It was a dark and stormy night as I exited the PNE
forum. The rain beat down on my sweat drenched
body, cooling it, increasing an already high level of
wetness in my clothes. But I didn’t care. I was
numb, exhausted, deaf. I could only look forward
to a luke warm bow! of chili, the oblivion of sleep,
and the certainty that nearly 90% of my body was
going to be blue and yellow for the next three days.
But I didn’t care. I had been entertained. I had
been at the laat show of the Bring The Noise tour,
the last Canadian appearance of Public Enemy. My
head whirled as I sloshed down Hastings street to
catch my bus. Even better, with Les Claypool, vox/
bass with Primus, and received vital information
with which to arrange an interview. Thoughts spi-
ralled through my mind...I became dizzy,
lightheaded. The street swam before meas I reached
the corner, stumbled towards the bus shelter. I sat
down, sighing, and gratefully passed out, the words
forever echoing in my _ mind...Lavine
Schneider...Lavine Schneider...

First of all, I got there late, so I have no clue as to
what the “Young Black Teenagers” were like except
for their cameo ina new version of Primus’s “Tommy
The Cat”, which was, as the guy next to me opined:
“pretty fuckin’ cool.” Beyond that, the only thing I
can tell you about the “Young Black Teenagers” is
that they are all caucasian, and that they feel, in
defense of this incongruity, that “black isan attitude,
not a colour of skin”.

Before moving on, I would just like to say that I
am a big fan of all three of the other bands on the
bill, but cannot treat them fairly as it is my opinion
that Primus is right up therewith.. say.. well anyway,
they Suck!!! That’s right boys, girls, and
snapperheads alike, I am a self confessed Primus
freak, so if make any biases towards them you all
are just going to have to deal with it. As well I’d like
to say something about General Admission Shows.
They may seem like a hell of a lot of fun, but let me
assure you, children, you'll for all that pushing,
aqueezing, moshing, and stagediving the next day.
Mark my words. Anyway, on with the review.

by Rolando Espinoza and
Richard Wong

Planet of the Arts Volume 7 Issue 3

Primal Urges

Jeff
Griffiths

The next performance, by this neato band from
Frisco called Primus, was the best of the night, and
if you don’t think so then get your ears checked! It
was, alas, a short, six song set, and the band stuck
closely to their recorded versions for most of the
songs, but the gem of the set was the afore-men-
tioned “Tommy The Cat”, redone with rap verse
thanks to the Y.B.T. ,and an extended solo section
featuring a scratch war between the D.J. of Y.B.T.
and Les Claypool, bassmeister of Primus.

What followed was a long period of time during
which I got grated like cheese through the fence.

Then Public Enemy came on, to thunderous ap-
plause. That is to say, half of Public Enemy. We all
know now how Flavor Flav and a few of the S1W’s
weren’t allowed through immigration to play not
only in Vancouver, but as well in Toronto and
Montreal, due to their past criminal histories, how-
ever brief. As Chuck D took thestage, however, this
was the first the crowd had heard of it, and the
feeling was not good. Chuck was pissed off, and so
were we. What followed was an intense show of
Chuck’s prowess as a true hardcore M.C. I cannot
ignore the fact, however, that an essential part of
Public Enemy was missing. I bet if Wayne Newton
had a fight with his wife, not only would Canada let
him in, but that he wouldn’t have been charged in
the first place.

What followed was a long period of time during
which I got grated like cheese through the fence.

The next act on the bill was Barnum and Bailey’s
Ringling Brothers Circus. Or at least that is what it
seemed like. Anthrax divided their time on stage
evenly between ketchup fights, ogling strippers,
telling the crowd what a bunch of “cool fuckers” we
were for being there, and actually playing songs.
This kind of thing is a long way from the cool
sophistication that most metal bands use in lieu of
actual stage presence. If asked to choose between
the two, I’d take the former, any day.

All in all it was indeed, an exciting, mystifying

show. I had many questions to ask. I needed an-
swers... and so it was very convenient indeed when
the one andonly Larry “Ler” Lalonde, string bender
extraordinaire of Primus phoned me up that cold
Tuesday, November 5, to fill in the blanks. Actu-
ally, he didn’t just phone me up out of the blue. I
had arranged to have a live interview at the con-

cert, however they didn’t have time, so when I met
les Claypool after the show, | illicited a contact
within the label (the mighty Warner ) to get things
going in the right direction. That contact was none
other than the mighty Lavine Shneider, of whom
I still know nothing. So | called the Vancouver
office of Warner, specifically one Chris Kennedy,
truly a nice guy, who contacted Toronto, who
contacted the Interscope label that Primus is
attached to, and through the magic of Ma Bell,
just twelve days later I was talking to “Ler”
Lalonde.

Larry phoned me from Maddison, Wisconsin,
where it is now snowing. They band is currently
sharing a bill with Fishbone (christ, wouldn’t that
be a good show) and “having a lot of fun”.

