Review & Photos: Ween Nails Landing At Terminal 5 Finale In New York City
By Scott Bernstein Apr 17, 2016 • 8:56 am PDT
Images by: Bryan Lasky
Words by: Scott Bernstein
Ween :: 4.16.16 :: Terminal 5 :: New York, NY
After three sold-out shows and performances of 93 different songs, the first Ween run in the Northeast since 2011 came to a close last night at Terminal 5 in New York City. The five-piece featuring co-founding members Aaron “Gene Ween” Freeman and Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo as well as keyboardist Glenn McClelland, bassist Dave Dreiwitz and drummer Claude Coleman Jr. were in fine form and showed off the unparalleled breadth of their massive repertoire over the course of three nights in the Big Apple.
On Saturday, Ween’s chameleon-like ability to interpret a wide range of genres and styles while still putting their original stamp on the material was on full display. At one point, a podium was brought on stage so Gener could act as a rabbi in chanting the lyrics of “Israel.” Thirty minutes later, Freeman had fully embodied a performer from the other side of the Middle East for the band’s Arabian-tinged performance of “I Can’t Put My Finger On It.” One minute, Ween would be channeling the magic of the Yacht Rock era on “Joppa Road,” while shortly thereafter the quintet rocked harder than most metal bands on “The Final Alarm.” There’s no one in rock with the uncanny ability to morph between genres as effortlessly as Ween.
It wouldn’t be accurate to call Ween a jam band, but they did show off their improvisational might at the Terminal 5 finale. “Exactly Where I’m At” featured a short but incredibly sweet and off-the-cuff jam led by Deaner who added “we were jamming!” at the inclusion. Melchiondo also worked portions of the Beatles’ “She Loves You” and “All You Need Is Love” within “Don’t Laugh (I Love You)” and told “the setlist geeks” to note “that was ‘Don’t Laugh’ into ‘All You Need Is Love’ into ‘She Loves You’ into ‘Drums’ ‘Space’ into…’China/Rider.'” Ween concluded the show and run with one of their most open-ended songs, “Poop Ship Destroyer” which has been known to extend to the 20-minute mark and beyond. “Poop Ship” is more noise-rock and soundscapes than traditional jam rock improv. After years of rebelling against the sudden influx of jam fans to their shows, Ween are more willing to embrace that side of their musicality and will perform before Phish at this year’s Lockn’ Festival.
Terminal 5 was packed for each and every night of the Ween run. One of the positive attributes of the tight quarters is that attendees didn’t have much room to maneuver when it came to using their phones. As such, the attention was where it should’ve been throughout the run, on the band itself. The capacity crowd was hanging on every note and each song selection. A scary moment came ahead of “Zoloft” when Gener pointed out a fan had gone down to security. Thankfully the audience member was quickly tended to and is now fine. All said, the Ween crowd represented themselves well at T5.
Saturday’s finale included the return of a handful of songs to the fold for the first time since the reunion started. The blues-tinged “Strap On That Jammy Pac” Deaner sang to open Night Three hadn’t been performed by Ween since November 30, 2007. “Push ‘th Lil Daisies” was played for the first time in the now seven-show-old reunion towards the beginning of Saturday’s main set. Melchiondo was also up front for the return of “I Got To Put The Hammer Down,” last played by Ween on July 16, 2008. The final song of the main set, “Fluffy,” was the evening’s final 2016 debut.
The setlists of the three reunion shows in Broomfield, Colorado from February and the just-completed Terminal 5 runs were filled with rarities and songs fans never thought would be played live. Ween seems to have geared the shows for die-hards who kept the band’s spirit alive since their 2012 breakup. Consider that the five-piece played over 110 different songs since reuniting earlier this year before finally dusting off perhaps their best known tune, “Push th’ Little Daises” last night at Terminal 5. Nearly five years without Ween was hard for fans, so the payoff of two incredible runs in Broomfield and New York City feels even more sweet.
Despite the number of high-profile gigs Ween has played and will play this year, they have shied away from interviews and media coverage. While Freeman and Melchiondo haven’t been accessible to the press, Deaner is a constant presence on a Facebook page for Ween fans where he often shares news about his career and has been open and forthright in responding to questions and comments from the band’s followers. Without formal interviews, it’s all guesswork as to how Aaron and Mickey’s relationship is doing these days, but the pair’s body language was filled with love and reverence at Terminal 5 which is a good sign moving forward. Next up for Ween is a performance at Austin’s Levitation festival.
Photos (By Bryan Lasky)
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”238″ gal_title=”20160416 Ween New York City Bryan Lasky”]Videos
Setlist (via BrownBase)
Set: Strap on That Jammy Pac, She Wanted to Leave, Push th’ Little Daisies, Now I’m Freaking Out, With My Own Bare Hands, Fat Lenny, Doctor Rock, Mister Would You Please Help My Pony?, Up on the Hill, Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down), Did You See Me?, Zoloft, Israel, Waving My Dick in the Wind, I Got to Put the Hammer Down, Exactly Where I’m At, Back to Basom, I Can’t Put My Finger on It, Squelch the Weasel, Don’t Laugh (I Love You), Joppa Road*, Sorry Charlie*, Drifter in the Dark*, She Fucks Me*, Ice Castles, The Final Alarm, Fluffy
Encore: Fiesta, Poopship Destroyer
* – acoustic
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