Live Review: Primus

It's been four years since Primus have appeared in Australia and longer since they have done a headline tour. For those new to Primus, the seminal '90s rock band consisting of Les Claypool, Larry LaLonde and Tim "Herb" Alexander blended alternative, funk, metal, grunge and psychedelic sounds in a way that no one had ever heard before. Factor in the band's wry wit, musical genius and raw creativity and there are no doubts as to why they have such a rabid cult following.

Anticipation hung in the air as Alexander walked onto the dark stage. Everyone cheered for what was to come next when he was joined on stage by LaLonde and then Claypool. In came that iconic bass line and Primus blasted into Too Many Puppies, a song that's still relevant, as anyone keeping up with geopolitics would know. Primus played with serious and hard-edged intent, the bass tones were extra dirty and the kick drum thumped hard as LaLonde's weird and wonderful licks pierced through the mix.

Following crowd-favourite Wynona's Big Brown Beaver and the heavy funk of Groundhog's Day, the band also performed a cut called The Seven from their latest album The Desaturating Seven. The new material is thematically dark and the lighting and visual elements were perfectly crafted for it. Seas Of Cheese was turned into an epic jam five times its studio length and seeing Mr Krinkle performed live was a highlight. An eerie atmosphere of insanity gripped the audience.

New track The Storm saw Primus getting intricate, psychedelic and progressive, with changing time signatures, phrasing and movement throughout the song. My Name Is Mud, another iconic Primus track, was further embellished in this live setting, with everything sounding far more pronounced than on the studio version. Jerry Was A Race Car Driver naturally got half the audience off their feet and we were soon dripping with sweat, while set closer Southbound Pachyderm was a rare and special treat.

A lengthy dissertation could be written breaking down the music of Primus so, whether you're a seasoned veteran or just beginning your adventure into this band's weird and wacky world, the remaining shows of this tour are not to be missed!