Claypool, Harrison and Belew Gave Dallas a Night of Classics | Dallas Observer

Concert Reviews

Les Claypool Was Eccentric as Ever at His Tuesday Show With Harrison and Belew

The Colonel himself, Les Claypool, who played on an exquisite rock bill Tuesday night.
The Colonel himself, Les Claypool, who played on an exquisite rock bill Tuesday night. Andrew Sherman
Music Hall at Fair Park hosted one of the most entertaining shows of the year Tuesday night when Colonel Les Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade and co-headliner Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew’s Remain in Light Tour joined forces on tour.

Harrison is an original member of Talking Heads and Adrian Belew, who played on the group's classic  album Remain in Light, has been an in-demand guitarist for the who’s-who of rock: David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Nine Inch Nails, King Crimson and, of course, Talking Heads, among others. They were backed up by members of the band Cool Cool Cool.

Considering that Talking Heads will probably never reunite, it was a rare treat to hear original players performing the music of this beloved band.
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Les Claypool leading the Brigade.
Andrew Sherman
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The band plays the entire Remain in Light Album.
Andrew Sherman
Claypool joined the band late in the set donning a pig mask for a rendition of the song "Thela Hun Ginjeet," a King Crimson song that Belew had a hand in writing.

The only complaint from this set was there wasn’t enough room to dance.
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Claypool joins Belew wearing a pig mask.
Andrew Sherman
If the Island of Misfit Toys had a house band, it would be Colonel Les Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade.  It’s been 20 years since the Brigade hit the stage. The only other original member besides Claypool is Mike Dillon, best known in the Dallas scene for playing in Ten Hands and Punkadelic.
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Dallas favorite Mike Dillon.
Andrew Sherman
Joining this band of masterful misfits are a pair of famous sons: Sean Lennon, son of John, who absolutely shredded on guitar, and on keyboards was the son of Roger Waters, Harry Waters.
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Sean Lennon, guitar shredder.
Andrew Sherman
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Harry Waters sounding eerily like his father.
Andrew Sherman
Paulo Baldi, a founding member of CAKE, finished off the bill on drums. Saxophonist Skerik was unable to make the tour.

After opening with some of the typically eccentric Claypool's originals, the band got into the meat of their show, playing Pink Floyd’s Animals album in its entirety.
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Claypool was eccentric as always.
Andrew Sherman

Pink Floyd is another beloved band that will not get back together, so hearing their songs live is always special. The Brigade played the album almost note-perfect with some Claypool bass embellishments. It was a real treat to hear this often-overlooked Floyd album. The sound got especially eerie and cool when Waters sang some of his father’s vocal parts. The band finished with more Claypool favorites and Les even played the song “Whamola” and dusted off the whamola, an electrified one-string bass derived from a washtub bass.
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Les gets Lennon to crack a smile.
Andrew Sherman

Hearing these classic albums live was a rare treat, a trend that seems to be picking up speed as other groups focus on specific albums over their whole bodies of work.

One could say this was one of the most epic tribute shows to take place in Dallas. For those that made it out on a Tuesday, it was a show they won’t forget.
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It was a rare treat to hear the Animals album live.
Andrew Sherman
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Claypool is a bass master.
Andrew Sherman
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Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew.
Andrew Sherman
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The Brigade were completely on point Tuesday night.
Andrew Sherman
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The Flying Frog Brigade brought the weird to Dallas.
Andrew Sherman
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Remain in Light featured an 11-piece band with members of Cool Cool Cool.
Andrew Sherman
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Andrew Sherman, aka Drewlio Photo, is a concert photographer and videographer in Dallas. He also hosts the Dallas Famous podcast on Deep Ellum Radio and enjoys early set times and well-lit clubs.

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