Ween has returned to Australia for their most extensive tour in three years. They are here promoting their first studio album in four years, La Cucarache, after fighting the mould in the walls of the rundown homestead it was recorded in.
They took to the stage at the Governor Hindmarsh to an excited sell-out crowd. Gene and Dean have been around since 1984 and it is showing in their faces. These middle-aged men look like the partiers they sing about and, along with a complete disregard for Adelaide’s smoking laws, don’t look like slowing down anytime soon.
The alternative larrikins put on an eclectic show that magnified their ability to cross genres and have a laugh with the inner child in each of us. The show was full of dirty jokes, drug references, sexism and profanities. With songs to enjoy like Bananas and Blow, Waving my Dick in the Eind and Wiping the Mucus from my Brain this fun party band easily lived up to any expectations.
Performing without any support act, the boys played for a solid three hours covering an incredible range of their tracks. The audience was not disappointed and sung along regularly. Most of the classic Ween recordings such as Push th’ Little Daisies and Voodoo Lady were there, as well as new ones like Object from their latest album.
This show was a celebration of music. Gene Ween’s (Aaron Freeman) vocal variety, and ability to sing through a megaphone, was impressive and the songs sounded as fresh as they were when they were new. Flowing irreverently through rock, pop, punk and country the band members seemed to get younger as the set went on.
For a moment after they left the stage it seemed like there may be no encore, but as the soundman switched from pinball to solitaire on his laptop, the acoustic guitars came out. Gene was the first to finally leave the stage, then Claude Coleman Jr left the drum kit and grabbed a bass guitar, Dean Ween (Mickey Melchiondo) replaced him, and bass player Dave Dreiweitz finished the night on guitar. After such a long set they seemed sad to be farewelling Adelaide. One couldn’t help wondering if these dirty ugly Peter Pan rejects might have transformed into one of their songs and headed on down to the garden for some sex, drugs and various genres of music.
