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Hear Primus’ Wild and Woolly ‘Golden Ticket’ From Their Willy Wonka Tribute Album

Primus 'Golden Ticket' Stream Tour ' Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory

On October 21, a certain beloved Bay Area prog-funk posse will release Primus & the Chocolate Factory, which is everything you’d hope it’d be based on the title — a concept album honoring the 1971 Gene Wilder-starring Willy Wonka film by remaking its wild music in this band’s odd image. A little while back we heard “Pure Imagination,” which was bananas and held true (as true a possible) to Les Claypool’s description of this project’s sound as “early Peter Gabriel meets Dark Side of the Moon meets the Residents.” Now we have the pleasure of handing you, dear reader, the “Golden Ticket” itself. 

Heard below, that memorable cut from the film is reborn with help from bounding bass, chiming vibes, Claypool’s deep warble, and a handful of eerie effects — taken all together, this is the aural march of a demented carnival barker leading a band of skeletons weilding toy instruments. Our conductor and colonel’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade pitch in on the album too (credited as the Fungi Ensemble), making for a robust bunch of tried and true rock experimentalists, playing in service of a canonical slab of cinematic psychedelia.

Which is to say, it’s a good fit. Pre-order via iTunes and Club Bastardo.

Beneath the song, you’ll find a whole gaggle of Primus & the Chocolate Factory tour dates, some just announced. There’s no earthly way of knowing which direction they are going. There’s no knowing where they’re rowing … unless you scroll down.

Primus & the Chocolate Factory (unless noted) tour dates:

October 22 – Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theatre
October 24 – Albany, NY @ Palace Theatre
October 25 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
October 26 – Burlington, VT @ Flynn Center for Performing Arts
October 28 – Waterbury, CT @ Palace Theater
October 29 – Baltimore, MD @ Hippodrome
October 31 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
November 1 – New Brunswick, NJ @ State Theatre
November 2 – Rochester, NY @ Main Street Armory
November 3 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
November 5 – St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House
November 7 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
November 8 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
November 9 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live
November 11 – Miami Beach, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach at The Jackie Gleason Theater
November 12 – Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
November 14 – Biloxi, MS @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
November 15 – Austin, TX @ ACL live at the Moody Theater
November 16 – Dallas, TX @ The Majestic Theatre
November 17 – San Antonio, TX @ Majestic Theatre
November 19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Orpheum Theatre Phoenix
November 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Orpheum Theatre LA
November 22 – Escondido, CA @ Center for the Arts
December 31 – Oakland, CA # Fox Theater*
January 2 – Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
January 3 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater

*annual New Year’s show, without Chocolate Factory