Frogs and freaks flew into the Palace Theatre in Albany on Friday, October 20, heralding the return of Les Claypool and his Frog Brigade. The first tour for the group in 20 years began earlier in the year, winding its way into the Northeast for a run of late-October shows.
With draped banners of stars and stripes giving a nod to Pink Floyd’s The Wall, the stage took on a blue dystopian hue, as the six piece band – Skerik (saxophone), Mike Dillon (percussion, vibraphone), Sean Lennon (guitar), Harry Waters (keyboards), Paulo Baldi (drums) and Claypool (bass) – arrived on stage to “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore), Claypool bringing up the rear. With Les dressed in all black and a bowler hat, a slow bass led intro to “Cosmic Highway” took the audience on a psychedelic ride, right into “Up on the Roof.”
Following Les offering praise to Skerik, Skerik spoke in French briefly before telling an Albany/All bunny/All moose joke that earned groans and chuckles from the audience.
A cover of The Beat’s “Mirror in the Bathroom” was an early highlight, taking the narcissistic 1980 song out for an extended spin. “David Makalaster,” the Purple Onion track, followed, with Claypool Lennon Delirium composition “Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons – Movement II Too the Moon” closing a ‘short but didn’t feel short’ 60-minute set.
With Harry Waters – son of Roger – helming the keys, set 2 began with a full rendition of Pink Floyd’s Animals, the five song suite never missed a mark, Claypool donning a pig mask while switching to stand up bass.
A pair of songs from Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel – “Precipitation” and “Calling Kyle” would follow, with “D’s Diner” closing the second set with audience callbacks, whispered lyrics, and xylophone throughout.
King Crimson’s “Thela Hun Ginjeet,” a song that Claypool and his Frog Brigade kicked off the main stage at the first Bonnaroo (and the incredible DVD as well) would drive the energy of the audience to 11, peppering in “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” teases. As the band left the stage, walk out music of “Pure Imagination” played, calling back to Claypool’s memorable Primus and the Chocolate Factory tour.
A can’t miss tour, the Frog Brigade will be at The Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ on October 24 before heading to Hulaween and ending the tour at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Halloween.
Les Claypool and his Frog Brigade – Palace Theatre, Albany – Friday, October 20, 2023
Set 1: When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Cosmic Highway, Up on the Roof, Mirror in the Bathroom, David Makalaster, Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons – Movement II Too the Moon
Set 2: Pigs on the Wing, Part 1, Dogs, Pigs (Three Different Ones), Sheep, Pigs on the Wing, Part 2, Precipitation, Calling Kyle, One Step Beyond, Buzzards of Green Hill, D’s Diner
Encore: Thela Hun Ginjeet, Pure Imagination
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