Primus Tracks (Josh, Frankie, & Soya)

Josh and Frankie set sail to cover every Primus studio track...but you can't talk about Frizzle Fry without starting at Suck On This. It's unusual for a band's first official release to be a live album - Josh and Frankie delve into the background of the recordingm the Bay Area scene of the 80s, and the tracks themselves.

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Josh and Frankie take on the towering Frizzle Fry opener, To Defy The Laws Of Tradition - musical and lyrical themes, literary connections, and why this stands as an anthem for Primus and its fans.

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Josh and Frankie discuss musical & lyrical themes of Groundhog's Day, one of the most widely-performed tunes in the Primus repertoire. Frankie charts the evolution of the song in a live setting, and Josh invites you to get floored.

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Too Many Puppies, you've been tracked. Josh and Frankie break down the first ever Primus song, and get some help from longtime Primus staffer (and Victim's Family drummer!!!) Tim "Soya" Solyan. Soya tells us about the early days in the Bay scene, how Primus popped off, and gives insight into the production behind the creepy version of Puppies on the Rhinoplasty release. Be sure to check out Victim's Family - holy crap, what a band.

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Frankie knows all about Mr. Knowitall. Josh takes a road trip. We dive deep into this crushing Frizzle Fry track, particularly regarding live performances, but we also discuss the lyrics, music, and wax poetic about why the music of Primus is so deserving of one's ears and mind.

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Louis Ortega joins Josh & Frankie to break down the musical elements of Frizzle Fry's title track, and helps us appreciate its complexities - he even bangs out some riffs on the bass guitar! Settle in and take some notes, because you'll learn a lot about this pinnacle Primus performance.

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John The Fisherman - where to begin? The band's calling card in its early push for airplay outside the Bay Area. Josh and Frankie chart the evolution of the track from the Sausage demo to live performances in the present day, dissect the video, and we pay special attention to some compelling covers of this compact, complex track.

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Josh and Frankie discuss You Can't Kill Michael Malloy, an interlude with a rich history, and The Toys Go Winding Down, another stellar Frizzle Fry track. Frankie brings the history of Michael Malloy and Josh has an insane theory about the lyrics to Toys. Also: live medleys - hot or not?

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It's pudding time, children! Sound engineer and musician Anthony Garcia joins us to break down the musical elements of Pudding Time, and Frankie takes us on a journey through the many iterations of this track over the years. It's an anthem of inspired lunacy on Primus Tracks!

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Josh and Frankie track a goofy segue and a sinister jam that can be overwhelming to the uninitiated. We dissect the music, the lyrics, and the spelling of the titles, and Frankie uncorks a rare demo for us to sample!

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We round out Frizzle Fry with the Primus all-timer, Harold of the Rocks. We discuss the differing live versions, which lines are most fun to scream along to at shows, and how it's okay to make mistakes.

Next episode we take one more look back at the early days before it's time to sail the seas of cheese!

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The fantastic JOE GORE joins us to talk the 80s SF Bay scene, early Primus, how Les Claypool molded his stage persona, and the Holy Mackerel experience.

Find more about Joe at www.joegore.com

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We're out of the Frizzle Frying pan and into the Seas Of Cheese. We put on our snorkels and explore the origins and recording of the album, and Frankie shares album press kit material. Josh describes his associations to the Seas Of Cheese track, and as usual, we explore live versions, musical and lyrical themes to the Seas Of Cheese track as well as the motifs that permeate this album.

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Special guest Ron Rigler, who engineered the first four Primus studio releases, joins us to talk about the making of Sailing The Seas Of Cheese, the Primus major label debut. He dishes on the challenges of making the record, how he helped the band achieve its vision, and gives us long-sought information on topics such as:
-the fable 13 minute version of Los Bastardos
-working with Tom Waits
-Tracks left off the record

This one's big, guys! Even Frankie learned some new information! Enjoy!

