Les Claypool launched his ambitious "Claypool Gold Tour" with a kickoff show that unified three distinct musical projects under one roof. The Primus bassist brought together his longtime progressive rock outfit Primus, his experimental Claypool Lennon Delirium collaboration, and the jam-oriented Frog Brigade for a single evening that celebrated the breadth of his career.
The format reflects Claypool's restless creative appetite. Rather than confining audiences to a single band's setlist, the tour positions him as a conductor orchestrating multiple ensembles. Primus, the vehicle that brought Claypool mainstream recognition in the 1990s, shares billing with Claypool Lennon Delirium, his partnership with Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Dead & Company's Jeff Chimenti that explores funkier, more psychedelic terrain. The Frog Brigade rounds out the evening with its free-form jam sensibilities.
This approach marks a departure from the typical touring model. Rather than cycling through different bands on separate legs, Claypool compresses his artistic identities into single shows, allowing fans to experience the full spectrum of his work in one sitting. The setlist captures this eclecticism, moving between Primus' intricate bass-driven prog, the Delirium's groove-heavy experimentalism, and the Frog Brigade's improvisational wanderings.
The Reno kickoff delivered both video footage and a detailed setlist to fans, documenting the evening's progression across three distinct sonic territories. Claypool's four-string virtuosity anchors each project, yet his collaborators bring different energies and textures to the material. The tour essentially functions as a master class in the bassist's evolution from industrial-funk pioneers to sessionwork with rock royalty to unbridled psychedelic exploration.
The "Claypool Gold Tour" suggests Claypool views his career not as separate chapters but as interconnected expressions of the same restless spirit. Rather than choosing between his projects, he's creating a framework where all three coexist and complement each other.