March
2002
Ween
is smokin' at surprise Conduit concert
By
Mike Chamberlain
February
7 marked the long-awaited return of Ween to Trenton. It's been seven
years since the New Hope natives have played in Trenton. Far too
long for fans of the band, who started lining up hours before the
doors opened at the sold-out Conduit at 7 p.m.
Tickets
for the show, which had been announced only a week before, were
hard to come by, leaving many fans standing out in the cold because
they could not find any before showtime. Some had traveled from
as far as Ohio to see the band.
Conduit
is one of the newest spots in Trenton to offer live music, including
internationally known acts such as Ween. The club, located on South
Broad Street across from the Sovereign Bank Arena, is host to a
variety of music from jazz to rock and dance.
Inside,
Conduit's L-shaped main room is set up quite well, with a corner
stage that can seen well from anywhere. The sound system is also
very good, with speakers spaced throughout the club so that the
music is easily heard without being overpowering. The overall feel
of the club is trendy, but with a casual vibe to it.
Opening
the show for Ween was singer/guitarist/songwriter and longtime friend
of the band's, Chris Harford. This was not Harford's first time
playing at Conduit. "I've probably played here more than anyone
else," said Harford. This was his third trip to the club, including
performing at its opening party and opening for musician Graham
Parker. "I think it's a great place to play," he said.
Harford
took to the stage backed by what he called "an up-and-coming
band," Rana. The 45-minute set was an enjoyable mix of long
jams and rockers reminiscent of The Allman Brothers and Neil Young,
an idol of Harford's.
Ween
opened their show with an hour-plus acoustic set. The band appeared
very relaxed on stage, joking with one another and taking several
requests from the very enthusiastic crowd.
While
the band was very loose on stage, the music was anything but, from
the incredible vocal range of Dean Ween (Mickey Melchiondo) on songs
like Freedom of '76, to the fantastic guitar playing of Gene Ween
(Aaron Freeman). The band that backed the Ween brothers was also
very good, with a great rhythm section featuring Dave Dreiwitz on
bass, Claude Coleman Jr. on drums and the awesome Jason Fuller on
keyboards.
After
a quick break, the band broke out their electric guitars and played
a second set that was as good as the first. Included in the set
were crowd favorites like "Pork Roll, Egg & Cheese"
and "Voodoo Lady." The band also threw covers of "Ohio"
by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and "Band on the Run"
by Wings into the eclectic mix.
The
energetic and enthusiastic crowd sang and danced with almost every
song and yelled out the names of songs that they wanted to hear.
Lawrenceville resident and longtime Ween fan Doug Raichle said,
"I've seen the band maybe nine or 10 times. Gene Ween is one
of my favorite guitar players. I think that they
are absolutely first rate." That seemed to sum up the feeling
of the entire audience.
Overall, it was a memorable show, offering Ween fans exactly what
they came to see, while still giving those who are new to the band
something memorable. The diversity of musical styles ranging from
county to hard rock and the ease with which the band switched gears
kept the crowd rocking almost into the morning.