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The bastards are coming, sure. But who are they? What do they want? What's their message? Find out as Josh and Frankie take on this Primus anthem. We get into the odd time signature, Tim's drumming approach, some excellent live versions (some with special guests), and we compare the 1991 and 2013 mixes!

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RIGHT! Josh and Frankie march through Sgt Baker and discuss the first official PRIMUS MYSTERY: what are the original lyrics to this track, that one can hear on early live versions?

LEFT! We delve into the herky-jerky music, Tim's drum approach, and the sources of lyrical inspiration, as well as Josh's favorite words to scream.

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American Life - a titan of a track that is a latter day live staple. Josh and Frankie get into its varied live history, the extended versions, what makes it a crowd pleaser, and the lyrics. Hoo boy, the lyrics. They could have talked all day about the social issues raised by the lyrics, but settled on using this track as an example of why Primus is not a joke/cartoon band. Plus, father/son bonding moments via Primus!

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We've reached Jerry, the gateway track for many Primus fans, and the most-performed Primus Track in a live setting. Once again, we get into live history and varying versions, the musical and lyrical content, and the music video - there's so much info that we can't keep our heads on straight! Try to keep up as we deconstruct this immortal Primus tune.

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Stranger Things fans, it's your favorite Primus track! Josh is particularly fired up for this one - the sneaky time signature and the philosophical underpinnings of the lyrics come to the fore. Frankie reveals the 1986 demo that first captured this track in a radically different form, and we tackle another Primus mystery!

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Josh and Frankie have a podcast. Is it luck?
They decode Primus's most chaotic track. Is it luck?
Frankie has the track's history. Is it luck?
Josh is unnerved by the track's sexual energy. Is it luck?
WELL, IS IT?

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PART ONE of TWO in which Josh, Frankie, and Senior Bass Analyst Louis Ortega discuss and deconstruct Tommy The Cat, perhaps the pinnacle of all Primus tracks. Louis demonstrates the many different interpretations of that legendary bass riff, and we take a trip through the history of the track up to 1997. Much more to come in Part Two. SAY BABY!

We bring it home for this monster Primus track with an examination of latter-day performances, lyrics, and a run through Frankie's favorite live Tommy moments. Plus, the Primus Mystery of the week!

Anthony Garcia returns to get us to the bottom of the success of this Primus live staple. What makes it so catchy? Why does it get everyone fired up? WHERE IS THE BLUE ROOM?! We dig into it all, and Josh realizes he knows more about drug slang than he probably should.

Josh and Frankie define the symbolism of the instrumentation of this track, which is just three fishing stories sewn together. OR IS IT?! There's more beneath the surface, and Josh lures it to the surface while Frankie reels in some live clips of Fish On from over the years, including as far back as 1990!

The bastards are back, and they've brought their friends. Josh and Frankie provide info on the eight (!) guest musicians on this track, which wraps up our outing on the Seas of Cheese, as well as how such a convention of great minds came about.

Renowned photographer Jay Blakesberg gives us a tour behind the scenes and the lens via his book, To Defy the Laws of Tradition: A Photographic Archive of Primus & Les Claypool - Jay dishes on the stories behind some of the photo sessions therein, and provides insight into the creative and collaborative processes with Les Claypool. Bonus: The book is marked down from $110 to $65 from now until the end of September 2020! Help Jay get his garage space back! Listen to the pod for details, or find us on IG @primustracks. Jay is @jayblakesberg and @retroblakesberg

Animator Webster Colcord created a caricature of Les for a Beats Antique video, which opened the door to further collaboration on the videos for Bubbles Burst (CLD) and Candyman (Primus). He walks us through the processes and challenges of stop motion animation and shares some insights into working with Les Claypool. Find Webster's work on Instagram @webstercolcord and at https://vimeo.com/webstercolcord

Gabby La La traces musical journey from childhood to her teenage years and into the gigging that helped land her a spot touring and recording with Les Claypool, friendships with Buckethead and Bernie Worrell, and why, when asked if you have some songs, you always say yes. Find Gabby and her music at gabbylala.com and on Instagram @gabbylalamusic.