He described the “Bring the Noise” tour as “a lot
of fun as well”, and attributed the ruckus raised
at the end of the show as symptomatic of being at
the end of the tour. “There was a big party the
night before, and everybody had their throwing
food,” said Lalonde. “The ketchup fight was sort
of the revenge.” He also mentioned that the crowd
on the tour had been “a bit different”, but didn’t
elaborate.

I then asked him how the band had formulated

_ their unique sound. “I don’t know. We just went

out of our way to dosomething weird. We weren’t
into doing anything mainstream at all. We were
just bored, I guess. “ It comes as no surprise to me
personally how Primus occurred. As Larry said,
“everyone writes their own parts”, so we must
look at their influences. Les Claypool has cited
such funk/rock/jazz greats as Stanley Clarke,
Larry Graham, Rush, and the Isley Brothers.
This, accompanied with Les’s cartoon-goes-fish-
ing aesthetic and Larry’s own admission of being
“really heavily into Frank Zappaa couple of years
ago” paints a pretty obvious picture. And if you
don’t know what I’mtalking about, go read some-
thing else!*

Heavy D and the Boys : Now That We Found
Love
Remix German CD single

Richard: The cool bass and extra singing add to
this hip song. It’s a finely done piece without the excessiveness that some composers
inadvertantly create when remixing a tune.

Rolando: This summer track is8 minutes of fun, fun, fun. R & B’s has produced another
club jammie that fuses Latin percussion with that gut sound. Nice job Teddy- oh...and
yes, you too Heavy! If you like the American newjack sound - you’ll be groovin’!

Second Phase : Mentasm
Remix U.K.CD single

Richard: It starts off as a storm warning, and what you get is 5 minutes of fast, furious
music. This enjoyable song shifts and mutates, but comes back in a circle.

Rolando: Can you say house? Can you say mind trip? Can you say special effects?
UK’s obscure Second Phase have done their audio magic on this track - and I must say
Thaven'theard more original studio tech. ina long time (it’s refreshing when you don’t
hear worn out hip hop samples). I recommend it for those who have good audio
equipment - or slammin’ head phones.

Set up System : Fairy Dust
XL the Second Chapter
Compilation UK CD album

: Some songs linger on you while other songs grow on you. Fairy Dust grabs onto your
ears and doesn’t let go. This musical beastie never seems to release its grip on the
unrelenting energy created in the song. It makes you wonder why your speakers haven't
exploded yet.

13

Rolando: This is kind of like those soundtracks you
hear on old, old Spiderman cartoons - you know: when
he’s being hypnotized or when he’s falling down adeep

outbecause of fatigue; when... well, you get the picture,
To sum it up - weird house.

INCUBUS : The Spirit
XL The Second Chapter
Compilation UK CD album

Richard: This is one of my favorite songs from the XL the Second Chapter compact
disc, The main reason this song is good is because of the Westban backtrack. Without
the added element this song would probably be like the everyday, average house tune
we hear at the clubs.

Rolando: Unfortunately, XL'srecording Incubus, has produced a dull repetitive house
that is plagued by predictable sample houses and old stolen ‘monkey man’. This could
have done well, way back in the middle 80's, but these days it just seems old and tired.

BlackBox : Ride on Time
Remix UK CD single

Richard: It has James Brown written all over it- from the singing to the music. You

can’t take this song seriously, but who cares? It’s danceable and you can shake your

bottom to it.

Rolando: By this time, you've probably tired of anything that Black Box puts out, but
wait! This top 40 track is reworked to be an American soul classic. I truly believe that
the Godfather of soul, James Brown, helped out with this one. Even though this song
has been played to death, a review has to be offered, and here it is: funky. Stupid old
funky.*

chasm; when he’s being drugged or when he’s passing _

Tewaea dark and stormy night a exited the PNE.
forum. The rain beat down on my aneat drenched
‘ody, cooingit, incre
wetness in my clothes. But I didn't care.
numb, exhausted, deaf. could only look forward
to. lake warm bowl of chili, the oblivion af sleep,
andthe certainty that nearly 90% of my body wat
{ing be blue and yellow forthe next thre days
Bat I didn't care, Uh been entertained. Thad
eam atthe lat show ofthe Bring The Noize tou
the aut Canadian appearance of PublicEnemy-My
tad whirled ae [aloahed down Hastings stret to
catch my bu. Even better, with Les Claypool, vox!
‘aus with Primus, and recived vital information
vrith which to arrange an interview. Thought ap-
led through my mind... became dizzy,
lightheaded. Thestreetawembeforemeas reached
the corner, stumbled towarde the bus sel eat

Firatof all Igot there late, 0 Thave no clue as to
what the "YoungBlack Teenagers” were like except
{or theicamoin anew version of Primus’ "Tomy
‘The Cat", which wat, athe guy next tome opined:
“prety fuckin’ ool” Beyond that, the only thing
‘an ll you about the “Young Black Teenagers”
that they are all eauessian, and that they fe, in
‘efenseofthivincongruity,that"backisanauiude,
ota colour of skin"

