Concert Sutra Wallows In Wackiness With Ween

Concert Sutra Wallows In Wackiness With Ween

Written by terri sapp

Photographed by Leah Yetter

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

Gene Ween

click photos for photo gallery

In a 1984 junior high typing class, in New Hope, Pennsylvania, Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met, called themselves Gene and Dean Ween, and started playing and recording music.  They came together like brothers from another mother, and have been doing their thing, THEIR WAY, ever since!  Even though they have been associated with such major projects as cartoons “South Park,” “Spongebob Squarepants,” “Crank Yankers;” TV show “Grounded for Life;” movie “It’s Pat;” and powerhouse band Queens of the Stone Age; released at least twenty recordings (studio, self-produced, and live); launching their own internet radio station, WeenRadio; and even forming their own label, Chocodog Records, their live show is by far their most sought after accomplishment.  In addition to the dynamic duo, Gene Ween (a.k.a. Aaron Freeman on lead vocals, guitar, etc.) and Dean Ween (a.k.a. Mickey Melchiondo on lead guitar, vocals, etc.), there are Dave Dreiwitz (on bass), Claude Coleman, Jr. (on drums), and Glenn McClelland (on keyboards) backing them up with style!

When I think of Ween, I first think of their lyrical shenanigans!  These guys have been cracking me up for years, and the one thing I have always wanted is to experience them on a tour all their own.  Up to now, every time I was fortunate enough to catch them live, they had been part of a festival, or group tour that did not allow them to properly spread their wings for, and show what a REAL Ween headliner show was all about.  UP TO NOW…  April 10, 2006 at the Tabernacle here in Atlanta, Georgia was no doubt a full ON Ween show!  They did not even bother with an opening act!!!!  You know that when an audience is lucky enough to have the actual band they paid/came to see all to themselves all night, everyone is in for quite a time.  This was a prime example.  Fun for all ages.  Leah even spotted a little old lady!  Continue reading

Concert Sutra’s Music Midtown 2004

Concert Sutra’s Music Midtown 2004

by terri sapp

Photo Credits:     Ween and George Clinton photos taken by Ben Rose; Joss Stone photo taken by Chris McKay; Dave Grohl  and crowd surfer photos taken by Frank Mullen; and brought to you courtesy of The Wicked Group.

© Concert Sutra, All Rights Reserved

MMT 2004 crowd surfer by Frank Mullen            Each and every year on the first weekend of May in Midtown Atlanta, the biggest and best festival in the Southeast takes over!  The most special aspect of Music Midtown is that no matter what acts are booked to play, this weekend is nothing but fun.  2004 is no different.  I have attended this festival for the last several years, and have found that even if there don’t seem to be any artists that you aren’t interested in experiencing, you can always find something new that will catch your attention.  Not only are there several different stages set up in the middle of the city, but the price of the weekend three-day pass is truly noteworthy.  This year, I was able to catch a total of fourteen bands over the course of the weekend, and the ticket price is under fifty dollars!  Continue reading