After a tight set from The Sword and a short set break, the lights came down and the familiar sounds of Danny Elfman’s “Clown Dream” from his score for Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, came over the speakers and were followed by Primus guitarist, Larry LaLonde’s, familiar two-note siren call from “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers,” and the crowd rose to their feet, ready to rock and shouting along as soon as bassist/vocalist, Les Claypool, and drummer, Tim “Herb” Alexander, the band’s classic line-up, took the stage and joined in the song. With over 30 years of professional, global touring experience, Primus long ago established their core fan base, which has fluctuated in size, especially since the late ‘90s, and with both the tribute theme and no new album to promote, this particular show and tour have been a bit different than those over the last 10-15 years. While the balance between recognizable hits and fan-pleasing deep cuts remained, Primus also introduced mash-ups into the show for the first time, where bits of 1999’s, “Laquerhead,” appeared near the end of the first song (only to return to “Tweekers” to conclude it after the short musical detour), and later, a similar blend of “Too Many Puppies” along with “Sgt. Baker,” and “My Name Is Mud” blended with “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” allowed them the opportunity to fit in lesser known and lesser played songs without feeling beholden only to the hits and the planned Rush covers. The crowd included a nice blend of Rush and Primus fans, and the former were most notably impressed during faithful renditions of intricate tracks like “Xanadu” and “Cygnus X-1".
The band’s excellent delivery of both their own songs and
their flawless reproductions of some particularly complex Rush tracks kept the
show engaging throughout, and they wasted very little time between songs or
sections of the show, no doubt in large part due to the gusting rain that blew
through the entire mid-week concert. Unlike a standard Primus show, usually
presented in the style of a Pink Floyd concert with two sets, split by an
intermission and followed by an encore, the band simply jumped right past the
intermission portion and began the second set only one minute after concluding
the first. By time they made it to the encore, where they have been playing four
to five additional original songs to close the show in most cities, Sterling
Heights was treated to extended jams on only two Primus classics, “Frizzle Fry”
and “Southbound Pachyderm,” both clocking in at well over ten minutes each and
ending one minute prior to the top of the hour, professionally and punctually. Lengthy
ovations were given after the conclusion of each section of the show, but most
in the audience were ready to seek the protection of their dry vehicles once
the house lights came up, and though the bands would continue down the road to
bring their brand of wackiness and their meticulously-rehearsed Rush tribute to
the next town on the list, the Michigan edition was unique even among the other
shows on this leg, and the Primus-faithful were treated to a spectacular blend
of songs that featured each players’ strengths and allowed long time fans a
chance to flashback on some of their favorite old songs and concert memories.
The Sword set list:
Winter’s Wolves
How Heavy This Axe
Tres Brujas
Freya
Maiden, Mother & Crone
Cloak of Feathers
Cheap Sunglasses (ZZ Top)
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Primus set list:
Danny Elfman-“Clown Dream” (intro tape)
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Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers / Lacquer Head
Here Come the Bastards
Eclectic Electric
Too Many Puppies / Sgt. Baker
Jilly’s on Smack
Professor Nutbutter’s House of Treats
My Name Is Mud / Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
Over the Electric Grapevine
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A Farewell to Kings (Rush)
Xanadu (Rush)
Closer to the Heart (Rush)
Cinderella Man (Rush)
Madrigal (Rush)
Cygnus X-1 (Rush)
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Frizzle Fry
Southbound Pachyderm
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Gene Wilder-“Pure Imagination” (outro tape)
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