LIVE: LES CLAYPOOL’S FEARLESS FLYING FROG BRIGADE – October 31 2023

Venue: Ryman Auditorium

City: Nashville, TN

Date: October 31, 2023

Review and Photographs by: Jacob Smith (www.jhs-photo.com)

This performance was the culmination of a 20-year break and reunion. This was Les Claypool of everything from Primus to Delirium. They are all eclectically amazing. This show was what you would expect. Perfection in sonic brilliance. Claypool’s own words about this band is “a kind of King Crimson meets Pink Floyd meets Frank Zappa type of thing.” And he said it best. The crowd was all dressed in costumes. This was Halloween. At the Church of Music. Such a perfect night to be there. If you were one of the crowd you would think you were a live Muppet ready for The Muppet Show. Brilliance like this doesn’t happen often. Les came in with a few tracks for a first set that started with “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” then it went directly into “David Makalaster” and “David Makalaster II.” Really was a singular song on how they pushed it out. Total jam tastiness. Then they went into “Buzzards of Green Hill” and “Riddles Are Abound Tonight” which is a *Sausage cover. Straight owned it. A member of the band for this 20-year reunion was Sean Lennon. After an original member had to bail due to sickness, Sean jumped on. So, this tour for half of it was Claypool/Delirium. Which is amazing. Tapping to a thing that a dream would ask for.  So, the next track was his. a Claypool/Lennon Delirium track titled “Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons: Movement II Too the Moon.” Getting Lennon on the show was extra awesome. I mean its Les, but having Lennon Delirium on all tracks was rad.

The first set was done. When they came back it was beyond brilliance. They played Pink Floyd’s Animals in its full glory. They then continued the eclectic amazement with a couple Holy Mackerel numbers Precipitation and Calling Kyle.  Maple Leaf Rag which was a great play on the old Scot Joplin song which was the segue into Amanitas. The band teased “Tommy The Cat” within “One Better” followed by “Thai Noodles” and “D’s Diner.” The crowd wasn’t done, they wanted more. The motley crew came back and jammed out through extended versions of “Cosmic Highway” with “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” tease and “Whamola.” Everyone left happy that night to “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka playing in their collective background and heads. For the final night on a 20-year reunion tour, ending at the Church is the best you can ever expect or dream for. It means you are home. And Les and the gang are perfect for this space. It was exceptional. Maybe I don’t have to wait another twenty years to see Flying Frog Brigade again.

Setlist: David Makalaster – David Makalaster II – Buzzards of Green Hill – Riddles Are Abound Tonight – Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons: Movement II Too the Moon – Pigs on the Wing, Part 1 – Dogs – Pigs (Three Different Ones) – Sheep – Pigs on the Wing, Part 2 – Precipitation – Calling Kyle – Maple Leaf Rag – Amanitas – One Better – Thai Noodles – D’s Diner – Cosmic Highway – Whamola

[Show as slideshow]

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries