Review - Primus at Victoria Warehouse O2 Manchester - 17th August 2026

Photography by BeckyKat Kaptures

Words by John Hirst

After 9 long years, Primus finally return to the UK continuing the European leg of their current tour at the amazing Manchester Victoria Warehouse.

Playing to a sold out crowd we're set for a absolute banger of a show tonight. 

After a stop at the merch table and bar, we pack the room out keen to start the show. 

As Danny Elfmans "Clown Dream" comes through the PA, Primus take to the stage and from Sailing the Seas of Cheese, get straight into "Here Come the Bastards"

A quick interlude of Les spotting a dad with his son on his shoulders happily pointing out his ear protection and we're back into the ear melting bass, hazy guitar solos, syncopated polyrhythms and psychedelic lighting.

Every head in the room is banging and the pit jumping to the mighty slap bass in the newest track of tonight, "The Ol' Grizz", a new favourite for sure.

Talking of favourites, "Dirty Drowning Man" it turns out as no surprise is guitar legend, Larry "Ler" LaLondes (ex Possessed) track of choice. 

First half of the set wraps up, this is one hot ass venue. Time for a drink and fresh air before the second round...

Back for the second set and we're treated to another batch of classics such as "My Name is Mud" from Pork Soda, Claypool silhouetted in red light as the crowd chants along as he owns the stage with his typical swag and grove across the stage. And if we weren't moving enough, "Jerry the Race Car Driver" ensures were all in top gear ready to crash into a wall of funkadelic sound as the whole room seems to explode with energy. 

John "Hoffer" Hoffman kills it on drums with absolute skill and power throughout the night but a particular highlight for me was during "Over the Electric Grapevines" breakdown, epic lighting and atmosphere created was absolute perfection.

Les takes a moment to ask if any vegetarians are present, any vegans, any pescatarians? Well, be warned because the next song may be a challenge, from the Brown album "Shake Hands With Beef" gets people crowd surfing as they draw towards their final track.

As the night draws to a close, "Harold of The Rocks" is the final song, a perfect track to describe the night. Feeling like a jam between between the tightest musicians at the top of their game, the whole evening flowing from track to track with flourishes of improv and well rehearsed groves.

The stage clears, everyone wants more. The obligatory "one more song" chant erupts over cheers and applause, we're not going anywhere. Hoffer returns to the stage, ride cymbal ticks out. Les joins, hits the familiar chords of "Too Many Puppies" and holy shit, the whole room is as one, dancing, jumping and singing together for the encore. A medley transition of "Hello Skinny", the bands cover of experimental rockers 'The Residents' shakes things up then we're mixed back into the close of Puppies chugging riffs sending the room back into an oscillating mosh machine lubricated by beer and SO MUCH SWEAT! 

As the band takes their final cheers of the night and hopefully return to well earned air con and cold showers, we take the long cattle drive out of the venue into rain... Glorious fucking rain. 

A fantastic gig and an epic return to the UK from Primus. 

Set 1:

1. Here Come the Bastards

2. The Antipop

3. American Life

4. The Ol' Grizz

5. Dirty Drowning Man

6. Frizzle Fry

Set 2:

7. Welcome to This World

8. My Name Is Mud

9. Jerry Was a Race Car Driver

10. Over the Electric Grapevine

11. Bob's Party Time Lounge

12. Shake Hands With Beef

13. Jilly's on Smack

14. Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread

15. Harold of the Rocks

Encore:

16. Too Many Puppies / Hello Skinny (The Residents cover).

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