Last night Harold Of the Rocks was streamed at this very desktop (operating system getting wonky tbh). Disaster Amnesiac took note of the release date for Suck On This! and recalled going to what may have been a release party for the album: the Omni in Oakland, November of 1989. Recall seeing the Limbomaniacs on the bill and grooving out to the then new Paul's Boutique. Primus had already become a big deal band in the East Bay, that much was abundantly clear. The East Bay is damn tough too. It's pretty easy for people to give zero F's in the Bay. It wasn't just the band's one nerd or dork hanger-on shouting out the lyrics to multiple songs during their set, let's put it that way. That room was stuffed with people that loved the music being played. The memory of that show being a really moved and moving experience for audience and band alike has not been forgotten. It was cool to witness a band that was about to break out and break out we're talking: B-I-G. Fugazi had that same feel, but there were much different dynamics at play. Les Claypool and his pals were on their way to something awesome and doing it in an original way, much as Fugazi, but with a more Official Music Business veneer.
No other band can ever sound like Primus. Primus is a band that influences. Probably a mixed blessing. At least, that was how a musician that I knew felt. J and I would get together and play with some other dudes; these dudes would mention aspirations towards getting sounds either exactly replicating or very closely replicating Primus. Thirty five years later, that's probably going to still be the case within many nascent band situations.That is is a no-brainer, due to the stated reasons.
Regarding the audition clips that are being loaded up to YouTube they provide evidence of a glut of fabulous drummers within the realm. Tons of guys showing proof that they know cuts all across the lengthy Primus catalog, knowing them to the point of being able to gracefully navigate their odd twists, subtle nuances, and balls out huge riffage passages. Mostly very large drum/cymbal kits are shown. Within the context of Primus music that is not sin and makes a lot of sense. Tim Alexander is a musical searcher who is always trying out new combinations of sound sources and rhythms. Again, the Influencer thing, and he can pull it off as can Larry and Les. One brave drummer submitted footage of himself playing a four drum/two suspended cymbals/hi-hat combination (BRAVE move man!), but for the most part Disaster Amnesiac has seen drum sets that would take a minimum of thirty to forty minutes assembly within the most forgiving of circumstances. No girls yet though? Sheila Bosco? Fliss Kitson? Where are you? Shit, now that I'm thinking about it, where is Moe! Staiano's audition tape? If you see that, please send it my way.
It must be admitted that Disaster Amnesiac has also pondered how the Primus audition video has been received by the band and its management. Are Claypool and Lalonde texting each other with admonishments to dig on certain of them and goof on others? Is Tim involved in an advisory capacity? How much time does the band have before they make their decision on the right drummer? Will they live-stream a reveal video, wherein they play a set of select tunes? Which tweeting services will bear the news?
No doubt most of the 'fellers involved with Primus will have other activities lined up as ways of filling time before the band's next engagements. Disaster Amnesiac will continue watching this interesting development from one of THEE San Francisco Bay Area bands. They have enough San Pablo Bay salt and grime to assure that fact.
