. Such irreverence has earned Primus a loyal base of fans that's stuck with the group since its commercial peak in the early '90s. They were rewarded with a solid 95-minute headlining set.

Although guitarist Larry LaLonde took a uncommonly conventional guitar solo on "Over the Falls," the general approach of the bass-dominated power trio more closely resembles the jazz fusion of Jaco Pastorius than Cream or Jimi Hendrix's Experience. Bassist Les Claypool's thumbs and fingers flew so unnaturally quickly that they resembled one of the freakish animations projected through the helmets of the pair of giant inflatable astronauts that towered over the stage.

Claypool's insistent throb on "American Life" was hypnotic and his bass provided a trampoline-style bounce during "Harold of the Rocks." Still, a couple improvisational jams lacked direction and Claypool's limited vocal range- he yodels and yelps- can become grating. For all the talent possessed by the trio, they sometimes sound like a clogged garbage disposal.

The night's best moment, consequently, came when Primus was joined by members of Gogol Bordello and the Dead Kenny G's on a celebratory rendition of Tom Waits' "Big In Japan." The collaboration demonstrated that while Primus and Gogol Bordello may have little in common musically, they share a left-of-center perspective and a penchant for the absurd. Contrary to speculation about the incompatibility of the two acts, less than fifty fans left the theater immediately after Gogol Bordello's performance.

Not unlike the Pogues in their prime, Gogol Bordello has built a reputation as one of today's premier live acts by twining elements of punk to the traditional folk music of its members' native lands.

Armed with a bottle of wine and charisma reminiscent of 1980-era Mick Jagger, Ukrainian-born front man Eugene Hutz captivated the delirious audience during his band's 70-minute set. The frenzied fist-pumping and reckless crowd-surfing that accompanied "Wonderlust King" and "Immigraniada (We Comin' Rougher)" were infectiously joyous.

The jazz performed by The Dead Kenny G's is just as irreverent as its name suggests. Featuring one-time Kansas Citian Mike Dillon and supplemented by Kansas City saxophonist Mark Southerland and drummer Go-Go Ray, the band's riotous set, punctuated by squeals, honks and unintelligible grunts, was an ideal beginning to a night of memorable music. Tight quarters and sweltering heat were the evening's sole drawbacks.

"Is this just the way it is here?" Claypool asked about the conditions. "Is this the way you like it?"

While most fans would have preferred more elbow room and air conditioning, the vast majority relished every note of the night.

Primus set list (from Toasterland.com): Pudding Time; Sgt. Baker; Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers; Seas of Cheese; Golden Boy; Fisticuffs; American Life; Big in Japan; Over the Falls; Drum and Whamola Jam; Eleven; Harold of the Rocks; My Name is Mud; Jerry Was A Race Car Driver.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[MetalHEAD]

More on the show:

HOT! Smokin' hot...seriously dug it.

The Dead Kenny Gs were primarily (with various local fill-ins) a bass player, alto sax man and a drummer that played the meanest clavinet ever; no guitar. With local help, they at one point an alto, tenor and baritone sax playing the heaviest sax/clavinet mix possible; awesome, original/different stuff. Check'em out if you're into eclectic (Left, Bill?) stuff.

GB tore it up. I prefer seeing/hearing new (to me) stuff live; purposely didn't listen to them before the show. They are fanatically high energy and nailed it. Recommend.

Primus of course sucks. Ask anyone who was there.
Forgot to mention it was HOT.....

[Steve J]

Anyone here make it to Gogol Bordello's "Kegs and Eggs Show"

[Sam I am]

I do not like green eggs and ham, but kegs are OK.

[Green]

That place looked packed, kinda wanted to go but then again ahh, lots of people and hot sweat, naa!

[mankvill]

The Dead Kenny G's are playing two sets tonight at Czar Bar in KC.

[I said it first]

Thanks Bill, but you missed a critical point about Claypool. Not only is he a savant on the bass, but he has proved to be a genuine American treasure as a songwriter. Great musician, great songwriter, grating voice, changes tempos of his songs, hmmmm.....sounds like someone else we saw here in KC over the weekend. However, I doubt Les will ever get his deserved place next to the great Dylan.

[ReverbTank]

2 thoughts: 1) I can vouch for Gogol Bordello’s prowess having just seen them melt my face at a 200-seat club in Chicago on Sat. night. 2) I remember running into Les Claypool at Buzzard Beach in the mid-90’s and having him ask me where he could score some weed. Both fond memories.

[foreal]

Gogol is to alternative music what "video killed the radio star" is to music trivia. The obscure band that everyone knows. They're one of those bands that people think you have to like to be cool. Same with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. If one more hip guy tells me how much they like one of those bands I'm going to slap him with his wool cap hes wearing in the summertime.

[Steve J]

Gogol Bordello October 29th at Liberty Hall.

[Naturelle]

Liberty Hall will be the perfect place to see them live for the first time. I'm going. Thanks Steve J!

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