American prog rock experimental band Primus make a welcome return to London after nearly 10 years since their last visit, this time at the iconic Brixton Academy.
They’ve been around the block for a few years and are responsible for the theme song for the famous adult entertainment cartoon ‘South Park‘
Tonight in a break from the typical show line-up there are no support bands as was previously the case for their Manchester show as Primus are playing 2 sets of their music with a big enough interval for fans to refresh themselves from the intense sauna conditions inside the venue such was the feverish anticipation and a full packed out show, probably the hottest show i’ve experienced at this venue.
photo copyright Firebird Photography 2026
The band arrive a little late on stage, several times the fans howl “Primus sucks” in an affectionate manner goading the band on stage, but it takes a little longer for the band in their own sweet time to make a move on stage at about 8:25pm, but not without a crew member fastening an additional piece of paper, extending the setlist with some last minute changes by the band. Then then come to the stage 5 minutes later and without pulling any punches the band immediately head straight in to the deep end with prime cuts of Primus fan favourites starting off events with an extended version of their seminal song Too Many Puppies to which the crowd roared in ecstasy. With the lights down dark the circus show begins as if the crowd were peering in to the microtonal abyss.
The is the first time that the London crowd gets to experience the new engine of Primus, drummer John ‘Hoffer’ Hoffman, drum competition winner who with his double bass cage set up and cool calm exterior has all the tools in the box to bring the beats and punchy rhythms, the evenings music kicks off with the the pulsating bell ride for Too Many Puppies which was vivid and metronome tight and akin to touchpaper to get the fires in the crowd revved up, frontman Les Claypool arives on stage and dimly lit takes a good look at the audience before him, he circles around his effects rack and cabinets as if to check everything is in working order and peers over to guitarist Larry LaLonde and John Hoffman to make sure everyone is comfortable and dialled in for a long musical ride tonight of many of the greatest Primus songs held in high accord by fans.
.
The floor throughout the first set was wild with moshing and crowd-surfers who started crossing the barrier as early as song number three Groundhogs Day, the crowd were likely best pleased to have an interval to refresh themselves when the first set was over to catch a smoke outside and take in the fresh air before the next set came about 30 minutes later, queues to catch a breather and a smoke was prettly long and the sweat drenched faces was adorned by most of the audience.
with the crowd reset the band reappear again with smiles on their faces knowing that this is going to go down in Primus history as another great gig, set number 2 ensues and we all get to do this again, this is a fantastic double dosage of Primus, the band refreshed also look ready to pounce and the second half of the show begins.
More wild songs and incredible crowd antics ensured but especially for John the Fisherman, My Name is Mud, Jerry Was a Race-car Driver where seemingly the whole crowd on the floor and balconies were pogoing and moshing with abandon. And finally, for the finale, the encore Southbound Pachyderm was performed, not only was the house decibel monitor peaking but also the energy levels and legendary levels of sweat and heat from the crowd, all having far too much of a good time, but like all good times they must come to a bittersweet end.
It seems this Circus Show led by ringmaster Les Claypool put on one hell of a performance and will continue its tour in the UK including a headline show at ArcTanGent festival.
Don’t leave it so long until the next visit!
Setlists
Set 1
- Too Many Puppies (With Hello Skinny (The Residents) section in middle)
- Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread
- Groundhog’s Day (With Polka Dot Rose (Oysterhead) tease)
- The Ol’ Grizz
- Dirty Drowning Man (With Nature Boy tease)
- Last Salmon Man
- Frizzle Fry
Set 2
- Shake Hands With Beef
- John the Fisherman
- Over the Falls
- Seas of Cheese
- Mr. Krinkle
- Welcome to This World
- My Name Is Mud
- The Ol’ Diamondback Sturgeon (Fisherman’s Chronicles, Part 3)
- Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
Encore
- Southbound Pachyderm
