Shows / Primus Tracks
Primus Tracks
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.
Episodes
- Primus Tracks
Inter-album Interview: Skerik
Skerik's saxophone genius is on full display in dozens of bands and projects, and he is well-known for his work with Les Claypool over numerous musical…
- Primus Tracks
Extinction Burst w/ Matt Hunter
We close the book on Green Naugahyde with the "fancy footwork" of Extinction Burst, a chaotic and propulsive effort that leaves one in a breathless flop sweat…
- Primus Tracks
HOINFODAMAN
This week we discuss a Ler-centric track that revels in contrasts, and the lyrics tread some familiar ground, but reveal much about what Primus endured whilst…
- Primus Tracks
Green Ranger
Green Ranger is a brief respite in the latter half of Green Naugahyde, but that doesn't stop us from having plenty to say about it. Frankie posits a thematic…
- Primus Tracks
Moron TV w/ Blas Perez
We welcome another new bass pro to Primus Tracks Towers: Blas Perez plays in Dhani Harrison's band and is an old school Primus fan who cut his chops on the…
- Primus Tracks
Lee Van Cleef w/ Kello Gonzalez
When Primus goes country/western, you call on the bassist of Mexico's greatest instrumental rock band, Parazit. Please welcome Kello Gonzalez to the Primus…
- Primus Tracks
Jilly's On Smack
A live staple since 2011, Jilly's On Smack hits all the hallmarks of a standout Primus track. Tune in to hear the checklist, as well as guest commentary from…
- Primus Tracks
Eyes of the Squirrel w/ Rory Dolan
All eyes on this episode! Rory Dolan, the drumming madman of lespecial, returns to the show to discuss the unusual drumming here, and connects this track to a…
- Primus Tracks
Tragedy's a'Comin w/ Louis Ortega
The happy-go-lucky funk of Tragedy's A'Comin accompanies dark lyrics, making a strange contrast of flavors. Louis Ortega joins the podcast to talk about the…
- Primus Tracks
Eternal Consumption Engine w/ Anthony Garcia
Anthony Garcia brings consumerist culture to the podcast and enlightens us as to the many unusual musical & vocal elements of Eternal Consumption Engine - and…
- Primus Tracks
The Last Salmon Man
Josh and Frankie unpack part four of the Fisherman's Chronicles, which addresses the concerns of commercial salmon fisherman in Northern California. Are these…
- Primus Tracks
Hennepin Crawler w/ Luke Bemand
We begin our ride through 2011's Green Naugahyde by examining the opening track(s) - Prelude to a Crawl and Hennepin Crawler. Luke Bemand of lespecial unlocks…
- Primus Tracks
Conspiranoid EP - initial reactions
There is NEW PRIMUS MUSIC and Josh & Frankie have thoughts. After only a few (hundred) listens to the new Conspiranoid EP, they offer their connections to…
Primus TracksALL SECRETS WILL BE REVEALED APRIL 22
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- Primus Tracks
June 2010 EP
Before the reunion tour(s) and Green Naugahyde, the Les-Ler-Jay trio recorded and released an EP of rehearsal footage in June 2010, to give us a taste of what…
- Primus Tracks
Primus DNA - Talking Heads
The first in a sub-series of heavy musical influences on Primus, Primus DNA delves into The Talking Heads and their mark on Primus, especially in the early…
- Primus Tracks
Primus 2005 - 2009
Primus wasn't up to much in the years 2005-09, but something changed in 2010. We take this "fallow period" year by year and react to releases and live…
- Primus Tracks
My Friend Fats
We conclude the Animals "LP" with My Friend Fats, a track that reaches heights Primus had never hit before. Some say it plods along and takes forever to…
- Primus Tracks
The Last Superpower AKA Rapscallion w/ Anthony Garcia
I mean, most of us call this one Rapscallion for the sake of simplicity. No matter the title, Frankie labels it a "prog suite" and we explore each part, even…
- Primus Tracks
Mary The Ice Cube
The middle track on the Animals EP (LP according to Frankie) brings another unexpected wrinkle to Primus canon - a "love" song, although Josh & Frankie agree…
- Primus Tracks
Pilcher's Squad
Josh and Frankie explore the story behind the lyrics of Pilcher's Squad: corruption, drugs, money, bent cops, rock stars. The story writes itself, but through…
- Primus Tracks
The Carpenter and the Dainty Bride w/ Luke Bemand & Rory Dolan
Welcome to 2003! We finally join the 21st century of the Primus chronology as we open our discussion of the EP Animals Should Not Try To Act Like People…
- Primus Tracks
Inter-Album Interview: Curtis "CG" Gomez
Curtis "CG The Mexican" Gomez goes as far back with Les Claypool and Primus as anyone, as evidenced by the name-drops in early Primus tracks. CG gives us a…
- Primus Tracks
The South Park Connection
We all know that Primus performs the ubiquitous South Park theme song, but what of the other tracks that Les, Ler, and Brain created with and For Trey Parker…
- Primus Tracks
The Heckler w/ Soya!
