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PODCAST

Primus Tracks

Josh, Frankie, & Soya

Primus Tracks chronicles the recordings of the rock band Primus, one track at a time. Join Josh, Frankie, & Primus friend/assistant Tim Soya as they create the ultimate Primus companion - for beginners and hardcore fans alike.

music music interviews

All Episodes

47:48

Purple Onion - Whamola

Primus Tracks ·

2024/05/27

Les Claypool started banging on the Whamola on February 14, 2001, at a Frog Brigade show in Boston, Massachusetts, and it's accompanied him on nearly every subsequent tour, and numerous studio records. He popularized the one-stringed instrument that an enterprising person could construct for less than $100, and put his unique spin on it with percussive playing that utilizes distortion and evelope filter to achieve a big sound. Here, on the Purple Onion record, the track serves as a solo showcase for

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45:02

Long In The Tooth

Primus Tracks ·

2024/05/20

With Long in the Tooth, Les Claypool takes a page from the Tom Waits book of music, and puts his own spin on the concept, evoking numerous auti-biographical details - some clear, some hazy - that act as an ode to aging and general acceptance of the process. We explicate the lyrics in depth, and sample a bit of ol' Stompin' Tom Connors in the process.Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

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64:03

Purple Onion - Buzzards of Green Hill

Primus Tracks ·

2024/05/13

Frequent bass contributor Louis Ortega returns to model and explain the hooks behind Buzzards of Green Hill, Frankie's favorite track from the album, and perhaps his top Claypool track. This one seems to be the backwoods hick Claypool that had shone through with some Primus material, but takes the wheel here for a (sober, we hope) drive out in the county. Lyrically, we contrast drunk driving and nursery rhyme motifs; the latter likely a result of Claypool having toddlers at the time, and the former

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50:32

Purple Onion - David Makalaster

Primus Tracks ·

2024/05/06

This week, we discuss David Makalaster, often referred to as Mak 1, which brings Purple Onion to life after the ambient opening track. Mak 1 and 2 somewhat bookend the Pruple Onion record, and we discuss this first installment in near-isolation, but it's difficult to separate the two. Lots of lyrical references to unpack, and the mass of instrumentation makes for a busy and full musical experience. It's also the first exposure to Skerik's fancy sax for many fans, and boy, does he deliver. Plus, we

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36:57

Purple Onion - Album overview & title track

Primus Tracks ·

2024/04/29

As we begin to peel back the layers of Les Claypool's 2002 album Purple Onion, we discuss the background of the record, its place in (and out) of its time, the inspiration for the title, and we discuss the title track's ambience and ambiguous lyrics. Purple Onion stands as the jump-start to the Les Claypoo; 2000s solo career in terms of writing and performing original material with the Frog Brigade, Fancy Band, Fungi Band - whatever the name of the iteration, it's based on a Claypool record. Grab

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38:33

No Forcefield

Primus Tracks ·

2024/04/22

No Forcefield was an experimental collaboration of Larry LaLonde, Brain, Adam Gates, DJ Disk, and Extrakd for Stray Records, which produced two albums: 2000's Lee's Oriental Massage and 2001's God is an Excuse. They're wild, unpredictable, bizarre, and good, clean fun. Both albums are long out of print, but readily available on resale sites such as Discogs. We discuss the (lack of) notoriety for the band, its truncated live history, and what went into the recording of these albums (beyond

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36:01

Pablo's Hippos

Primus Tracks ·

2024/04/15

Sessanta spoilers aboundRejoice, for there is new Primus! As part of the Sessanta tour celebrating Maynard James Keenan's 60th birthday, Primus is supporting live and recorded a track with Maynard for the Sessanta E.P.P.P. We couldn't wait to discuss this track, the first new Primus recording in two years. We discuss its greater context in Sessanta, the tour, and the tune itself, which is certainly a departure from anything else in the band's established catalogue. Hop on a hippo and ride along

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86:15

Peter Libby & "Welcome to this World" Demo

Primus Tracks ·

2024/03/25

In this super-sized episode, we discuss the 1985/86 Primus demo tape informally titled Welcome To This World, and set it against its time period in the development of the band. From there, we welcome Peter Libby to the show. Peter drummed for Primus over 1984-86, and his skilled approach elevated the band in the Bay Area scene. Peter discusses those early days, his friendship with Tim Soya, his own musical path, and his takeaways from working with Primus. Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your

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45:47

Primate Demo 1984 - Frankie's Tape Collection

Primus Tracks ·

2024/03/18

We sample Frankie's newly-acquired 1984 Primate demo tape and give context to its origin, as well as comparing the primordial Primus tunes to what they'd become on official studio releases. Who knew that so many tunes were nearly fully formed as early as 84? We had clues from some bootlegs that go as far back as 86 or 87, but this is a whole new realm, including the infamous initial recording of Too Many Puppies! Enjoy chewing on this most delicate morsel of Primus history. At this time, we're

