A bass master of the nth degree making his way through the Pinellas byways, Les Claypool speaks to alternative rock tastes and his idiosyncratic style — outrageously nasally vocals and warped, twisted, elastic bass grooves — has been planted amid a range of genres, always fitting but never quit conforming to whatever sonic context they might be in.
[jump]He most famously leads the pack of Primus but also has numerous side projects with his ranging pool of musician friends. He and Frog Brigade guitarist/compadre Bryan Kehoe make up Duo De Twang, originally conceived as a one-performance for San Francisco's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, currently a bonafide act dishing out hillbilly romping, moonshine-brained Americana that includes re-imaginings of select covers (“Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, “Man in the Box” by Alice in Chains) and Claypool/Primus fare (like a lively rendition of “Jerry Was A Race Car Driver,” listen below). The rhythm-propelled yet drums-free interplay is showcased on debut recording Four Foot Shack, which is due out via ATO Records on Feb. 4. This tour hypes it up. Support on this date from Reformed Whores. 8 p.m., State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $27.