From the moment they opened with Danny Elfman's eerie "Clown Dream," it was clear this was going to be more than just a rock show. The eclectic crowd, a passionate mass of long-time fans and curious newcomers, was immediately drawn into a surreal soundscape amplified by dazzling visual displays. Trippy light projections and psychedelic animations bathed the stage throughout the night, enhancing the band's eccentric energy and reinforcing the sense that this was less a concert and more a hallucinatory carnival for the ears and eyes.
Les Claypool proved once again why he's in a league of his own. His bass work was nothing short of jaw-dropping - whether slapping through the distorted thunder of "My Name Is Mud" or building eerie tension in "Southbound Pachyderm," his playing served as the pulsing, ever-mutating heartbeat of the night. Guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde shredded with manic precision, warping scales and licks into dissonant bliss, while drummer John Hoffman held down the chaos with commanding rhythm and perfectly off-kilter timing.
The crowd chanted "Primus Sucks!" at one point near the end of the night - a long-standing, tongue-in-cheek tradition. The band responded in kind with a performance that was anything but subpar, tearing through fan favorites like "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver," "Bob’s Party Time Lounge," and "The Heckler." Even in the absence of their biggest charting hit "Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver," no one in attendance seemed disappointed. The band’s unpredictability is part of the draw.
MonoNeon, the enigmatic bassist and opening act, brought his own blend of experimental funk to the evening, priming the audience for the strangeness to come. His performance alone would have been worth the ticket. But when he returned to the stage to join Primus for the encore, "Southbound Pachyderm," the energy hit another level. Preceded by a haunting tease of Fleetwood Mac’s "The Chain," the collaboration was a surreal climax that saw two of the most innovative bassists alive sharing the stage in glorious weirdness.
The open-air setting of the SDSU venue only added to the atmosphere. Nestled in the heart of campus, the intimate outdoor amphitheater offered pristine sound and unobstructed views - an ideal place to experience a band as immersive and offbeat as Primus. With warm summer air, an electric crowd, and visuals that seemed to breathe with the music, the venue felt more like a lucid dream than a traditional concert space.
Primus doesn’t just perform music - they conjure it. They distort it. They invite you to live inside it for a few fleeting hours. And on Saturday night in San Diego, they reminded everyone lucky enough to be there that there is truly no other band like them. In the church of the strange and sublime, Primus remains high priest.
The unforgettable evening - presented by LiveNation San Diego - left longtime fans euphoric and first-timers in awe. If you missed the San Diego concert, Primus continues its tour with select California shows; check Live Nation for remaining dates, upgrades, and venue details.
Originally published on August 3, 2025.