Ron Rigler, engineer behind Miscellaneous Debris, joins us once again to delve into the recording of this little slab of Primus covers from 1992. We go track by track about the sound, the studios, and our appreciations for the originals in the lineup.

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We've arrived at 1993's Pork Soda! Josh and Frankie get into some of the circumstances around the recording of the album and tackle the first single from the album, which is nearly ubiquitous at Primus shows and on playlists. We are back at it with track origins, recording equipment, live history, music&lyrics, and how it all comes together. Wipe off your feet, grab a can of swine, and enjoy.

Welcome to Track 3 from Pork Soda, in which Josh and Frankie delve deep into Primus history to find the origins of this track, and Frankie's lyrical interpretation opens up a whole new world for Josh! This is one of the most sinister-sounding tracks in Primus history, and they're ready to take it on!

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Josh and Frankie take on arguably the darkest of Primus Tracks, and delve into what gives Pork Soda such a reputation. They also take apart the lyrics and how they match with the accompanying quasi-blues riffs. Even for Primus, it's kind of a weird one. Fish on!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

(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.

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!

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!

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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.

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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.

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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

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

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.

Mike has been prolific in 2020, creating three albums. Find his music at mikedillonband.bandcamp.com and support recording artists during this live music dry spell!

Note: This was recorded during the week of the year when Mexico is on daylight savings time and the United States is not, so Frankie joins about halfway through - hey, we learned something about international time considerations this year!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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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 and at lespecial.bandcamp.com

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!

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.

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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.

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?

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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 the liner notes.

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Soya and Gene Meyer (of Bandit) join us to talk about On The Tweek Again, a thematic sequel to a Primus classic. It's musically sparse, but we're able to mine the track for the psychology of drug abuse and Les Claypool approaches the topic. Soya tells the story behind a failed New Year's Eve gag from '94, and Josh demands Gene's top 5 comedians - severe consequences for not naming Richard Pryor!

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The unthinkable has happened. What started as Soya, Josh, and Frankie with lespecial drummer Rory turned into a goofball hangout with a retelling of the Grapevine story (and many more!) with Adam Gates and Les Claypool. ADAM GATES AND LES CLAYPOOL. Listen. Savor. Enjoy. We couldn't be happier to share this with you. Thank you, Soya!

No surprises this time! Soya and Rory Dolan (lespecial) help us unpack this latter-day fan favorite, and a treasure to us all - Over The Electric Grapevine. We get into the approaches of Jay Lane, Tim Alexander (and what Brain might do!) with this track, Les Claypool's bass groove, and Larry LaLonde's beautiful Ler-Land moments. And with that, we'll have finished Tales From The Punchbowl. Lots more Primus fun to come!

Ah, The Residents. Men of mystery. Of enchantment. And the finest influence on Les Claypool this side of Geddy Lee! We dive into some of the mythos around The Residents, but we mostly stick to the Primus side of these with a medley recorded in 1990, released as a b-side in 1995, and then included on a remaster in 2002. Skinny. Constantinople. Get it.

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Longtime poster and album artist Reuben Rude drops in to discuss the Primus Poster Series of 2011-present, how he goes about his artistic process, and what makes working with Les/Primus unique. Find Reuben at reubenrude.com and on social media!

Cellist Teddy Rankin-Parker recalls his experience sliding into the Wonka tour to hold down one half of the Fungi Ensemble. What was it like getting into the rock world? How was working with Les and Primus? What the heck did Teddy do during the first set? We get into these topics and more.

Carla Freestep, aka Lupin, joins the podcast to share some stories from the road as the de facto photographer for some Frog Brigade and Primus tours. She shares the challenges of photographing in low light, getting Herb to look like an action hero, and some of her favorite people to capture. Find her work at wildlupin.com and order a print, ya ingrates!