Soya and Matt Hunter join us for the hidden Antipop track, The Heckler, which hearkens back to the halcyon days of early-ish Primus, as this Suck On This…
- Primus Tracks
Coattails of a Dead Man
We've reached the final* track of Antipop, and it's a right corker. Tom Waits makes his second appearance on a Primus record for the memorable Coattails of a…
- Primus Tracks
The Final Voyage of Liquid Sky
The Final Voyage of The Liquid Sky marks a direction that Primus could have taken with the entire Antipop record, according to Les Claypool. We dissect what…
- Primus Tracks
Power Mad
We've arrived at the third of the Tom Morello Antipop Triumvirate, and Josh and Frankie find it to be the strongest of the three! We discuss our competing…
- Primus Tracks
Ballad of Bodacious w/ Anthony Garcia
Anthony Garcia joins Josh and Frankie to discuss the rural areas beyond the bay that give rise to tracks such as Bodacious, belying the standard view of "big…
- Primus Tracks
Dirty Drowning Man
That's more like it! We return to normalcy, as much as one can in the Antipop era anyway, with Dirty Drowning Man. Produced by Stewart Copeland, this track is…
- Primus Tracks
Mama Didn't Raise No Fool
The worst of times. Frankie and Josh agree that this is the worst of all Primus tracks, so why not keep it short and move on to the next one. This time, a…
- Primus Tracks
Greet The Sacred Cow w/ Jonny G
We complete the lespecial trifecta yet again as Jonny G drops by to discuss Greet The Sacred Cow. It all goes according to plan until we get to the sparse…
- Primus Tracks
Eclectic Electric
Josh and Frankie tackle Eclectic Electric, the mid-album proggy epic that has recently resurfaced in live performances. We spend an inordinate amount of time…
- Primus Tracks
The Antipop w/ Rory Dolan
Rory Dolan of lespecial joins the podcast to discuss the title track to the Antipop record. Aside from the irony of their Antipop anthem being one of their…
- Primus Tracks
Lacquer Head w/ Luke Bemand
We are joined by a bass powerhouse in the form of lesepcial's Luke Bemand to discuss Lacquer Head, which has recently rejoined the live set list. More…
- Primus Tracks
A Tribute To Kings Tour Wrap
Josh and Frankie pause their Sony Discman player that's spinning Antipop to discuss the finer points of the recently-wrapped Tribute To Kings tour, in which…
- Primus Tracks
Natural Joe
Two (legitimate) tracks into Antipop and we're still searching for a consensus Primus track; Natural Joe, producted by Matt Stone (that one!) checks more boxes…
- Primus Tracks
Electric Uncle Sam w/ Louis Ortega
We begin our Antipop excursion with the lead single that received a bit of radio play, but had no video or much of a promotional push behind it. Further, it's…
- Primus Tracks
Making of Antipop
Josh and Frankie go it alone to tackle the making of Antipop, perhaps the most divisive Primus record, for multiple reasons. This was a tumultuous time for the…
- Primus Tracks
Inter-Album Interview: DJ Disk
Perfect timing! As we are in the Brown and Rhino eras, turntable legend DJ Disk joins the pod to discuss his numerous guest appearances onstage and on…
- Primus Tracks
Making of Rhinoplasty with Toby Wright
After the Brown Album cycle wrapped, Primus was asked to work with a producer on their next effort, which was a covers EP to bridge albums. The band descended…
- Primus Tracks
Inter-Album Interview: Derek Greenberg of Beanpole
The madman behind Primus-adjacent musical adventurists Beanpole joins the podcast to reveal long-mysterious details on how Beanpole came to be, and the…
- Primus Tracks
Inter-Album Interview: David Lefkowitz (Master Class, part 1)
