Ween Performs ‘The Mollusk’ At Riot Fest

Ween returned to the stage on Sunday night at Riot Fest for their first performance since way back on December 16, 2018. The quintet played their 1997 studio album, The Mollusk and more at Chicago’s Douglas Park.

Last night was the second time Ween performed The Mollusk in its entirety following a gig on July 1, 2017 in Bend, Oregon. Guitarists Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo and Aaron “Gene Ween” Freeman, bassist Dave Dreiwitz, drummer Claude Coleman Jr. and keyboardist Glenn McClelland started their first set in nine months with a run of live favorites “Big Jilm” and “Transdermal Celebration,” rarity “I Gots A Weasel” and The Pod’s “Captain Fantasy.” The pre-Mollusk portion of the set concluded with classics “Mister Would You Please Help My Pony?” and “The Stallion Pt. 1.”

The set continued with a complete performance of the 14 songs that formed The Mollusk. Included within was Ween’s first version of “It’s Gonna Be (Alright)” since the last live Mollusk in 2017 and the return of “Cold Blows The Wind” after 32 shows. Ween finished the performance of The Mollusk the same way they did on the album by working “She Wanted To Leave” into a reprise of “I’m Dancing In The Show Tonight.” The five-piece followed The Mollusk with “Nan” and then Ween honored the late Eddie Money with a brief tease of “Baby Hold On.” Ween closed out the set with a run of “Gabrielle,” “Happy Colored Marbles” and “Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down)” and returned for a “Roses Are Free” encore.

Fan-Shot Videos (Shared by The Stallion Mang)

It’s Gonna Be (Alright)

Pink Eye (On My Leg)

Buckingham Green

I’m Dancing In The Show Tonight

Gabrielle

Happy Colored Marbles

Cold Blows The Wind

Setlist (via BrownBase)

Set: Big Jilm, Transdermal Celebration, I Gots a Weasel, Captain Fantasy, Mister Would You Please Help My Pony?, The Stallion pt 1, Puerto Rican Power, I’m Dancing in the Show Tonight, The Mollusk, Polka Dot Tail, I’ll Be Your Jonny on the Spot, Mutilated Lips, The Blarney Stone, It’s Gonna Be (Alright), The Golden Eel, Cold Blows the Wind, Pink Eye (On My Leg), Waving My Dick in the Wind, Buckingham Green, Ocean Man, She Wanted to Leave, I’m Dancing in the Show Tonight (reprise), Nan, Baby Hold On (tease), Gabrielle, Happy Colored Marbles, Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down)

Encore: Roses Are Free