• Subject: Ween concert in Cleveland From: Gifford@worldnet.att.net I was at the Sept.12 concert in Cleveland. The show kicked ass!! But I don't understand the whole moshing, I never thought you could mosh to this music. It pissed a lot of people off who went there to feel the music, instead of being crammed into a small ball. I was saved by a bouncer and I got to stand right next to the stage, bonus. When the show was over, everyone yelled and screamed for more and as a result we got L.M.L.Y.P. a 15 minute version!!! It kicked so much ass!!! After wards my friend and I signaled Mac, the keyboardist and we got to go back stage after a few minutes of flirting. Upstairs we ate Quiche and drank some beer. Then we realized that we forgot the cookies we made in the car, and asked one of them to go with us to the car to get them, and Dave, the bassist went with us so we could get back into the backstage area. Dean ate all of them in 2 seconds. After an hour and a half, the manager came in and told us to leave so they could get rolling. It was the best night of my life!!! Emalie S.
  • Subject: Ween Live--Odeon Club, Cleveland Fri Sept 12 Date: Mon, 15 Sep 1997 From: mjroche Here's a review I did of Ween's gig at the above venue. It'll be appearing in Cleveland's "Scene Magazine" as of this coming friday. You can link there at www.clevescene.com and look under Livewire. WEEN, CHAVEZ Odeon September 12 Those unfamiliar with Ween's musical madness may recall the duo's wacky 1993 video for "Push th' Little Daisies," which aired repeatedly during "Beavis and Butthead" on MTV that year. Fictional brothers Dean and Gene Ween aren't unlike the cartoon knuckleheads when it comes to groovin' on goofiness--but the New Jersey natives are dead serious when it comes to delivering their cerebral humor rock in a live context. Supporting their seafaring new album THE MOLLUSK, Ween and friends kicked off the second leg of their current tour at a sold-out Odeon last Friday night. The lucky fans who herded themselves shoulder-to-shoulder into the club got a bargain for their paltry thirteen dollar ticket price--Ween took the stage just past ten o'clock and didn't let up until after one in the morning. "This is great," observed Gene Ween. Also known as Aaron Freeman, the singer/guitarist was all smiles throughout the evening. Sporting a ballcap given him by a mosher up front, Gene commented on the sentiment shared by all in attendance. "This is blowin' my mind!" No surprise there, coming from a band who blow minds for a living. During their sprawling, three-hour set Ween cast out over thirty maniacal reasons to like them besides the cutesy "Little Daisies." Unafraid to walk any musical avenues, the daring songwriting team honed their craft in the late 1980s and cut their first album (GOD WEEN SATAN) on a four-track machine in 1990. Follow-up records THE POD and PURE GUAVA demonstrated to the world that these talented jokers meant business. Well, sort of. Opening with a musical potshot at England's uppity, snot-nosed royal familty, "Buckingham Green," the band was cooking early on. Old favorites "Spinal Meningitis" and "The H.I.V. Song" were well-timed in the show alongside new tracks like "Ocean Man" (on which Gene played mandolin) and "Waving My Dick in the Wind." Dean Ween (a.k.a. Mickey Malchiondo) contented himself all night by mangling his guitar and making hysterical faces. Watching the kinetic Dean at work, you wondered what kind of medicine the guy was on. Or should be on. "We got a chance to visit the Rock Hall today," he announced. "It was pretty lame." Dean's guitar solos were anything but lame, however. Joined by drummer Claude Coleman, bassist David Drywitchz, and a capable keyboardist (whose name eludes me), the band tackled every genre of music known to human civilization--all with skill and execution that would've made Frank Zappa one very proud puppy. Ween are today's definition of eclectic. They explored eastern modes and muslim mantras with "I Can't Put My Finger on It" and plowed through country numbers like "Piss Up a Rope." Dean took lead vocals for the vulgar Irish drinking song "Blarney Stone," while pseudo-brother Gene cranked out a perfect falsetto on the disco-funk of "Freedom '76." New opuses like "The Golden Eel" combined the psychedelia of vintage Floyd with the jangly guitar noise heard on latter-day Beatle albums (Gene's wispy, echoing vocals were remarkably Dave Gilmour-ish, while Dean's moody passages evoked George Harrison's better days). And sure, Ween tossed "Push th' Little Daisies" into the middle of the show--but they upped the tempo a bit. "The Tick" degenerated into the Guess Who synth ballad "These Eyes," and had Gene crooning like a washed-up Vegas lounge act. The band closed their main set with the electric buzz of "Dr. Rock," their slam on hair metal poseurs. Ween brought out a couple of guest musicians for an encore medley--which included strains of Zeppelin ("Dazed and Confused") and stabs at Prince ("Let Me Lick Your P*ssy"). They poked fun at flameno on "Buenos Tardes Amigo," bombed Broadway with "I'm Dancing in the Show Tonight," and indulged in the instrumental "A Tear for Eddie." "You F*cked Up" brought the energetic concert to a fitting end. New York quartet Chavez tried warming things up for Ween but failed. Sampling obnoxious guitar rock from the albums RIDE THE FADER and GONE GLIMMERING, the boys had nothing but volume on their side. Conversely, the lead singer's mumbling was barely audible in the mix. And the audience--who killed time by chanting "Ween! Ween!"--just weren't interested. Chavez were loud but talentless, talentless but loud. Four loud, talentless butts. But damn, Ween were good.
