Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade | Texas Review | Ralph Arvesen
Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade performing during the Summer of Green at the Moody Amphitheater Waterloo Park in Austin, Texas on June 14, 2023, with Les Claypool, Sean Lennon, Harry Waters, Paulo Baldi, Mike Dillon, and Skerik. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)

After a 20-year break, Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade is back and will be canvasing the USA this Spring & Summer on the Summer of Green Tour. The band will feature Sean Lennon on guitar, Harry Waters on keys, and Paolo Baldi on drums, along with longtime cohorts Skerik on saxophone, and Mike Dillon on percussion. Each night will include a full performance of Pink Floyd’s iconic album, ‘Animals’.

Claypool formed the band to play the Mountain Aire Festival, a jam-band festival that takes place in Northern California on Memorial Day weekends each year. Its initial lineup featured MIRV on guitar, Skerik on saxophone, and both Jack Irons (ex-Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Primus' Tim Alexander on drums. Les had planned on naming the band Les Claypool's Thunder Brigade, but was told by Mountain Aire organizers that the name might sound too heavy for the jamband crowd.

In August 2000, Claypool created a new line-up of the Frog Brigade and took it on a tour that fall. The band consisted of Jay Lane on drums and Todd Huth on guitar, who had worked with Claypool in Sausage (which in itself was a re-formation of the first line up of Primus), guitarist Eenor, who got a place in the band by winning a mail-order competition, Jeff Chimenti, the keyboardist from Ratdog (Jay Lane also has worked with Ratdog), and Skerik continuing on saxophone. This version of the band played a show consisting of two sets - the first filled with covers and songs from Claypool's previous bands, and a second set where the band would play all of the Pink Floyd album, Animals.

After this tour, the Brigade released two live recordings, both taken from the Autumn 2000 concerts by the band in San Francisco. Live Frogs, Vol. 1 contained material from the first, free-form set, and Live Frogs, Vol. 2 was a recording of the band performing Animals.

The Brigade headlined the first SnoCore Icicle Ball in early 2001. The following summer, the band was composed of Claypool, Skerik, Eenor and a new drummer, Paul Svena. Les began writing new material and they began playing single-set live shows. In 2002, Mike Dillon was added as a percussionist and the Frog Brigade recorded their only studio album to date, Purple Onion.

In 2003, Eenor left the band and guitarist Brian Kehoe joined. Throughout their touring schedule the band has changed drummers multiple times. Drummer Paulo Baldi also entered the rotation in 2003. Baldi, formerly of the Bay Area trio Deadweight, who have disbanded, is a natural fit along the lines of Tim Alexander and Jay Lane.

In 2004 Claypool formed a new jamband, Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, with guitarist Buckethead, keyboardist Bernie Worrell, and former Primus drummer Bryan Mantia (aka Brain). This band had much the same genesis as the Frog Brigade; Formed to play at the Bonnaroo Festival of that year, it has since gone on the road, and recordings have become subsequent live albums.

As of Spring 2007, the Frog Brigade has not recorded any new material since Purple Onion, and the band has not gone on a major tour since Summer 2003, but has occasionally re-formed to play other one-off shows and music festivals. Claypool toured 2006 and 2007 with Paulo Baldi, Gabby La La, Mike Dillon and Skerik as Les Claypool's Fancy Band.
Fan reviews:

Amazing! Run, don't walk to see this show! Les is a true master of the low end.

The musicians in this group truly know how to jam. The sax, Keyboards, Guitars, vocals all blend together with the lighting to transform your mind and energy. You can't help but to move and smile. Might of been better in the Balcony seats as it's a long show for anyone that is in an altered state.

Awesome show!
Setlist for the show at the Moody Amphitheater Waterloo Park
  • When Johnny Comes Marching Home
  • Highball With the Devil
  • Rumble of the Diesel
  • Amanitas
  • David Makalaster
  • Pigs on the Wing, Part 1
  • Dogs
  • Pigs (Three Different Ones)
  • Sheep
  • Pigs on the Wing, Part 2
  • Cricket and the Genie (Movement I, The Delirium)
  • Cricket and the Genie (Movement II, Oratorio Di Cricket)
  • HendershotMaple Leaf Rag
  • Phantom Patriot
  • D's Diner
  • Whamola
  • Pure Imagination

Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade was the main act at the Moody Amphitheater Waterloo Park with guests Remain In Light (Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew). They continue across the United States with the last stop at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on October 31, 2023.

Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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