Last night, July 2, I found my way to the new House of Blues in Anaheim. I say new in that they moved from their previous location at Disneyland to their new location at City Walk within the last few years. I also use “new” in that this was my first time seeing a show in the main room there and, boy howdy, was it big.
Now, on with the show. Les Claypool is now and has been for a long time a phenomenon in the world of bass playing. He’s less of a bass player and more of a lead guitarist with thick strings. From Primus to Frog Brigade and Oysterhead to his current incarnation, Claypool Lennon Delirium, Claypool pushes any preconceived notions about the bass guitar into the circular file. Thusly, I was happy to hear that he and his “Delirium”, including Sean Lennon, son of The Beatles’ John Lennon, would be making a stop in the OC.
This was my first foray into Claypool and Lennon’s collaboration live. I’d heard it and thought, “I’d like to see that” but never made it out until last night. I’m glad I finally did. Not being super familiar with their original material, I have to fall back on what I know and what I know is they opened with Astronomy Domine by Pink Floyd, hit us with a Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson in the middle of the set and finished us off with a Tomorrow Never Knows by the Beatles at the end. All three were stellar and I must say, the rest of the set was great too. Sean Lennon’s voice is fantastic! Mix his rhythm and lead guitar work with Claypool’s bass, and they weave a fantastic, if not slightly odd at times (to be expected from Claypool) tapestry of music.
Claypool Lennon Delirium Setlist
House of Blues, Anaheim, CA 7/2/2019
- Astronomy Domine (Pink Floyd cover)
- Cricket and the Genie (Movement I, The Delirium)
- Cricket and the Genie (Movement II, Oratorio Di Cricket)
- Little Fishes
- Blood and Rockets: Movement I, Saga of Jack Parsons – Movement II Too the Moon
- South of Reality
- The Court of the Crimson King (King Crimson cover)
- Breath of a Salesman
- Boriska
- Amethyst Real
- Like Fleas
- Tomorrow Never Knows (The Beatles cover)
Jim James and his band closed out the evening. James, front man for My Morning Jacket, brought his hard rockin’ show that was enjoyed by nearly half of the early crowd. Maybe it was the late Tuesday night time slot. Maybe it was the holiday week, but significantly less that half of the 2200 capacity venue stuck around all night and they really missed a good show.
