Episodes

  • Inter-album Interview: Robi Bean

    Inter-album Interview: Robi Bean
    Dec 15 2025
    This week on the podcast we welcome Robi Bean, who drummed with Primus for about half of 1986. Although he doesn't appear on any demo tapes, and live footage of his playing with Primus is scarce, Robi played an important part in the formation of many early Primus songs that would become fan favorites, including Tommy The Cat. Robi details how he first worked with Les Claypool in a band called Manx, and how a visit to psychic presaged his later involvement in Primus, and recalls some choice moments with Les and Todd.

    If you're in the Bay Area, you can catch Robi drumming for numerous blues bands around town, including regular gigs at The Saloon on Grant Avenue: https://thesaloonsf.com/the-bands


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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Primus DNA - Rush

    Primus DNA - Rush
    Dec 1 2025
    For our next entry in the Primus DNA sub-series, we swing for the fences by daring to take on the mighty Rush as a major component of the Primus makeup. Gerry Schramm of the Something For Nothing podcast joins us to make sense of it all, including where to hear elements of each band's hallmarks in the music of the other, the enduring friendship between the two bands, and their commonalities, including killing the party by putting on their albums.

    Rush fans: Where should Primus fans unfamiliar with the band start?

    Primus fans: Where should Rush fans unfamiliar with the band start?

    Hit us up to help with this unscientific study.

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • OFAF - Ol' Rosco

    OFAF - Ol' Rosco
    Nov 24 2025
    We end our Of Fungi And Foe review with Ol' Rosco, who may be one of the more abhorrent characters in the Claypool lyrical universe, perhaps for being all too real. This is the final "fungi" track in the sense that it was initially written for the Mushroom Men video game; Les later added vocal and percussion tracks for the OFAF record. Frankie provides a loving sendoff to this record, which he holds in high regard. Get your skin care routine ready.

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    38 mins
  • OFAF - Pretty Little Song & Of Fungi and Foe

    OFAF - Pretty Little Song & Of Fungi and Foe
    Nov 17 2025
    This week, we cover tracks 10 and 11 from Of Fungi and Foe: Pretty Little Song with guest Bryonn Bain, as well as the title track. These tracks are buried on the back end of the record and have never been performed live, so they're obscure nuggets in the catalog. Wail and gnash your teeth along with us as we explore the agony of Pretty Little Song and what the title tracks tells us about the whole album experience.

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    36 mins
  • OFAF - Primed by 29

    OFAF - Primed by 29
    Nov 11 2025
    Primed By 29 has a fetching title for a Primus fan exploring the solo works of Les Claypool. Although the lyrics don't necessarily refer to anything Primus-related, they're certainly in the wheelhouse of Claypool, who pens another cautionary tale about going too far with recreational drugs in an attempt to create excitement from the mundane. It also happens to be Frankie's favorite track on the album, and we wonder why it didn't make the cut for Duo de Twang a few years later.

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    46 mins
  • OFAF - Kazoo

    OFAF - Kazoo
    Oct 27 2025
    This lounge jazz number is an ode to the dog, in particular, Les Claypool's hound, Kazoo. It's another musical departure for the man, and it sounds like Skerik wasn't available, so Sam Bass filled in on cello. It's not the deepest track, but we don't have to get deep with our dogs, right? They love us, we love them, now let's go for a walk, a run, or a ball toss.

    For another great story about a dog, read The Mixer by PG Wodehouse.

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    38 mins
  • OFAF - Bite Out Of Life

    OFAF - Bite Out Of Life
    Oct 20 2025
    Do you know a boy who's taken a bite out of life? I suppose that description qualifies guest performer Eugene Hutz, a man of fire and energy whose work with Gogol Bordello has delighted audiences the world over. Eugene brings a jolt to the side two opener of Of Fungi And Foe in the form of guitar strumming (the only guitar on the record!) and unintelligible wailing mixed with what might be Ukranian phrases. Put some pep in your step with this track, and do something fun/wacky/thrilling.




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    30 mins
  • OFAF - You Can't Tell Errol Anything

    OFAF - You Can't Tell Errol Anything
    Oct 13 2025
    This week, we tackle a track that could easily appear on a Tom Waits record, most notably Real Gone, which Les Claypool actually guested on. There's something about the percussive backbeat and dirty upright that screams Waits, but Les puts his own spin on it with tripped-out high register upright and clean vocals. Josh and Frankie agree that this is one of the more memorable tracks from the record so far, and the lyrical story, while a variation on the standard Claypool lyrical themes, are engaging and delightful because of how the story is told.

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    37 mins