Claypool Lennon Delerium 08.12.16 @ EXPRESS LIVE!, Columbus, OH: Show Review

Written by Jack O’Handley

Better late than never.  I got my ticket online about 10 minutes before the show was supposed to start, got in my car and drove to Downtown Columbus.  The opening band was OK, but really I was more excited to see Lennon and Claypool for the first time.  Lennon came out, then Claypool, each to a wild cheering audience.  One of the earliest highlights for Claypool/Lennon was Cricket and the Jeanie, a tune played often on Sirius XM Jam On.  Both sections were played and I could hear Jonathan Shwartz(SXM JAMON) echoing how psychedelic this song is.  In fact it was, much like an old Beatles Number.  Claypool used a hollowbody bass for it, while Lennon used a Custom Green Sparkle Fender Starcaster with a Bigsby Tremolo.  The keyboardist and drummer were top notch as well.  Another highlight of the set was the King Crimson song, Court of the Crimson King.  Lennon raised his right arm as he sang the “ahh” parts and I thought he was a great front man.  They attempted to do a Yes song as well(Heart of the Sunrise), and I thought the first version they did was excellent.  But Claypool insisted they try it again later in the set, and having only learned it that day, it was awesome.  Astonomy Domine was the second song of the night, and the atmosphere was extremely trippy by now, making it difficult to concentrate on anything but the band.  Mr. Wright was next, and this is one of my favorite Lennon/Claypool songs.  Give it a listen if you haven’t heard it.  It was the main reason I went to see them live.