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71:30

Oysterhead Tour and Bonus Tracks

Primus Tracks ·

2024/03/11

Surprise! We're not quite through with Oysterhead yet. Weexamine the two "bonus" Oysterhead tracks created by Stewart Copeland shortly after the 2001 tour wrapped. Soya phones in from yet another hotel room and tells stories from the Oysterhead tour, including hanging with the men of Oysterhead and integrating with the Phish crew that largely staffed the tour, as well as the mysteries of Les's Shadow of a Man helmet, Trey's Matterhorn, and Stewart's snare drum sound. Get

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37:04

Oysterhead - Owner of the World

Primus Tracks ·

2024/03/04

We wrap up our coverage of the sole studio release from Oysterhead in style with Owner of the World, a sunny day feel-good track that closes the record in fine form.How does the album stack up for you? What lasting takeaways do you draw from the record? We want to know your thoughts! primustrackspod@gmail.comGet involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

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43:49

Oysterhead - The Grand Pecking Order

Primus Tracks ·

2024/02/26

We've reached the title track of Oysterhead's lone studio album, and its medieval bent invites comparisons between the futility of feudalism and modern capitalism. Les Claypool uses classic and crass imagery to expose our class system, while maintaining the happy-go-lucky jauntiness of the music. Tamborines to armageddon!Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

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59:13

Oysterhead - Pseudo Suicide

Primus Tracks ·

2024/02/19

This one might be The Grand Pecking Order's top track for many listeners, and we get into what makes it so inviting in terms of musicality (Sabbath?!) and the tale hidden within the lyrics, some of it autobiographical for Les Claypool, and some of it hurtful to Buffalo Bills fans, me included. Dig in!Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

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46:57

Oysterhead - Wield The Spade

Primus Tracks ·

2024/02/12

Have you spent endless sleepless nights wondering, "What does a Romanian dictator have to do with Oysterhead?" Friend, we understand, and will assuage these existential worries with an exploration of Stewart Copeland's lyrics and the underlying groove of the music. BARBER...Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

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39:34

Oysterhead - Birthday Boys

Primus Tracks ·

2024/02/05

Birthday Boys is a little ditty that celebrates the accident of adjacent birth for two of the band's members, right? RIGHT? There's a bit more to it, and Les Claypool has hinted at some of the details over the years, which lend a tawdry bent to the lyrics, contrasted with the wholesome-sounding music. Rumors and innuendo swirl around Birthday Boys. Join in the intrigue!Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

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95:34

Tim Alexander - A Man of Extreme Power

Primus Tracks ·

2024/01/29

We are thrilled to welcome Tim Alexander to Primus Tracks! The longtime Primus drummer has stretched his rhythmical and compositional skills through numerous projects over the years, and he is ready to share what he's learned throughout his career. We discuss his newly-founded Stick Academy, the foundations of his drumming, his abstract visual art, and what it means to be back in the Bay Area. Reminder that PT Patrons get episode video - this is one you don't want to miss!Find

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42:22

Oysterhead - Polka Dot Rose

Primus Tracks ·

2024/01/22

It seems antithetical to describe anything Claypool-related as pleasant, but that's the word which comes to mind for this jaunt. The vocal layering is a highlight here, as well as the imadery produced by the lyrics. Feel the gravel between your toes and dance your way through this episode of Primus Tracks!Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

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52:42

Oysterhead - Rubberneck Lions

Primus Tracks ·

2024/01/15

The title "Rubberneck Lions" suggests a strange word soup, but there's some kind of meaning underneath the opaque lyrics, and they trend towards familiar territory for Les Claypool and Trey Anastasio. We closely inspect this track, which is one of four that survived Oysterhead's initial performance in May 2000. Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

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58:28

Oysterhead - Army's on Ecstasy

Primus Tracks ·

2024/01/08

Army's on Ecstasy, or as I call it, Military on Molly, is a an uptempo, art-rock exploration of musical compormise. That is to say, with three strong-willed musicians in the room, something has to give, and this is what we get. It's sort of poppy, sort of jammy, and sort of weird, but undeniably a product of Les, Stew, and Trey. We get into these unique Claypool lyrics, their source material, and hypothesize on how this tune came about. We also ponder the uncredited voices in this track, and just

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42:28

Oysterhead - Radon Balloon

Primus Tracks ·

2023/12/18

We can all breathe and drift away after the heavy subject matter and oppressive aura of Shadow of a Man, and perhaps it's a relief that the music of Radon Balloon is light and airy, and the lyrics make zero sense. Either way, please have your basement tested for radon, the silent killer, and then drift away as Josh and Frankie talk about the only Oysterhead track credited solely to Trey Anastasio.

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