Former Primus/Les manager David Lefkowitz will tell us, over the course of multiple talks, his recollections and perspectives on Primus during his tenure as…
- Primus Tracks
Inter-Album Interview: Todd Huth
Original Primus guitarist Todd Huth joins Primus Tracks to dig into those still-mysterious early days of Primate/Primus; working with Jay Lane and Les and…
- Primus Tracks
Inter-Album Interview: Matt Winegar
Grammy-winner Matt Winegar produced the legendary Sausage demo, Suck On This, and Frizzle Fry with Primus. Soya and Matt tread down memory lane with stories…
- Primus Tracks
Arnie
Soya rejoins the fray (from the road with Primus!!) to help us close the Brown Album with Arnie - throwaway closer or deep philosophical mind-bender? Mostly…
- Primus Tracks
The Chastising Of Renegade w/ Matt Hunter
The penultimate Brown Album track mystifies and delights with its tantalizing guitar, bouncy bass, grooving drums. Easily greater than the sum of the parts…
- Primus Tracks
Kalamazoo w/ David Lefkowitz
Soya brings another heavy into the fold; this time, former Primus/Les manager David Lefkowitz drops in to talk Kalamazoo, a stylistic departure of sorts, until…
- Primus Tracks
Coddingtown w/ Anthony Garcia
Les Claypool: Old Person Mall Aficionado. Anthony Garcia and Soya provide local color to Coddingtown Mall of the 1990s as we examine this unusual Primus…
- Primus Tracks
Restin' Bones
Restin' Bones was roundly cited as one of the weakest Brown Album tracks upon release, and we reassess this claim. What do Josh, Frankie and Soya think of it…
- Primus Tracks
Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread w/ Rory Dolan
Hello, what's this? We're back to the Brown Album norm of "A-B and out," or are we? Featuring a blast of drums from Brain, some mathematical manipulation by…
- Primus Tracks
Bob's Party Time Lounge w/ Jonny G
Bob's Party Time Lounge is "overworked," for various reasons, according to Brain and Soya, who lived the making of the track. We discuss how a track moves into…
Primus TracksIntermission w/ Larry LaLonde
While Soya changes out Brown Album records, Larry "Ler" LaLonde takes the Primus Tracks crew into Ler Land for a career-spanning trip through influences…
- Primus Tracks
Puddin' Taine w/ Louis Ortega
Louis Ortega and his fretted six drop in to discuss this crusher of a track, aptly named Puddin' Taine, the greatest hype man this side of PT Barnum. Is that…
- Primus Tracks
Hats Off w/ Chris "Cheez" Chaussee
We doff our caps to the road crews that bring live music to us, through endless obstacles, lack of sleep, and a generally hostile work environment. Cheez and…
- Primus Tracks
Camelback Cinema
The much-maligned Camelback Cinema is obnoxious, numbing, and strange for Primus standards, which makes it a memorable and appreciable track for the Primus…
- Primus Tracks
Shake Hands With Beef w/ Turk Black & Landon
The lead single from Brown Album deserves the heavy treatment, and Soya brings us face-to-virtual-face with the mysterious legend, Turk Black. Josh gets into…
- Primus Tracks
Over The Falls
The second single from Brown Album sees Primus riding in the "traditional music" lane, albeit with their own spin on proceedings. Again, we're stuck in the…
- Primus Tracks
Golden Boy w/ Luke Bemand
A fan favorite from Brown Album, Josh wants to know why this wasn't the lead single. Frankie uses the word "idiosyncratic," and lespecial's Luke Bemand tells…
- Primus Tracks
Fisticuffs
The second track from Primus's Brown Album wallows in the depths of the brutality and corruption of bareknuckle boxing. Frankie lectures on the history of…