Pop Break Live: Primus at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ
“Keep Asbury Park Weird” is the mantra of locals (and many guests) of Asbury Park, New Jersey. While it’s a city known for its most famous son (The Boss), it’s a town where artistic expression of any kind is wildly accepted, embraced, and encouraged. And while the city meteorically rises from its Walking Dead-esque ruins from 12-15 years ago — it’s the “weirdness” that keeps it unique to any other beach town, or music scene in the country.
So it makes perfect sense for Primus to be a staple in the Asbury Park summer concert calendar. The Les Claypool fronted band has painted the summer skies a psychedelic shade of awesome every time they perform outdoors at The Stone Pony Summer Stage. Their stage set-up is beyond description, and Les Claypool’s unique charisma, and the band’s unrelenting performance style have garnered capacity crowds each time they roll into town.
Unfortunately due to the unseasonably wet, and cold June the Northeast has been experiencing did not allow Primus their normal stage. Instead, for the safety of the band, and the audience, the show was moved to the Grand Lady herself — the iconic Convention Hall, located at the north end of the boardwalk.
The show was a double bill with heavy metal stars Mastodon.
Matt Heasley caught the band in action.
Setlist:
Too Many Puppies (into)
Sgt. Baker
(Back Into) Too Many Puppies
Last Salmon Man
The Heckler
Southbound Pachyderm
The Desaturating Seven
The Valley
The Seven
The Trek
The Scheme
The Dream
The Storm
The Ends?
Nature Boy
Welcome to This World
My Name Is Mud
Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
Encore:
John the Fisherman
