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Two great acts, one big dilemma
Shouldn't even be a question: Les Claypool. Fall Out Boy. Both tonight. What do I do? I'm sure a few of you are facing similar angst. If you're in your mid/late-30s, as I am, and grew up largely on alternative rock, as I did, Claypool the crazed bassist must be the way to go. But if you're in your 20s -- I'm not, but that's the way I feel -- and you have an appreciation for how melodically the quartet Fall Out Boy works the pop/punk/emo genre, it gets a little tougher. With that in mind, let's look at the tale of the tape -- Les Claypool vs. Fall Out Boy.
By RICK GERSHMAN
Published June 15, 2007
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| LES CLAYPOOL | FALL OUT BOY | EDGE | | VENUE | St. Pete's Jannus Landing offers the intimate-but-moshable setting that's perfect for him. | Ford Amphitheatre is the right fit for the band's big sound, plus relatively affordable lawn seating. | Even | | CONCERT EXPERIENCE | His original band, Primus, rocked the farm when headlining Lollapalooza back in 1993. One of my favorite - albeit muddiest - rock recollections. | The boys got stuck with the USF Sun Dome, with its mediocre acoustics, when I reviewed them last year. They weren't bad for a band that was just then breaking big. | Claypool | | RELEVANCE | He has stayed super-busy in recent years with solo work, Primus and his projects Oysterhead, the Fearless Flying Frog Brigade and C2B3. Plus he recorded the classic theme song to South Park and (the lesser-known, but very cool) Robot Chicken. | Insanely popular with the tweener-to-twentysomething demographic that advertisers drool over. Serves up hit singles left and right while maintaining street cred. Collaborated with Kanye West and Timbaland, and FOB vocalist Patrick Stump sang on Gym Class Heroes' super hot Cupid's Chokehold. | FOB | | LOCAL CONNECTION | None that I know of, though odds are he must have a senior relative living somewhere near here. Who doesn't? | From Chicago, but built its career at Tampa-based indie label Fueled By Ramen. Also hot with Gym Class Heroes, Panic! at the Disco and Cobra Starship (one of tonight's openers). | FOB | | SURPRISE FACTOR | Could play anything, any time, all the time. No idea what on earth to expect. Which, for some people, isn't always a plus. For Claypool fans, it is. | Has to play most if not all of its big singles, but likely will work in favorites from debut disc Take This to Your Grave. Most attendees won't want too many twists. | Even | | PERSONAL EXPERIENCE | Did a phone interview with me a few years back that was supposed to last about 20 minutes. We talked for more than an hour about music, movies, comic books and more. Great guy. | Band was just on the edge of breaking big with Sugar, We're Going Down when FOB's Pete Wentz missed several scheduled interviews with me. To be fair, the dude was super-busy. But still ... | Claypool | | CRAZY SONG TITLES | My Name Is Mud, Pork Soda, Southbound Pachyderm and ... yeah, I'm not mentioning the full title of the Wynona one. Fine, call me a sellout. | It's not easy to be odder than Claypool, but nice work: A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More "Touch Me, " Thnks fr th Mmrs and The Carpal Tunnel of Love. | FOB | | IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR MOM | Then you're very cool to like Claypool at such a young age. Still, don't. It's an all-ages show. Earn some cred. | She'll probably enjoy it as much as you do. Which is kinda sweet. And also kinda sad. | FOB | | VERDICT | Too much pressure. Think I'll just catch that new Fantastic Four movie opening today. Jessica Alba cures all ills. |
[Last modified June 14, 2007, 07:24:41]
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