For 'brothers' Ween, goof rock is serious music

By GINA VIVINETTO

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 17, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Gene and Dean Ween didn't let a little rain stop them from providing 776 fans with some sunny moments Saturday at Jannus Landing. After an afternoon of ferocious rainstorms, Ween, the duo's alternative music band, performed for more than two hours its signature brand of goof rock, including Bananas and Blow, a calypso-style Jimmy Buffett parody with synthesized steel drums.

"Since we're in Florida, this is the only appropriate place to play this song," Gene said, of course, referring to the Sunshine State's most famous Parrothead.

That tune, the cool temperature, and much liquid (and, from the smell of it, herbal) refreshment got fans dancing. Those sporting Frank Zappa T-shirts understand Ween's musical aesthetic, with its roots in dada art. Or is that Mad magazine?

However, like Zappa, the "brothers" Ween -- real names Mickey Melchiondo and Aaron Freeman -- are more than puerile fun meisters; the duo has real musical chops.

Perhaps alt-rock's most underrated guitarist, Dean (Melchiondo) wowed the crowd with a lengthy and lovely solo spotlight encompassing trippy blues shreds and chunks of 1970s-style warbling. Later Dean bugged out ironically with Framptonesque effects.

Ween's adoration of 1970s rock is no secret; consult White Pepper, the band's new album, to hear the influence of 10cc, vintage Roxy Music and plain old soft rock. The band, which always has up its sleeve a kooky cover or two, paid homage to Wings with a note-for-note rendition of Band on The Run, including a dead-on Paul McCartney imitation courtesy of Gene (Freeman).

Fans also cheered along to the cocky Dr. Rock, which rivals any Kiss tune for Silliest Arena Rock Anthem. Several times the band delved into its 12 Golden Country Greats concept album, tossing off a nutty Nashville knockoff. . Ween's range was stretched more with a pepped-up, ska version of Push Th' Little Daisies, the closest thing to a hit the band has ever enjoyed.