Primus in 3d at Hammerstein Ballroom NYC. Primus put on a great show at Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom this past Friday. The progressive funk metal power trio known as Primus with Les at the helm, performed an array of tunes past and present for everyone to enjoy. I’ve always been a huge fan of Primus and Friday only enhanced my love for the band. Les Claypool was a ripe as ever and with Guitarist Larry LaLonde and Drummer Jay Lane backing him, we loved every minute of it!
It’s been some years since I saw Primus at Lollapalooza in ’93 and seeing them perform at Hammerstein was so much better. The acoustics and layout made for a much more intimate show. The Primus 3d experience, imagery and graphic effects, were immersive and very well suited for the show, I just wish they were able to project it holographically so we didn’t have to wear those goofy glasses. Soon enough.
Jilly’s on Smack and Big Rock Candy Mountain were highlights for me as well as the infamous Tommy the Cat to close us out for the evening, swore I heard some DMV off of Pork Soda at some point. The combination of the 3d visuals and 2d imagery certainly made for a more psychedelic, if not hypnotic show. Progressive licks and rhythms from the trio grooved everyone along and the two large astronaut guards on stage, who seemed to look quite a bit like John Malkovich, only added to the strange show.
The once converted opera house that is Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom has been home to concerts, events and even held America’s Got Talent final auditions this past April. Broken up into 4 major venue’s the Hammerstein Ballroom has a capacity of just over 3,500, the Grand Ballroom with a capcity of 1,200, the Recording Studios hold two world-class recording studios, Studio 4 and 7, and also is houses the Television Studios, comprised of TV1 and TV2 Studios. Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom is conveniently located in mid-town Manhattan, 311 West 34th Street.
Primus Set 1:
American Life
Prelude to a Crawl
Last Salmon Man
Frizzle Fry
Over the Falls
Lee Van Cleef
Eyes of the Squirrel
Hamburger Train
Del Davis Tree Farm
Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers
(Henry the 8th Tease)
Pirmus Set 2:
The Return Of Sathington Willoughby
Moron TV
Southbound Pachyderm
Eternal Consumption Engine
Glass Sandwich
Jilly’s on Smack
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Hats Off
Over the Electric Grapevine
Hello Skinny
(The Residents cover)
Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
for the Encore:
HOINFODAMAN
Tommy the Cat