Les Claypool's Prawn Song Records will release Live Frogs: Set 1 from his new ensemble, Frog Brigade, via ARTISTdirect.com beginning March 5th. The album will hit brick-and-mortar stores a month later.

Frog Brigade consists of guitarist Todd Huth (who worked with Claypool in Primus and Sausage), drummer Jay Lane (Sausage, Rat Dog), keyboardist Jeff Chimenti (Rat Dog), saxophonist Skerik (Tuatara) and guitarist Eenor. Claypool put the group together late last year, and it is currently performing on the SnoCore tour.

Live Frogs: Set 1 will be the first of two Frog Brigade live albums and was recorded during the band's two performances at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall on October 8th and 9th of last year.

The seven-track album will feature covers of Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," King Crimson's "Thela hun Ginjeet," as well as some songs from Sausage's eponymous album.

"Well, there are six of us, which means there are a shitload of guys making a shitload of sound," Claypool said. "It's kind of a King Crimson meets Pink Floyd meets Frank Zappa type thing."

ANDREW DANSBY
(January 31, 2001)