Thousands of loyal Primus fans gathered at Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles on July 7th for a concert by the beloved trio. A warm, dry wind from the Central California desert blew across the venue. While temperatures topped 100 degrees midday, the climate was far more comfortable at showtime just around sunset. The breezy conditions offered crystal clear skies in the rural mountain setting. Not only was the venue itself stunning, with beautiful views of the surrounding vineyards, but it also provided the perfect setting for an outdoor concert experience.
Guerilla Toss opened the evening with an energetic and eclectic performance that immediately captured the audience's attention. The band’s unique fusion of punk, funk, and electronic elements created a contagious energy that had everyone dancing. The Boston band formed a cohesive unit, blending a unique brew of multiple musical genres, not unlike Primus. Frontwoman Kassie Carlson impressed the early crowd with her powerful vocals and confident stage presence, further adding to the band’s magnetic performance. She was backed by powerful musicianship from drummer Peter Negroponte, guitarist Arian Shafiee, keyboardist Jake Lichter, and bassist Zach Lewellyn.
Following Guerilla Toss, Primus took the stage under a glorious midsummer night, with twinkling stars above, far from city lights in the Paso Robles foothills. Primus delivered a spectacular performance that showcased their virtuosic musicianship. While the band evokes an innate punk rock-driven urge to mosh dance, their music is much more sophisticated than other bands of the punk genre, bordering on jazz-rock. Les Claypool’s bass playing, as usual, stood out as a highlight of the evening, captivating the crowd with its skillful precision.
The feisty musician with a mischievous sense of humor often engaged the crowd, offering up whimsical quips. A glance at the setlist revealed that the band had dropped their recent touring intro song, “Those Damn Blue Collar Tweakers.” Later, Claypool quipped, “We didn’t play Tweakers. Now my shit is all fucked up,” referring to his ensemble of electronic instruments syncing to his live performance. The witty master of the bass is frequently listed as one of the top five bass players of all time. Claypool once auditioned for the role of bassist in Metallica after the passing of Cliff Burton and modestly claimed that he just didn’t fit in with the metal band. But James Hetfield tells a different story. Hetfield once remarked that Claypool was not offered the job because "he was too good" and "should do his own thing.” Claypool went on to form Primus in 1984, and by 1989, the classic trio included guitarist Larry Lalonde and drummer Tim Alexander.
The band has been performing in various formats in recent years. Beginning in 2020, the group played numerous times, performing “A Tribute To The King," a set of Rush cover songs. Overlapping that tour, the trio started the Sessanta tour featuring Primus and Maynard James Kennan’s “A Perfect Circle” and “Puscifer.” More recently, Primus has been touring with Coheed and Cambria. But this night was all about Primus, and the setlist reflected a time capsule including the band's biggest hits. Songs like “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” and “My Name is Mud” whipped the frenzied crowd on the floor into a giant mosh pit. Throughout the night, shouts of “Primus Sucks” permeated the crowd, a tradition dating back to the band’s early days in Sacramento and greatly encouraged by Claypool.
The sound at the amphitheatre, nestled in a rural setting far from complaining neighbors, was explosive and loud, adding to the fury and excitement of the set. An intricate multimedia presentation added another dimension to the impressive performance. Midway through the show, Claypool left the stage during an explosive drum solo by Alexander. Later, the impish bass player returned wearing his trademark pig mask and playing his upright electronic bass like a madman, opening with the Primus classic “Mr. Krinkle.” That was followed by a raucous version of “Jilly’s on Smack.”
For nearly two hours, the 16-song setlist of Primus classics inspired an audience full of adoring fans. Overall, the Primus and Guerilla Toss concert at Vina Robles Amphitheater was an unforgettable experience. The combination of two talented and distinct bands in such a picturesque setting made for a truly memorable evening.