  • Subject: WEEN SETLIST Ween came to Cleveland 9/12/97 and played a good show. For those of you interested about what to expect from the Mollusk tour, here is THE copy of the setlist. Those of you who still like to be surprised should close your eyes now. Ween opened with: Buckingham Green What Deaner Was Talking About Spinal Meningitis Got Me Down The Golden Eel Piss Up a Rope Freedom of '76 Don't Get Too Close (2 My Fantasy) Sketches of Winkle Pumpin' For The Man I Can't Put My Finger On It Push Th' Little Daises Baby Bitch The H.I.V. Song The Mollusk Frank Wavin' My Dick In The Wind Tick Mister Richard Smoker Awesome Sound Ocean Man The Blarney Stone NAN Doctor Rock -------------------------------------------- Take Me Away I'm Dancing In The Show Tonight The Stallion Pt.3 A Tear For Eddie Buenas Tardes Amigo You Fucked Up (They also played a Dazed and Confused (Led Zep)/Shockadelic (Prince)/???? medley featuring guest guitarists and a rockin' guest vocalist who may have been the late departed Phil Lynot from Thin Lizzy.) I typed this directly from the set list they used, so don't bitch at me if your favorite song isn't here, you psycho. They played for over 3 and 1/2 hours (!), and it was definitely worth going to see.
  • PatSnider@sprynet.com (Pat Snider) Subject: Ween mostly correct setlist for 09-14-97 NPC, NDC Date: Tue, 16 Sep 1997 11:38:08 GMT ok I am just becoming familiar with Ween's stuff. Most of this is correct. Buckingham Green Spinal Menigitis What the Deaner was talking about HIV Song Piss up a Rope The Golden Eel Don't get to Close to My Fantasy ???Something else from Pure Guava???? Push the Daisies The Mullusk Pumpin' for the Man Waving my Dick in the Wind Freedom of 76 Take me Away Mr. Richard Smoker I Can't Put my Finger on It Scetchs of Winkle Baby Bitch Mr. Won't You Please Help my Pony +++Frank Dancin' in the show Tonight The Blarney Stone Ocean Man Buneos Tardos Amigo She Wanted to Leave You Fucked Up Dancin' in the show Tonight reprise +++anything below this mark may be out of order... I was really sloshed at this show. Plus the fine Bogart's security took my pen when I walked in, there excuse was that they had just painted the walls. I ended up stealing a pencil from the bar tender and using that to right down my setlist:) The jackasses at security were like "can't you just remember the setlist". 27 - 30 songs. Too much for my short term that night:):):) I may of forgotten a few but this is the just of the show. Go see Ween if they come to your town. They play a fun show. The crowd was as diverse as a crowd as it gets. enjoy your day!!!! Parick patsnider@sprynet.com
  • Subject: Clevo Mollusk Show 9-12-97 Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 19:22:20 EST From: AngryBill3 ( AngryBill3@aol.com ) hey WEEN! I lost my wallet at the show in Cleveland back in September. It had every vital piece of information about myself in there; my social security card, my birth certificate, pictures, you get the idea. So anyway, right now, some YAHOO could be runnin' around tellin' everyone that he's me...kinda creepy, huh? Well, in spite of all that happened, it was still the best show I've ever seen. Thanx for playin' POD songs, openin' with Buckingham Green, chanting as intro to Can't put my finger on it, and that sweet version of Dazed and Confused. I hope the tour went well. Thanx for stoppin' in Clevo first. My friend WABBLIN' HANKS says high. I'll E-MAIL you guys again soon. I got some killer food concoctions you gotta try, some pics to send and other joyous bits of interest. Toke it easy, Angry Bill p.s. I'm sending you a videotape of my bros and I goofin off.