Frankie takes total control of the podcast, kidnapping the men of lespecial and subjecting them to 15 extremely rare Primus / Claypool live covers (okay, a couple are somewhat common). We get into the covers, the original artists, and of course Frankie has to talk about Bowie. Thanks again to lespecial for being game to join in! Find them @lespecialmusic on socials and at lespecial.net

Jay Lane graciously joins our little podcast to get into the nitty-gritty details of some early-days Primus, as well as touching on Sausage, Frog Brigade, and the 2010 reformation with Larry LaLonde and Les Claypool. If you're anything like me, you'll only listen to Tower Of Power and The Time for weeks after this one.

Bryan "Brain" Mantia joined Primus during a period of uncertainty for the band, and helped drive them in a whole new direction - huge (literally) drums, overdriven grooves, and blown-out sounds. Brain gets us into Rancho Relaxo for the making of Brown Album and drops some behind-the-scenes knowledge about some of his first live shows with the band. Soya brings another heavy to you on Primus Tracks!

Find out what Brain's been up to lately @brainandmelissa on Instagram!

Fellow colleagues, distinguished podcast listeners, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for joining us to explore the introductory track of the Brown Album. Our pal Leif drops in to discuss the music and the overall impact of this track as an opener, while Soya mines his memory for some intimate details. Also, Leif makes a musical connection to Ler's guitar line on this track - what a revelation! Josh and Frankie take on the lampooning of political propaganda that drenches the lyrics. Finally, Josh vows to make a connection to 1897 (when this album was actually recorded) with every track. Truly, all that glitters is brown!

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 fisticuffs as well as the Lilly & McCoy of the lyrics, and Josh examines their connection to James Ambrose, aka Yankee Sullivan. Soya sounds off on the prep for this track and the overall sound. Plus, live tracks and the Ler Appreciation Society convenes once again.

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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 us why, musically, this track shouldn't make any sense.

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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 19th century with the subject matter. and everything we find reinforces the idea. Hop in the barrel and enjoy!

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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 why it's such a big deal to meet Turk, and Turk & Soya's special connection to the track. Frankie and Landon get behind the bass groove, and we all figure out just what it means to "shake hands with beef," which is /not/ what you're thinking.

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The much-maligned Camelback Cinema is obnoxious, numbing, and strange for Primus standards, which makes it a memorable and appreciable track for the Primus Tracks hosts! Soya gets into what makes this drum groove so difficult. Frankie unearths a set list and review of the now-legendary (to us) Bottom Of The Hill show from 97 at which this track was performed. He also brings camel facts(!). Hang on for a wild ride, Primates.

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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 Soya drop some truly great Primus road stories throughout this episode as we discuss Hats Off, the most autobiographical Les Claypool track at the time.

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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 what Les Claypool was going for in the lyrics? We break it all down, Josh finds a cover version, and Frankie asks the deep questions about the darker side of the track. Plus, Soya drops some nuggets from the Brown Album tour.

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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, guitars, touring, music, and, most importantly, Ler's hair. Enjoy our talk with Larry Legend!

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 that territory, and Jonny G of lespecial returns to deconstruct and demonstrate one of Ler's most rippin' Primus guitar solos. This track is definitely a hidden gem; glad you came to find out why.

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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 Ler, and an elastic bass lick from Les, Duchess has more to it than meets the eye, and it certainly opens doors to jamming live, which makes it a latter-day staple. Lespecial's Rory Dolan explains and models the drum parts (including the solo!!!!) and provides clarity on Duchess, just like LSD?

Find Rory @rorydolandrums and @lespecialmusic

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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 24 years later? Dig in your shoes and you just might find out!

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 offering. What treasures of Santa Rosa can they unearth? Does a cover of this track exist? How in the world can there be an 1897 connection?! Put on your white New Balance shoes and let's go mall-walkin' to find out.

