Oysterhead - Wield The Spade

This week, we discuss David Makalaster, often referred to as Mak 1, which brings Purple Onion to life after the ambient opening track. Mak 1 and 2 somewhat bookend the Pruple Onion record, and we discuss this first installment in near-isolation, but it's difficult to separate the two. Lots of lyrical references to unpack, and the mass of instrumentation makes for a busy and full musical experience. It's also the first exposure to Skerik's fancy sax for many fans, and boy, does he deliver. Plus, we have live cuts from over the years and lineups/iterations of Les's solo bands. Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money 

As we begin to peel back the layers of Les Claypool's 2002 album Purple Onion, we discuss the background of the record, its place in (and out) of its time, the inspiration for the title, and we discuss the title track's ambience and ambiguous lyrics. Purple Onion stands as the jump-start to the Les Claypoo; 2000s solo career in terms of writing and performing original material with the Frog Brigade, Fancy Band, Fungi Band - whatever the name of the iteration, it's based on a Claypool record. Grab your local, organic produce and join us. Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money 

No Forcefield was an experimental collaboration of Larry LaLonde, Brain, Adam Gates, DJ Disk, and Extrakd for Stray Records, which produced two albums: 2000's Lee's Oriental Massage and 2001's God is an Excuse. They're wild, unpredictable, bizarre, and good, clean fun. Both albums are long out of print, but readily available on resale sites such as Discogs. We discuss the (lack of) notoriety for the band, its truncated live history, and what went into the recording of these albums (beyond stimulants). It's c ertainly a departure  from the Primus and Claypool aesthetic, but who doesn't love pure, unadultered self-indulgence from Ler and company?No Forcefield at the Beta Lounge in 2001: https://betalounge.com/2001/02/22/no-forcefield/Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money 

Sessanta spoilers aboundRejoice, for there is new Primus! As part of the Sessanta tour celebrating Maynard James Keenan's 60th birthday, Primus is supporting live and recorded a track with Maynard for the Sessanta E.P.P.P. We couldn't wait to discuss this track, the first new Primus recording in two years. We discuss its greater context in Sessanta, the tour, and the tune itself, which is certainly a departure from anything else in the band's established catalogue. Hop on a hippo and ride along! (Don't do that. Really.)Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

In this super-sized episode, we discuss the 1985/86 Primus demo tape informally titled Welcome To This World, and set it against its time period in the development of the band. From there, we welcome Peter Libby to the show. Peter drummed for Primus over 1984-86, and his skilled approach elevated the band in the Bay Area scene. Peter discusses those early days, his friendship with Tim Soya, his own musical path, and his takeaways from working with Primus. Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money 

We sample Frankie's newly-acquired 1984 Primate demo tape and give context to its origin, as well as comparing the primordial Primus tunes to what they'd become on official studio releases. Who knew that so many tunes were nearly fully formed as early as 84? We had clues from some bootlegs that go as far back as 86 or 87, but this is a whole new realm, including the infamous initial recording of Too Many Puppies! Enjoy chewing on this most delicate morsel of Primus history. At this time, we're deferring to the band and management as to whether to publish the audio in full. Thank you for your patience. Requests for full audio will be ignored, and offers to purchase the tape met with maniacal laughter.Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money 

Surprise! We're not quite through with Oysterhead yet. Weexamine the two "bonus" Oysterhead tracks created by Stewart Copeland shortly after the 2001 tour wrapped. Soya phones in from yet another hotel room and tells stories from the Oysterhead tour, including hanging with the men of Oysterhead and integrating with the Phish crew that largely staffed the tour, as well as the mysteries of Les's Shadow of a Man helmet, Trey's Matterhorn, and Stewart's snare drum sound. Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money 

We wrap up our coverage of the sole studio release from Oysterhead in style with Owner of the World, a sunny day feel-good track that closes the record in fine form.How does the album stack up for you? What lasting takeaways do you draw from the record? We want to know your thoughts! [email protected] involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

We've reached the title track of Oysterhead's lone studio album, and its medieval bent invites comparisons between the futility of feudalism and modern capitalism. Les Claypool uses classic and crass imagery to expose our class system, while maintaining the happy-go-lucky jauntiness of the music. Tamborines to armageddon!Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money

This one might be The Grand Pecking Order's top track for many listeners, and we get into what makes it so inviting in terms of musicality (Sabbath?!) and the tale hidden within the lyrics, some of it autobiographical for Les Claypool, and some of it hurtful to Buffalo Bills fans, me included. Dig in!Get involved:InstagramFacebookEmailBurn your money