Primus sucks! And welcome John “Hoffer” Hoffman to Atlanta!
Maybe that says it all to Primus fans?
Well, to explain… “Primus sucks!” is one of those wink-and-nod in-jokes among the band’s followers. This particular evening, perhaps it was the crowd shouting just that which led to a pretty freaking awesome closer — and fan favorite — “Over the Electric Grapevine.”
Or maybe perhaps bassist/leader Les Claypool decided he didn’t like it, abruptly ending the encore, “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver,” with five minutes still on the clock before the venue’s “sound off” curfew hit. Nah. Just Primus being Primus, always unpredictable, always entertaining.
As to that “Hoffer” guy, he’s the band’s new drummer, selected from over 6,000 applicants, chosen in part because he riffed on theme tunes like “Tom and Jerry” and “Ren and Stimpy” on his audition video, which fit hand in glove with the band’s sense of humor.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Hoffer sounded fantastic and looked fully in his element. And if Kelsie — a fan from Delaware who is following the band city to city — is any indication, Hoffer has already won over the caravan of fans traveling in the band’s wake. Hoffer is a hit.
If Claypool is playing things straight – which is at best a 50/50 proposition – then it’s Hoffer who suggested to his boss that they consider playing some great songs that the band had been ignoring in recent years. One was a cover of Jerry Reed’s “Amos Moses,” because Hoffer suggested they’re playing in the south, after all… and also maybe because their production manager’s birthday was that very night – and he looks a little like Jerry Reed. No matter, he had the crowd singing along.
Elsewhere, guitarist Larry “Ler” LaLonde — Claypool doesn’t call anyone close by their given name — fed the backscreen’s psychedelic vibes with his shifting textures of funk, punk and noise, a sideways counterpart to Claypool’s punchy slap bass and odd time signatures.
Highlights for diehards likely include the less frequently played “Restin’ Bones” and “Bob’s Party Time Lounge,” perhaps more of Hoffer’s suggestions.
First timers maybe didn’t get a generous helping of favorites this particular evening, but when the unmistakable opening riff of “My Name is Mud” drops, all is forgiven, right?
Primus remains one of rock’s most unorthodox and endlessly fascinating live acts. With the addition of Hoffer — who seems to understand the band’s ethos down to its bone marrow — they’re as unpredictable and entertaining as ever. The crowd may shout “Primus sucks,” but what they really mean is: don’t ever change.
Setlist:
Encore:
