Primus brought their funk/metal stylings to the historic Chicago Theatre last Friday, and with the help of their Chocolate Factory themed set, they created an imaginative and intriguing production which left everybody in the room in awe. The two set show started with a set of Primus songs, followed by the themed set from the classic 1971 movie. Bassist/Vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde, and drummer Tim Alexander (back on tour after undergoing open heart surgery last Summer) were completely locked in all night and emitted an infectious confidence throughout the show.
The Chicago Theatre might normally have seemed like a surprising choice for the group, but the space worked wonderfully for both sets. The beautiful seated venue features numerous murals, roman columns, chandeliers, and incredible acoustics. Claypool commented on how impressive the room was, and how, after touring abroad, the band realized how amazing American venues truly are.
Starting their Primus set, the guys didn’t waste any time before diving into mystical territories. “American Life” opened the show, and after easing into the slow ominous number, they soon entered into deep improvisational space where they patiently explored numerous dark and interesting ideas. Several songs allowed for these eerie wide open jams, including a powerful “Groundhog’s Day.” Fan favorites such as “My Name is Mud” and “Lee Van Cleef” garnered an excited crowd reaction and got the room dancing and headbanging. As the curtain came down at the end of the set, an eager anticipation filled the room for the epic set that would follow.
After setbreak, the lights went down, the curtain came up, and the room was fully transformed into a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory world. The stage was decorated with large inflatable mushrooms and colorful candy props, Oompa Loompa dancers came out at various points, and Claypool led the show as Willy Wonka.
The group also brought out two additional musicians, Sam Bass on cello, and Mike Dillon on marimba/percussion, which helped fill the room with sound and ambiance. To tie everything together, a projector screen was rolled down to display scenes from the movie (with various mirroring and patterning effects) as the band performed their rendition of the soundtrack from their 2014 album, Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble.
The crowd roared with delight as it entered into the dark and twisted musical production. The show had a very cinematic quality, with soundtrack and visuals following along with the movie’s original plot. This created a very comfortable arc for the show, as the audience could tell where they were in the set and could look forward to upcoming songs and scenes.
Some numbers stuck close to the original compositions and utilized Claypool’s lo-fi twang vocals to add devilish texture, while other songs were completely reimagined. A great example was the stunning “I’ve got a Golden Ticket,” which took on a sinister personality with resounding bass slaps and aggressive guitar and vocals. The set was an incredibly unique experience, and the crowd was fully engaged the entire time.
After wrapping things up with a few more Primus songs for their encore, the group called it a night and the crowd cheered with satisfaction. If you’re a fan of Primus, Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, or just great strange experiences, don’t miss out on this outstanding show!
Setlist and photos by Bob Smith below:
