Primus, Coheed & Cambria, and Too Many Zooz bring eclectic energy to St. Louis Music Park

St. Louis Music Park welcomed Too Many Zooz, Coheed & Cambria, and Primus to the Midwest on August 3rd for a delightfully unique evening of innovative funk, progressive rock, and the distinctively absurd style that only Primus can deliver. This was my third time seeing Coheed & Cambria, but my first experience with the other two bands—and they both absolutely blew me away.

Too Many Zooz, the “brass house” band that kicked off the night, is a music collective from New York that you’ve probably seen clips of on TikTok or YouTube. They’re the group known for busking with a massive baritone saxophone, an eclectic walking drum kit, and impressive dance moves, typically in New York’s subway system. Currently, they’re promoting their new LP, Retail Therapy, which dropped in March. Coheed & Cambria once again rocked the house, continuing the ongoing saga of The Amory Wars and building anticipation for their inevitable next album.

Primus closed the night with all the cartoonish energy you’d expect from the band responsible for bringing South Park to life every Wednesday night.

When Too Many Zooz hit the stage, something about them seemed familiar. Then, when Leo Pellegrino started doing his thing, it clicked—I’d definitely seen these guys heel-toeing on social media, hopping in and out of subway cars. Seeing them live was an absolute treat. Pellegrino has a captivating stage presence, and the crowd was into it, cheering and screaming every time his feet started stepping and his hips started grinding. The percussion and trumpet players also made themselves heard, with wild horn solos and a drumbeat that could keep anyone in line. If you’re into fast-paced EDM-style funk, it’s worth checking these guys out!

Coheed & Cambria took the middle slot for the night, and I was thrilled to see them again. Over the past few years, they’ve really grown on me, and their live performances have only deepened my appreciation. What I love most about this band is the concept—The Amory Wars, a long-running narrative told through their albums, comics, and novels. It’s such a creative way to express art, and it sets the stage for an epic showdown of rock music.

Now, what can I say about a Primus show? Well, first of all, they suck. At least, that’s what the massive crowd filling up the venue would have you believe, as they chanted “Primus sucks” moments before the lights went down. But the roars of excitement and joy that followed when the band took the stage told a different story. Their music is definitely weird—there’s no denying that—but it’s also an incredibly honed craft, a fine-tuned skill. Les Claypool has a vision, and he’s sticking to it—and it’s clearly working.

Primus has tour dates until the end of August, while Coheed & Cambria and Too Many Zooz are touring through the end of the year, so be sure to grab tickets when they hit a city near you!

Photography by Thomas Semonco

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