Primus
Date: July 6, 2008 Upside the Cranium Day four of Bluesfest was a crowded one, forcing some show decisions. While I didn't see everything or always get the positioning that I would have wanted, I picked my spot for Primus, which proved to be the show of the day. Arriving fairly late in the Sunday running time, I headed for the big stage to see Snoop Dogg. With a massive crowd on hand, I settled for seeing Snoop from afar. Snoop was decked out in an Ottawa Senators jersey and sporting his name on a ridiculously oversized piece of jewelry on his hand; and he was backed up by a DJ, drummer, bassist, and backup MCs. He seemed to have a good time in the evening sun, getting the crowd going by touching on numerous classic songs such as "Gin and Juice," "Lodi Dodi," "Deep Cover," and "Who Am I (What's My Name)?" He also had fun interacting with the audience, at one point borrowing a joint to complete his shtick. Although Snoop cut a few too many songs short for my liking, he delivered the expected party vibe. Pulling back from that stage let me hear the end of Snoop's set while lining up a choice location for Primus. Since I'm hauling around a new camera this year and I'm starting to get too old for the pit, I settled in a few people back from the barrier but quite off-centre. This proved to be a great spot, as the excited Primus fans around me added to the experience. Considering that on the stage right in front of me was a fan's chainsaw carving of the bass-playing pig from the "Mr. Krinkle" video with the Bluesfest name carved in the base, I shouldn't have been surprised at the enthusiasm in the crowd. Soon enough, the band took the stage, starting with a snippet of Rush's "YYZ." Guitarist Tim Alexander was at the far end from me, drummer Larry LaLonde was mostly obscured behind the amps, and bassist Les Claypool, in a long-nosed mask, was at the centre. Of course, Claypool is at the forefront musically, as well; and it was amazing to see him play, although I'm no closer to knowing how he produces such incredible sounds. The fact that he injected lyrics from "Big Big Joe Mufferaw" into "Mr. Knowitall" only added to his charm, as did his expressed excitement at being in the land of Stompin' Tom Connors. The setlist included some recognizable singles, such as "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver," "John the Fisherman," and "Southbound Pachyderm." My favourite was probably "My Name is Mud," which was held for an extended finish, with Claypool slapping the six-string bass, LaLonde pounding a matching rhythm, and the crowd chanting its approval. Alexander also sounded great all show, skipping guitar noise on top of Claypool's dominant bass. In the end, Primus proved to be even more fun than I was anticipating. With several appealing options for the final slot, I first tried to get a spot to see The Wailers but gave up after seeing how densely packed the hill was in front of the Roots Stage. Instead, I opted for The Weakerthans, who were playing with Jim Bryson. This was my first time seeing the long-running, critically-approved outfit; and I was reasonably impressed. John K. Samson has a great voice for the kind of melodic rock that the band produces, while bassist Greg Smith's frequent rock star, bass-in-the-air poses typified the apparent enjoyment of the players. The band sounded very good on mellow songs, such as recent single "Night Windows," but they frequently injected more rocking choices into the set, maintaining a solid pace. The Weakerthans slot on the Blacksheep Stage was enough to demonstrate why they are so praised. Although this day was the most affected by the crowd size, it was still a success for me, with Primus dominating and a couple of other strong performances adding up to a fun experience. <--Prev (Six Shooter Finale/Ladytron) | Next (Rachid Taha)-->Return to Concert ListReturn to Main Page |