Les Claypool has always been a little bit off — and now he’s paying tribute to a movie that’s a little bit off, too.
The famed bassist and frontman for Primus made his name in the 1990s thanks to off-kilter hits like “Wynonna’s Big Brown Beaver,” not to mention his own outro-showmanship.
That showmanship found a natural outlet when he staged a New Year’s Eve concert a couple years ago. The show was split between a set focused on Primus hits and another set covering the entire soundtrack to “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” the famed 1971 musical starring Gene Wilder that Claypool held near and dear.
The show was such a hit that Primus reconvened in the studio to record its own version of the soundtrack. That album, “Primus and the Chocolate Factory,” hit stores in October, debuting at No. 17 on the Billboard 200.
Now Claypool and company are touring behind the disc, bringing fans the group’s own quirky take on songs like “Pure Imagination,” “Golden Ticket” and “Candy Man.”
The act will bring its Wonka-centered tour to the Paramount Theatre at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3.
Tickets are $35.75 to $51.25 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
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Primus isn’t the only 1990s alt-rock holdover headed to the Northwest in the coming week. Famed indie rockers Built to Spill will also hit Seattle for a pair of concerts at the Showbox at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2 and Saturday, Jan. 3.
The group, which released its debut in 1993, has built up a loyal following thanks to its blend of jangling alt-pop and guitar-fueled jams. Led by Doug Martsch, the group saw its career follow a familiar arc in the 1990s, complete with early buzz, a failed partnership with a major label, and a return to its do-it-yourself roots.
Now an icon of the indie rock scene, the act is able to tour regularly despite a drop in its recorded output. Its last album, “There Is No Enemy,” saw release in 2009.
Tickets are $25 to $30 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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Meanwhile, the Jayhawks — another group that hit its commercial peak in the 1990s — will play the Neptune Theatre for a show at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6.
The alt-country act scored one of its only big hits in 1993 when “Waiting for the Sun” cracked the modern rock charts. The Minneapolis group cultivated a loyal following that decade with its slick sound and lush harmonies.
After taking a five year hiatus in the 2000s, the group reunited to play some festival dates in Spain and realized, hey, people still like us. They got back together and released a new album, “Mockingbird Time,” in 2011.
The group is touring now in support of the expanded reissue of some past fan favorite albums, including 1997’s “Sound of Lies.”
Tickets are $26.50 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
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Finally, Zola Jesus will hit the Neptune Theatre for a show at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8.
The 25-year-old singer, known for music that is by turns bleak and soaring, first made an impression in 2011, when the release of her third album, “Conatus,” earned acclaim from taste-making sites like Pitchfork.com.
Her steadily rising profile has found her winning fans with her moody sounds. She’s touring now behind “Taiga,” which some critics have hailed as her most accessible disc to date.
Tickets are $16.50 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
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