Ween Covers ‘Stella Blue’ In 2000

Ween covered the Grateful Dead classic “Stella Blue” nine times between May 9, 1998 and April 4, 2001. A video featuring fan-shot video of Ween’s performance of the ballad from May 18, 2000 at The Roxy in Atlanta has been paired with an audience recording and was recently uploaded to YouTube. In honor of this fantastic document featuring Ween’s gorgeous rendition of “Stella Blue,” this week’s Full Show Friday focuses on that memorable evening in Atlanta. The “new” video of the Grateful Dead cover, as well as footage of the entire concert, can be viewed below.

“Stella Blue” was written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. The Grateful Dead first performed the ballad in June of 1972 and went on to release a studio version on 1973’s Wake Of The Flood. “Stella Blue” remained a staple of the band’s repertoire and a post-“Drums” fixture through the penultimate stop of the Dead’s final tour in 1995.

Ween debuted their take on May 9, 1998 in Columbus, Ohio and played two additional versions that week. They brought the song back for three performances in the Summer of 1999, two in May of 2000 and what still stands as their final rendition on April 4, 2001 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Guitarist Gene Ween added his own flair to the vocals rather than emulating Garcia. The rest of the band works through the song at the slow and throbbing tempo that is key to “Stella Blue.” Dean Ween, who covered “Stella Blue” with The Dean Ween Group as recently as last September, doesn’t take a solo. Bassist Dave Dreiwitz would become even more familiar with the song as a member of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.

Watch Ween’s performance of “Stella Blue” shared by w fedder featuring fan-shot video paired with taper audio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgpqW4k68oU

The rest of Ween’s May 18, 2000 concert in Atlanta was heavy on material from White Pepper, an album the band released just 16 days earlier. The five-piece also worked six songs from 1997’s The Mollusk into the setlist. While just five of the 38 songs Ween performed on May 18, 2000 in Atlanta were played within their previous three shows, there were a few surprises. “Put The Coke On My Dick” was played for just the third time live and “North Pappy Flappy” was dusted off after a span of 30 shows.

Here’s video of the entire concert shared by The Stallion Mang:

Setlist (via BrownBase)

Set: Ice Castles, The Grobe, She Wanted to Leave, Piss Up a Rope, Buckingham Green, Captain Fantasy, Don’t Get 2 Close (2 My Fantasy), Even If You Don’t, Waving My Dick in the Wind, Doctor Rock, Springtheme, Voodoo Lady, The Mollusk, Roses Are Free, Push th’ Little Daisies, Back to Basom, Demon Sweat, Up on the Hill, Never Squeal, You Fucked Up, Mister Richard Smoker, Pandy Fackler, Reggaejunkiejew, Stella Blue, Ocean Man, Mister Would You Please Help My Pony?, Hot For Teacher

Encore: Bananas and Blow, The Blarney Stone, Take Me Away, Stroker Ace, Put the Coke on My Dick, Baby Bitch, Homo Rainbow, Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down), Big Jilm, North Pappy Flappy> LMLYP

– Big Jilm with unidentified fan (vocals)