‘Before moving on, I would just ike to ay that I
sm big fan of ll three of the other bunds on the
bill but eannot tet them sil eit amy opinion
that Prmasiight up herewith. y.-vellanywa
they SuekI!! That's right boy, girls,
snappecheade alike, Iam a self confessed Prime
freak, if make any biases towards them you all
arejunt ging tohave to del witht. Ar welll like
{oaay omhing about General Admission Show.
‘They may scom ikea hell of lot of fun, but let me
assure you, children, you'll forall uht pushing,
‘squeezing, moshing, and stagediving the next day
Mark my words. Anyway, on with the review.

by Rolando Espinoza and
Richard Wong.

ay Dna Bos: Now Tat We Fed
Le

enix Geran CD single

‘Rehan: The cobs dents ao

Planet of the Arts Volume 7 Issue 3

Primal Urges

Jeff
Gifts
‘The next performance by this neato band from
rioo call Primus, wat thebet ofthe night, and
i you don't think so then get your ears checked! It
vata thorax song et, andthe band stuck
closely tether recorded versions for most ofthe
tongs, but the gem of the set was the afore-men
tioned “Tommy The Cat”, redone with rap verse
. andan extended elo vection
scratch war between theD J. of Y.B.T.
and Los Claypool, bassmeiter of Prima.
‘What followed war along period of time during
hich I got grated like cheese through the fence.
‘Then Public Enemy carton, to thunderous ap-
plase. Thtiso1ay, half Public Enemy. Weall
Know now how Flavor Flay and fw of the SIW"s
weren't allowed through imaigration to play not
‘only in Vancouver, bt at well in Toronto and
Montreal,dueto thei pasteriminal histories, how
‘everbriaf As Chuck Dtookthestage, however thie
teas the fret the crowd had hosed of it and
feeling was not good. Chuck was pssed off, and 00
vere we. What followed wat an intense show of
Chuck's prowess at tue hardeore MC Teannot
‘ignore the fat, however, tht an eel part of
Public Enemy wae missing. Ibetif Wayne Newion
hada fight withhis wife, not only would Canada let
‘himin, but that he wouldn't have been charged in
the fit place
What followed was slong pried of tine during
hich I got grated like cheese through the fence.
‘The next act on the illwas Barnum and Bailey's
Ringling Brothers Cicus.Oratleastthatiswhatit
come like, Anthrax divided their ie on stage
fights, oping strippers,
unch of ool fuckers" we
vere for being there, and actually playing songs.
‘This kind of thing it 2 long way from the cool
sophistication that most metal bands ut in lew of
sctual tage preence. I asked to choote between
1 take the former, any day.

nyaifying
‘show. [had many questions to atk. I needed an-
‘neert..and.oitwas very convenient indeed when
‘heoneandonlyLarey“Lee" Lalonde, tringbender
‘extraordinaire of Prim phoned me up that cold
‘Tuesday, November 5, ofillin the blanks. Acta:
ally he didn’t just phone me up out ofthe Bue. I
hha arcanged to havea live interview atthe con-

shu
up.

dance

‘cert however they didn'thavetime sowhen [met
les Claypool afer the show, Iillited a contact
within thelabel(themighty Warner) to get things
sgoingin the right dizetin. Thatcontatwasnone
‘other than the mighty Lavine Shader of whom
tll know nothing. So I called the Vancouver
‘office of Warner, specifically one Chie Kennedy,
truly «nice guy, who contacted Toronto, who
‘contacted the Interscope label that Primus ie
tached to, and theough the magi of Ma Bll,
juat twelve daye later I was talking to “Lee”
Lalonde,

Larry phoned me from Maddison, W scons
rhe it ie now anowing. They band i cureently
‘haringabillwith Fihbone (christ, woulda'that
‘bea god show) and “having lt of fn"

‘edeseribedthe“Bringthe Noe” tours
of fun aswell”, and attributed the ruckus rated
atthe end ofthe show a symptomatic of being at
the end ofthe tur. “There was ig party the
night before, and everybody had their throwing
food,” said Lalonde, “The ketchup fight was 0
oftherevenge." Healiomentoned thatthecrowd
‘on the tour had been s bit diferent”, but dida’t
tlaborate
[then asked him how the band had formulated
their unique sound. "I don't know. Wa jst went
‘out of our way todosomething werd. We weren't
into doing anything mainsiceam at all. We were
juatbored, gues." Itcomes a nosurpise tome
personally hw Primus occurred. As Larey sai,

fone writes their own parts, 90 we mu
look at their influences, Le Claypool has cited
such funlirockjanz greats as Stanley Clarke,
Larry Graham, Rush, and the lley Brothers
‘This, accompanied wth La'searton-goe-fth-
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“really heavilyito Frank Zappa. coupleofye
go” pants a prety obvious piture. And if you
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