Today we look back to July 20, 2005…

Primus Emerges from the Punchbowl

After six years of solo tours, reunion runs and partial breakups, Primus will return to the studio later this year. Guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim ‘Herb’ Alexander will join Les Claypool, marking this incarnation of Primus first album since 1995s classic Tales from the Punchbowl. In 2003, the trio reunited for a series of club, theater and festival dates, offering an entire reading of its Sailing The Seas of Cheese album. Nodding to Claypools work in Oysterhead and the Frog Brigade, Primus also unveiled a slightly more jam-oriented sound. Claypool last recorded under the Primus moniker in 1999.
Primus has also announced a one-off appearance at Lollapalooza this Saturday. Sandwiched between performances by Claypools new solo band this will likely be Primus only show in 2005.

BIG in Ohio

Although the BIG Summer Classic is heading into its final week, inter-band collaborations and special covers are still arriving at a rapid pace. At the traveling circus’ latest stop in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, The String Cheese Incident once again closed out the day’s festivities by anchoring a group jam featuring many of the festivals’ performers. After String Cheese finished its set, Michael Kang returned to the stage with New Monsoon for a version of ‘En Fuego.’ The rest of SCI then emerged for a version of the Allman Brothers’ ‘Ramblin’ Man’ featuring Michael Franti, New Monsoon and special guest Manny Alvarez. Earlier in the evening, Bill Nershi could also be seen participating in a Franti-led parade which marched from the Blossom Music Center’s general admission section through the venue’s Pavilion before leading into Spearhead’s set.

Continuing its tour long trend of Pink Floyd covers, Umphrey’s McGee closed its show with a version of ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond (Part 1)’ with Spearhead’s Carl Young providing auxiliary saxophone. Umphrey’s McGee’s Joel Cummins also sat in on melodica with Keller Williams during a cover of Norman Span’s ‘Man Smart (Woman Smarter).’ Other notable collaborations during Williams set included Franti joining for a vocal rap sandwiched between ‘Zilla’ and ‘Drums’ and Yonder Mountain String Band’s Ben Kaufman enhancing ‘Novelty Song.’

Oteil Burbridge Makes Believer of Peacemakers

Although Oteil Burbridge is currently out on the road with the Allman Brothers Band, plans for his band the Peacemakers continue apace. The groups second studio effort, Believer, is set for a September 20 release. The band has yet to announce any CD-release dates but will play a handful of shows prior to then. On August 6, in between legs of the ABB tour, Oteil and the Peacemakers will perform at Sloss Furnace in Birmingham, Alabama. Beyond that the group has announced some Colorado and west coast gigs for early September.

Herring, Haynes, Morse, Eckhardt, and the Fuze salute Mahavishnu

The Mahavishnu Orchestra is the subject of the new tribute disc Visions of an Inner Mounting Apocalypse. The release presents ten of John McLaughlins compositions, most of which debuted with the Orchestra. Original Mahavishnu violinist Jerry Goodman is on four tracks along with a core band of guitarist Jeff Richman and three other musicians who have performed with McLaughlin: Vinnie Colaiuta, Kai Eckhardt and Mitchel Forman. Guests artists include Warren Haynes (Lilas Dance), Jimmy Herring (Meeting of the Sprits), Steve Morse (Celestial Terrestrial Commuters), Dave Fiuczynski (Faith), Mike Stern (Cant Stand Your Funk), and John Abercrombie (Follow Your Heart).

Vegoose Dates Confirmed

Although the specifics remain unannounced, the Elvis-maned outline of Vegoose is starting to fill in. The event, which is being produced by Bonnaroo promoters A.C Entertainment and Superfly Presents, will take place in Las Vegas on October 28-31 (information previously gleaned in a general sense by anyone who spent a bit of time pulling the wheel at the Vegoose web site). Although no artists have been confirmed, it is expected that Vegoose will incorporate a range of Vegas venues, culminating with any luck in a large-scale event on Halloween night.