Soundboard Audio: Ween Celebrates Claude’s Birthday In San Francisco 2001

On October 14 and 15, the recently reunited Ween will play the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco which marks their first performances in the Bay Area in over five years and first in San Francisco proper since 2009. In honor of Ween finally heading back to San Francisco, this week’s Full Show Friday features soundboard audio shared by guitarist Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo of one of the group’s best performances of 2001 which took place at The Fillmore.

Ween concluded a two-night stand at The Fillmore on August 29, 2001 which happened to be drummer Claude Coleman, Jr.’s birthday. Aaron “Gene Ween” Freeman said “we haven’t stopped partying since last night and we’re going to party some fucking more!” at the start of the show leading into the “I’m Dancing In The Show Tonight” opener. If the members of Ween were drained from partying it certainly didn’t show during their performance. Coleman in particular was on fire throughout and Gener said “that might be the best version of AIDS we ever played!” following “The HIV Song.”

Claude’s birthday was mentioned a few times throughout the night and the band led a singalong “Happy Birthday” after “Push Th’ Little Daises.” The evening featured a few choice covers as Ween played CSNY’s “Ohio” and Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” to the delight of the crowd. Other somewhat rare tunes performed on Night Two of the Fillmore ’01 run were “Demon Sweat,” “El Camino,” “Albino Sunburned Girl” and “Tender Situation.”

With all that in mind, feast your ears on the crispy recording of Ween’s August 29, 2001 performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco provided by Dean Ween and uploaded to YouTube by BoognishMonster: