The Leader

Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Music

Les Claypool is to bass guitar as Tiger Woods is to golf. His innovations cannot be evaluated, yet people adore him. While in Primus, he reinvented the wheel of what was possible in funk/metal/progressive jams with songs like "My Name is Mud," "Tommy the Cat" and "Jerry was a Race Car Driver." Now a solo act for the time being, his March 30 stop at the Rave reminded his fans why he is still a force to be reckoned with.

In fact, the entire lineup of bands was the most eclectic this side of Bonnaroo Music Festival, including: The Secret Chiefs 3, Saul Williams and Devotchka. The Secret Chiefs opened, exhibiting their Arabic John Zornish-tinged sounds upon the unsuspecting masses. Despite their very brief set time, they set the tone of the show. Saul Williams, aka, Niggy Tardust, was next, displaying incredulous amounts of energy and passion. Similar to the vein of Atari Teenage Riot in sound and Iggy Pop on stage, Saul Williams had an electrifying presence, like Axel Rose with better poetry. Eastern European gypsy folk punks, Devotchka, were next. Their female standup bass and accordion player really got the crowd moving, especially with their contribution from the "Little Miss Sunshine" soundtrack.

However engaging the openers were, everybody could not control their excitement for Mr. Claypool, and rightfully so. His entourage that included a cellist, xylophonist and drummer, who all wore masks portraying the faces of old men, let their carefree attitudes transcend into the music they played. Les, changing masks in between songs, was a bass playing fool, even when a money clip was thrown at him from the crowd. To that he replied, "I don't mind if you throw money at me, but just stop with the liquids!"-Referencing the beer barrage that the crowd was engaging in.

The performance itself was unreal. His collection of homemade pogo stick basses added to the aura in addition to the sublime chemistry of the percussionists that, for lack of a better word, rocked. Hypnotic is just one appropriate descriptors for the show. It was a great reminder that eclectic lineups can work. And even with a lack of guitar, leaving more emphasis on the percussion and bass, gave reason for anyone to want to pick up a bass.

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