Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025. Jerome Parmer/STAFF.
OAKLAND — The Bay Area’s own Primus rang in the new year on the second of a two-night stand at Fox Theater on Wednesday, much to the delight of hundreds who patiently weathered the wet drizzle to get in the door.
Primus — and frontman Les Claypool with his other bands — has hosted many local New Year’s Eve performances. The band’s New Year’s Eve shows are known for an array of theatrics, immersive surreal visuals, elaborate costumes and creative themes. The Wednesday show was no exception with a “Send in the Clowns” theme.
The band encouraged fans “to come dressed embodying any clown of their choosing: happy, sad, menacing, friendly.” Attendees were covered in white face makeup and donned colorful wigs and flamboyant outfits.
Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde and new drummer John Hoffman (who beat out 6,000 others to make the band earlier last year) took to the stage to a scene from 1985 film “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.” Right away, Claypool — in a striped gray and black suit, long-nosed mask and one of his signature bowler hats — began playing an aggressive bass line, and his bandmates joined in with “The Antipop,” the title track from Primus’ 1999 album. A video screen at the back of the stage showed yellow, orange and pink flowers blooming. LaLonde donned a glittery silver blazer, and Hoffman topped his crown with a glittery police cap and makeup.
Over his muffled nasally voice, the frontman blended percussive slap bass playing with pops and taps while twirling in circles. As the song came to its conclusion, the gathered fans, per tradition, began chanting, “Primus sucks!”
Claypool’s nasal and spoken-word delivery and pitch variation were highlighted in “Last Salmon Man.” The song had a funk-metal feel, while LaLonde played reggae-influenced chords before ripping into a psychedelic solo.
“American Life” was paired with patriotic imagery on the video screen. This was an opportunity for Hoffman to show off his drumming skills, while LaLonde used his glass slide and Claypool played a driving bass beat. Following newer song “Little Lord Fentanyl,” “Restin’ Bones” showcased Claypool’s bass style of percussion thumping and slap/pop, creating a sound hybrid that incorporated funk, metal and psychedelic rock.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
As the show approached midnight, the band went into “Bob’s Party Time Lounge.” Its upbeat party groove got the crowd moving and dancing. “Hamburger Train” offered a funky bass groove that mimicked a train chugging down the tracks. LaLonde recreated a train whistle with his guitar. As the train slowed, so did the tempo of the song. The song transitioned right into cover of The Residents’ eerie tune “Hello Skinny.”
Attendees sang along to the anti-war message of alt-rock hit “Too Many Puppies,” a song that masks a serious message with bizarre and quirky lyrics and a funky, heavy melody. The last song of 2025 was “To Defy the Laws of Tradition,” from 1990 album Frizzle Fry. Old sailors, voyagers and submarines filled the video screen.
”Twenty-twenty-six is upon us. It’s going to be a spectacular year!” Claypool shouted as the crowd joined him in a countdown. And as midnight struck, black and gold balloons dropped from the ceiling onto the celebratory crowd.
To keep with the momentum, the band went right into a cover of Black Sabbath’s “N.I.B.” with opener Puddles Pity Party.
“Oh yeah!” the crowd chanted as visuals of Ozzy Osbourne played on the screen. And then, at the end: “Primus sucks!”
The band wasn’t done — there were two encores.
The first consisted of “Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Speed,” which included a Hoffman drum solo; a cover of Oysterhead’s “Shadow of a Man;” “Jilly’s on Smack” (which had Claypool playing a stand-up bass with a bow) and thumping fan favorite “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver.”
The second brought a powerful rendition of Dio’s “Holy Diver” with Puddles Pity Party on the vocals. LaLonde played Vivian Campbell’s power chords and Claypool the galloping triplet rhythm of the ’80s metal tune.
Puddles Pity Party performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
The show ended with “Southbound Pachyderm,” with LaLonde bringing out a double-necked guitar and Claypool his pachyderm bass. Mosaic light patterns rotated on the theater walls while elephants bounced and spun on the video screen. His bass lines seemed to mimic the sounds of an elephant herd moving. The environmentally conscious theme blended with the funk and metal progressive elements of the song.
Puddles Pity Party, the solo project of musician Mike Geier where he balances his sad, melancholic clown character with deep, operatic singing, opened the show.
The set included surprisingly powerful covers like The Who’s “Pinball Wizard,” The Pixies’ “Where’s My Mind” and Tom Waits’ “Come on Up to the House,” as well as a few parodies. “Let’s Give ‘Em Pumpkin to Talk About” was a take on a Bonnie Raitt tune, while “Stairway to Gilligan’s Island” blended the theme with the classic TV show set to the Led Zeppelin song.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Primus performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Puddles Pity Party performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Puddles Pity Party performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
Puddles Pity Party performs at Fox Theater in Oakland on Dec. 31, 2025.
About The Author
Glenn Gumin spends his days on a college campus as a higher education administrator involved in academic affairs and student & financial services. After many years of piano lessons, he’s now attempting to learn to play the guitar and ukulele to prepare for island life in retirement. He’s a live music enthusiast who loves to reminisce about shows he attended as a Bay Area teenager and a Midwest college student. He’s also a big supporter of college radio.
Glenn Gumin spends his days on a college campus as a higher education administrator involved in academic affairs and student & financial services. After many years of piano lessons, he’s now attempting to learn to play the guitar and ukulele to prepare for island life in retirement. He’s a live music enthusiast who loves to reminisce about shows he attended as a Bay Area teenager and a Midwest college student. He’s also a big supporter of college radio.
Jerome Parmer is a freelance photographer who likes being in the mix, whether from
the pit at local shows to a protest in the streets. An Oakland resident for many years
with a love for exploring the world, he finds that photography encourages more active
engagement with others. You might also find him out on a tennis court, on the road or
walking his dog Roxie the Wunderpup.