Primus Tracks

Josh declares that he has little to say about this track, but there is plenty of ancillary stuff to discuss! Matt Hunter breaks down the music (and plays Tommy for Soya), Frankie has the live history and some theories about the upright bass, Soya explains the lyrics, and the whole group gets into how it feels like one is "in the club" when receiving a nickname from Les Claypool, or even reading th...

Del Davis Tree Farm was an actual place in Sonoma County. Locals Soya and Anthony Garcia bond over Primus landmarks in the area and this particular under-the-radar fan favorite. Josh inquires about regional rivalries and Frankie brings waaayyyy too many live tracks to this episode. Finally, we ask the immortal question: Is Del Davis Tree Farm a Christmas song? Tell us about it @primustracks on Ins...

A weird Primus track births a plethora of topics: Jay Lane, Butthole Surfers, voyeurism, the nature of anticipation. Tim Soya and lespecial's Jonny Grusauskus join the podcast to break down Glass Sandwich, and to answer the age-old question: what's the point of trying to figure out Larry Lalonde's guitar solos? Find us @primustracks on Instagram and lespecial @lespecialmusic all over the socials....

As we reach the halfway point of Tales From The Punchbowl, we encounter another Primus oddity. Hellbound is a unique track in the Primus catalogue, and drummer Zak Mendoza helps us understand just what in the world we're listening to and why Tim Alexander's left hand should be cast in gold. Also, you'll scream at Zak and Frankie for missing an obvious movie reference. Follow us @primustracks on IG...

Tim Soya and Luke Bemand return to break down Space Farm and Josh's absolute favorite Primus track, Year of the Parrot. Luke tackles the musical elements, and Josh inquires as to how one finds their authentic voice without being derivative of one's influences. Plus, Soya talked to Ler and Herb specifically for this episode and drops some nuggets about the making of these tracks! Get involved Insta...

It's another foursome for Primus Tracks (we should start a charity golf tournament) - this time Josh, Frankie, and Soya welcome Luke Bemand of lespecial to dig into the bass line that gets latter-day Primus fans fired up. Soya provides more details about the Punchbowl album, and we're up to our old tricks with musical and lyrical analysis. Find lespecial @lespecialmusic on social media platforms a...

It's the best-known Primus Track of them all! Josh and Frankie call in reinforcements to discuss the depth and breadth of the impact the unexpected success of this single had on Primus, MTV, and pop culture. Also, Soya gives Josh his phone number. Inner Circle Achievement Unlocked! Find us @primustracks on Instagram and Twitter! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Track 2 of Tales From The Punchbowl combines an earnest narrative with off-kilter music. What made this track as a single not so successful, where the Beaver song hit it big? Josh and Frankie get into those details, as well as some exemplary live versions, and Josh gets in touch with his vulnerable middle school self. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Ahoy! Senior bass analyst Louis Ortega helps us kick off Tales From The Punchbowl in style with a breakdown of the complex, mysterious Professor Nutbutter, which eventually turns into some fanboy fawning (damn you, Primus!). We get into the music, the lyrics, and the expansion of the Nutbutter story that was exclusive to the Punchbowl Enhanced CD from 1996. Creeeepy! Get involved Instagram Faceboo...

Tim Solyan drops into Primus Tracks World Headquarters to give us the backstory on the making of Tales From The Punchbowl, the record that cemented Primus in 1990s culture. Soya assisted in the studio and retains numerous minute details about the making of the record. All aboard Captain Shiner's Yacht for a special exploration of Primus in the studio! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn you...

Bryan Kehoe is a force of nature, and brings his magnanimity to Primus Tracks. Kehoe discusses the earliest days of the Bay Area thrash and alt scenes, his time with M.I.R.V. and Kehoe International, and naturally, his run with Duo De Twang. Enjoy out conversation with this unstoppable man! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Elizabeth Gohr has taken live concert photos of numerous fantastic bands in the Bay Area, but she holds a special affinity for Primus - and it shows! Elizabeth discusses how to get the right shot of the band, the challenges of low lighting, and how to concentrate whilst trying to rock out. Visit Elizabeth at egohrphoto.com and @egohrphoto on facebook and instagram. Grab a print while you're at it!...

