CONCERT REVIEW: PRIMUS Live at The Fillmore Detroit

Oompa-Loompas at the Primus show in Detroit

When I first heard that Primus was remaking the soundtrack from the classic musical, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, I couldn’t wait to see what they were going to do with it live. I had that opportunity last night at The Fillmore in Detroit and the acclaimed prog-trio joined by the Fungi Ensemble certainly didn’t disappoint.

Bassist Les Claypool and guitarist Larry “Ler” LaLonde were accompanied by their original drummer Tim “Herb” Alexander who is back after recovering from a recent and unexpected heart attack. The group stuck mostly to songs written with Herb on their early albums Frizzle Fry, Sailing the Seas of Cheese, Pork Soda, and Tales from the Punchbowl.

Les Claypool of Primus

They opened with Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers, followed by Groundhog’s Day, Moron TV, and Seas of Cheese. After a few more of the band’s most well-known titles, they closed out the first set with their classic, Jerry Was a Race Car Driver.

For the second set, the trio was joined by cellist, Sam Bass and percussionist, Mike Dillon, also known as the duo Fungi Ensemble.  The five of them played their new album, Primus and the Chocolate Factory in its entirety, along with edited clips from the Willy Wonka movie projected on the screen behind them.

To close out the night, they played a sweet 3-song encore beginning with Mr. Knowitall and then ending the night with Southbound Pachyderm and Here Come the Bastards.