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Live review: Ween at Stubb’s
There are some ways that Austin is a better city than it was 15 years ago. Aquafest, that mistake on Town Lake mixing funnel cakes and washed up bands, has given way to ACL Fest, with its chicken cones and world class talent.
Back in 1995, you couldn’t use the traffic as an excuse for being 10 minutes late for everything. Back then, we were a city trying to figure out what to do with the Internet and so we had to leave the house every day to get stuff done.
But there are parts of mid-’90s Austin that are gone and will never be replaced. Of course, I’m talking about Ween at Liberty Lunch. The country/ prog rockers played epic concerts at the late, great 1.000-capacity venue in ’96 and ’97, with singer Aaron Freeman declaring after each that “this is the best show we’ve ever played.” And he meant it.
There are some ways in which Ween is a better band now than then. Guitarist Micky Melchiondo (Dean Ween) has become a monster axesmith, while Freeman (Gene Ween) has emerged as an unconventionally powerful crowd slayer. This five-piece band can play anything, from the faux calypso of “Bananas and Blow” to country kissoff “P* Up a Rope,” but as much as Saturday’s show tried to be magical, Ween at Stubb’s 2010 wasn’t close to Ween at the Lunch 1997. The band rocked harder than ever in front of a gleeful sold out crowd, but this kind of sloshy and jubilant show has become expected of Ween in these parts. In ‘96, when they came to town to promote that dreadful “country” album, no one knew they were this much fun.
It doesn’t help that Stubb’s can be a miserable sweathole where everyone smokes- Little-Beirut-on-Waller Creek. It’s a venue for diehards only, and there were about 2,000 on hand Saturday to turn just about every song into an anthem of dissatisfaction. Middle fingers went up in unison during “Baby Bitch,” which Freeman tried to ruin with an affected croon, while the ecstatic reaction to “Learnin’ to Live” and “My Own Bare Hands,” from the band’s most recent studio LP “La Cucaracha,” showed this was a crowd not stuck in “Chocolate and Cheese” (Ween’s 1994 masterpiece).
The highlight at just past the hour mark was when the riff-rich rarity “Gabrielle” led into “Voodoo Lady,” which sequed into Prince’s “Kiss” and back into “Voodoo” It was a blood-rushing moment. Ween doesn’t play their songs live as they were recorded- opening number “H.I.V. Song” has gone from childlike to vein-bulging in concert- so “Voodoo Lady” was devoid of its signature percussion in favor of psychedelic wah-wah guitar. But they pulled it off.
That segment was followed by a couple of tunes from “The Mollusk”- “Mutilated Lips” and “Buckingham Green”- which seemed like the group was taking a breather for it’s furious finale. But my eyes and sinuses couldn’t take the pot and cigarette smoke anymore, so I called it a night at the 90-minute mark.
I also walked out of that Ween show at Liberty Lunch in ’97. But that was three and a half hours into a four-hour show.
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Comments
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By Greg Hayward
August 29, 2010 2:18 PM | Link to this
Who knows what the did for the finale?
By Rob
August 29, 2010 2:27 PM | Link to this
Ah the days of tying onions to our belts and getting into Liberty Lunch for a few bees. Good thing you left early: I hope you caught the Matlock marathon on TVLand.
By adam
August 29, 2010 3:40 PM | Link to this
Are you really complaining about smoking at an outdoor venue? How rock n Roll.
By S D
August 29, 2010 9:37 PM | Link to this
Corky - decent Ween review - too bad you didn’t stick around to hear a sloppy but passionate take on CSNY’s Ohio. And you missed the giddy young lady with the terrific voice who guested on Spirit Of 76 ? As for the contempt for Stubb’s, I sure remember some smokey, sweaty nights at the Lunch.
ps Why the Aquafest bashing ? - it didn’t cost $165 bucks, food was good and cheap, and acts like Roy Orbison, Willie, Waylon, SRV, Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakum, Mojo Nixon (taking a hilarious swipe at the Damn Yankees w/ Ted Nugent playing opposite on the main stage), Robert Earl Keen, Junior Brown etc didn’t seem washed up to me.
By jimmi
August 29, 2010 10:34 PM | Link to this
I beg to differ Mr. Corcoran. I saw some great acts at Aqua Fest.
By Van Helsing
August 30, 2010 7:29 AM | Link to this
How about this: If you are going to write a review, STAY FOR THE ENTIRE SHOW!! Your “review” is missing the entire 2nd half of the show - after you left they played 15 - yes FIFTEEN - more songs, including Mr. Richard Smoker, Touch my Tooter, Freedom of ‘76 (w/ Sharon Jones), Spinal Meningitis, Ohio (CSN&Y Cover) and last but not least, David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, which had the sold out crowd (-1 as we now know) bouncing and grinding like nothing I’ve ever seen at CB Stubblefields. Next time Gene and Dean roll thru Austin, I’d suggest packing a pocketful of Visene and Afrin, as you missed one hell of a Rock Show.
By Robert Ouaou
August 30, 2010 7:49 AM | Link to this
No one around me was complaining. If fact, they all seemed more than satisfied with the song selection and execution. How do you validly review a show if you can’t stay for the encores?
By Horken
August 30, 2010 1:57 PM | Link to this
I pity the fool
By Yvonne
August 31, 2010 1:58 AM | Link to this
Actually, the lady singing with Ween on Freedom of 76’ was named Sarah Jones of Rooster Jenkins. She’s a local artist here in town and you can catch her at The Scoot Inn this thursday, Sept 2nd at 11pm. I personally think the show as amazing. The guys are getting on in their age and I think it’s awesome that they still deliver with such passion…
By tom
August 31, 2010 2:51 PM | Link to this
This isn’t a review.
By Nuncion
September 2, 2010 6:30 PM | Link to this
Your silly little opinion has been noted.
By Adam Hoes
September 11, 2010 1:55 PM | Link to this
Wow. What a horrible review. This would have been better served by someone who actually stayed for the shows they went to. The Liberty Lunch shows were excellent, and will always be remembered by anyone that was there (except maybe the reviewer because he left during that show as well); but there was also this show at Stubbs in 2000, that was pretty good too. Oh, yeah, that’s right, it was so good they made a 3 disc live album out of it, and now people come from all over the country to see Ween at Stubbs because of it. I guess this reviewer didn’t make it for any of the shows in the last decade; actually I’m pretty sure of it, because they have all been in August (so it’s hot), and I can count on one hand how many shows i’ve been to in my life that dont have a little pot smoke going on.
I dont think that Michael should be reviewing such a beloved band as Ween, especially in one of their favorite towns; Austin. Staying for the shows may also be a good idea.
Just an opinion.
PS- The fact that you called 12 Golden Country Greats “dreadful” is not only laughable, but truly shows that you don’t get Ween.
Sorry Charlie.
By Chip McCormick
October 4, 2010 10:42 PM | Link to this
Just ran across this ‘review’. No wonder no one here in Austin reads the ‘Spaceman’ any more. You were PAID to see a show at our best outdoor venue with the best touring rock band we have in this musically blighted country and you are put off by pot smoking and the heat? In Austin, in August???? And you left half way through? Un f’ing believable. You should seriously consider hanging it up and reviewing fashion or something more in line with your obvious fragile sensibilities. (And pay back the spaceman half of what you got for this piece o’ __.)
All hail the boognish!
By gashley
February 26, 2011 5:15 PM | Link to this
country album “dredful” ??? WTF. Ween shows can be very exhausting yes, however i never realized it until after the shows due to me getting my socks rocked off during the ENTIRE show. for real my man, new profession is a must…der.