Not many bands can sell out a 2800-seat venue without having a new record to support. Ween did just that when they hit the Fox Theater in Oakland last week though and, judging from the rabid reaction they received, the band has not lost any of its' fan base despite not having released any new material (with the exception of "DC Won't Do You No Good," a web only single released in 2010) since 2007.
Opening the show with "Fiesta," Gene and Dean Ween, along with band mates Dave Dreiwitz, (bass) Claude Coleman Jr., (drums) and Glenn McClelland, (keyboards) ran through well over thirty-five songs, and the sold-out crowd pretty much went nuts over every one of them. Whether it was the more tongue in cheek songs like "Wavin' My Dick In The Wind" and "Help Me Scrape The Mucus Off Of My Brain" or the acoustic styling of "Joppa Road" and "Baby Bitch," Ween had the crowd in the palms of their hands for the entire set. Of course no Ween show would be complete without a couple of cover songs, and they did not disappoint while putting their own unique spins on David Bowie's "Let's Dance" and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer's "Lucky Man." After wrapping up a nearly two-hour-long set with "The Blarney Stone," Ween returned to the stage for an encore of "Stroker Ace," "You Fucked Up," and "Never Squeal On Th' Pusher" which featured a pretty amazing drum solo from Coleman.
Ween are slated to go back into the studio sometime early this year, and there is no doubt that the Bay Area awaits not only some new music, but another stellar live show.
Artist:
www.ween.com/
www.myspace.com/ween
www.facebook.com/ween
Photos:
Ween live at Fox Theater, Oakland, Ca. – 01/29/11
Tour:
A few dates remain on Ween's itinerary, as well as some Gene Ween solo shows. Look here for listings.
