Casual Primus listeners may think of the band as being somewhat cartoonish; songs full of goofy lyrics ("Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver") delivered with a wry grin by a twisted singer, Les Claypool. Those who have all the albums, though, know the band is more about highbrow musicianship, and Hallucino-Genetics pays perfect witness to that opinion.

The first hour of this lengthy package covers seven songs from various points in the band’s career, including fan faves "My Name is Mud" and "Jerry Was a Racecar Driver" from Pork Soda.

The fellows brought all their gear to this show at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom; drummer Tim Alexander plays a huge set while guitarist Larry LaLonde has enough effects pedals laid out to cover a banquet table. But the real eye-opener is Claypool’s bass playing. It is simply amazing to watch the close-up shots of his work as he switches from speedy plucking to a strumming-and-dancing-fingers move on "American Life."

The first "set" ends with "Southbound Pachyderm" segueing into "To Defy the Laws of Tradition" as Primus performs its breakthrough album Frizzle Fry in its entirety, taking an hour and a half to do so. As is band tradition, onstage banter is virtually non-existent.

Grade: A

Hallucino-Genetics: Live 2004 is currently available.