Mike Dillon joined Les Claypool's troupe for the Purple Onion album in 2002 and stuck around for the various incarnations of Claypool's band(s). He also joined Primus for the Wonka album and tour. As a touring and recording musician, Mike has crossed paths with dozens of luminaries, and somehow keeps a keen memory of tiny details from numerous tours, which Frankie expertly picks for specifics. Mik...

Mark Kohr joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about getting his start in making music videos and the creative process. He has directed videos for Green Day, No Doubt, and Primus, to name a few. We go video by video for his recollections of working with Primus and Les Claypool! Find Mark at www.markkohr.com Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Multi-instrumentalist Eenor (Frog Brigade, Yard Dogs Road Show) joins us to talk about the arc of his music career and his excellent run with Les and the Frog Brigade. He sheds light on many of the unusual instruments he brings to the table, and even plays some music for us! Find Eenor at eenor.bandcamp.com and eenor.com Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Josh and Frankie discuss two studio tracks recorded for compilations in 1993 and 1994. Poetry and Prose is a delightful meta-ditty, and Bastardizing Jellikit is the sleazy cousin of the rendition we all know from Suck On This. Take a big ol' bite of the cheese as Primus engages in "playing along" with their own popularity. @primustracks on Instagram and Twitter! Get involved Instagram Facebook Ema...

We've reached the end of Pork Soda, and revel in its triumvirate of instrumental tracks that close this inimitable record. Hamburger Train dominates the discussion, as it actually has a live history and is an 8-minute marvel. We give live commentary on the final three tracks and bid a fond farewell to the liquid pig. @primustracks on Instagram and Twitter. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Bur...

The vaudevillian track The Air is Getting Slippery is perhaps Primus at its most suggestive, and has the air of something sordid, but Frankie helps Josh navigate the sweaty overtures of the lyrics, and they're able to sort out all of the references in the lyrics. Plus, Larry LaLonde on the banjo? MORE PLEASE! @primustracks on instagram and twitter. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your m...

I'll tell you why: buried on the back half of Pork Soda is Mr. Krinkle, which has become a latter-day live staple and undisputable crowd pleaser. Josh and Frankie break down its appeal and why it's a reliable sampler for the uninitiated. Further, we pick apart the lyrics for the numerous references to people/places/things from the world of Les Claypool. You'll feel like you're part of the gang! Ge...

(The) Pressman is one of a few tracks left over from the early days of Primus, and it finally made its way to a studio recording, stashed in the last half of Pork Soda. Josh and Frankie slowly come around on this previously-pedestrian track, delighting in its earnest approach bits of clever musicality. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

The title track of the 1993 effort is a novelty mishmash self-indulgent parody of advertising and a metaphor for what Les Claypool sees Primus as in the public eye. Josh and Frankie get into some live performances, the inspiration for the track, do some visualizations, and find a disturbing meme centered on the term Pork Soda. Grab yourself a can and enjoy. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Bu...

An unexpected Tim Alexander composition divides the two halves of Pork Soda. We get into the specifics of the recording of this track, which occurred separately from the rest of the album, try to get into the mind of one Tim Alexander, and spend some time with the only known live performance of the track. I WAS THERE! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Nature Boy, an enigmatic track that delights and confounds when it rears its hydra heads in concert. Senior bass analyst Louis Ortega drops in to demonstrate its many memorable bass licks, and we all hail Tim Alexander for his transcendent drumming. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

A standout offering from Pork Soda, The Ol' Diamondback Sturgeon serves as a companion piece to Fish On and provides just as many delights. Our ol' pal Anthony Garcia joins in the fun to examine the monster drum sound, understated bass (until that massive solo) and the overall ambiance. Bonus points if you have that shirt! Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn your money 

Pork Soda is a bass clinic that demands an expert, therefore, junior bass analyst Matt Hunter joins Primus Tracks for a trip to the DMV. What's up with all the tapping, and why does it make so much sense? How is Tim so precise? Just what the hell is Larry doing (again)? We dig into it and postulate as to why it's such a live rarity. Call it...pointless. Get involved Instagram Facebook Email Burn y...