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 we find the pieces that constitute source material. Prima, Goodman, Miller....it all coalesces and becomes a Primus treat.

We have an extended chat with David to drop after we finish the Brown Album, so be ready for that!

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The penultimate Brown Album track mystifies and delights with its tantalizing guitar, bouncy bass, grooving drums. Easily greater than the sum of the parts, Renegade stands as a favorite for many from this record. Matt Hunter helps us understand the foundation of the tune and what makes it special. Plus, Frankie uses the word "thicc" again and makes us listen to his favorite part of the song 78 times.

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 the former, but Frankie and Josh do their damnedest to turn hearts to the latter. Final thoughts on the record as a whole, Youtube provides a cover, our last 1897 connections, and a cryptic preview of what's to come between albums. Arnie!

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 about the Bay Area scene and how those three important Primus recordings came to me. Great talk with two Bay Area champs!

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 making a name for themselves in the SF Bay. By the time you read this, Frankie has broken into Todd's attic to find some old tapes. Plus. we discuss his angular approach to guitar, his band Porch, Sausage, and what's in store for the future. Find Todd Huth on Spotify for his latest music!

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 manager from the late 80s to the mid 00s. Get your notebooks ready, because he's about to drop all kinds of names and stories on us.

The madman behind Primus-adjacent musical adventurists Beanpole joins the podcast to reveal long-mysterious details on how Beanpole came to be, and the involvement of one Larry LaLonde, among many other luminaries. Derek also shares a never-before-heard Beanpole track, so call it a Primus Tracks exclusive! If you haven't heard Beanpole yet, drop everything and find the music on Bandcamp or Soundcloud RIGHT NOW to get more context to this conversation.

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 upon Prairie Sun studios, and with the help of the legendary Toby Wright, created the band's second EP. Toby Wright kindly joined us to mine the depths of memory for the experience of making Rhinoplasty; another heavy brough to you by the one and only Tim Soya.

Find Toby's show, My Wright Stuff, on Youtube!

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 record/video with Primus.

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 band on many fronts, and we try to piece the picture together. Fred Durst: Why Les, Why? Plus, we evaluate whether the record holds up today.

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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 co-written and produced by Tom Morello, so is it truly a Primus tune? We discuss, debate, deride, deny, and finally, desist. Thanks to Louis Ortega of Rapscallion (@laprimustribute) for helping us with this track!

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 than Electric Uncle Sam (including a wondrous excursion to Ler Land), but according to Frankie, it's not all there. We talk about why, and get into some 1990s talk for a record that, so far wallows, in the tropes of late 90's popular music.

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 played Rush's "A Farewell to Kings" in its entirety. Which Primus tracks got the most love? What was most surprising? What was the atmosphere of the shows?

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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 importantly, we ask the big question: Whither Fred Durst? He's credited as producer, so where's his influence? We get into the music, lyrics, and ask the all-important Antipop question: Is it Primus?

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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 most accessible tunes, we get into what makes this track tick, and it all starts with that impressive opening from Brain.

Find Rory @rorydolandrums and @lespecialmusic on the socials. We're @primustracks - bring a friend!

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 on the lyrics, as they are among the most personal of Les Claypool's career. What do they mean? Don't worry; we won't leave you out to sea.

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 lyrics, and we take the podcast to distant lands. Jonny keeps us on an even musical keel and helps Josh understand just what Brain's doing in specific spots. So many little pleasures in this tune.

Find lespecial @lespecialmusic and find us @primustracks

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 guest turn on the record (Tom Morello) was a turn for the worse. But hey, this track sounds pretty bangin' at 1.5x!

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 a team effort that pays off. Dive in and backstroke right across these seas of cheese with Josh and Frankie!

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 city" California. Frankie tells the story behind the lyrics and we dig into those excellent Ler licks.

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