The trio Kid Is Qual made another appearance as the opening act last night, offering the same brand of progressive club beats from drummer Chris McClish and novel bass and voice effects from frontman Jonathan Sullivan and second bassist Mike Bryant. Again, the trio's simplistic and straightforward act didn't do much to satisfy the die-hard Ween fanatic crowd, who would have likely seemed impatient for any opening act. Apart from occasional heckles comparing the band's lead singer to T-Pain, however, the audience was respectful of the opening set, offering polite applause and a show of participation driven by the two-bassists' formula of short tunes and danceable riffs.
Personal Bias: Ween's skill for heart-wrenching breakup songs was one of the draws that first made me a fan. Friday's set appealed to that part of me: "Baby Bitch," "You Fucked Up," "Even If You Don't" and "I Don't Want It" are still therapeutic and heart rending, all at once. By the Way: Right before launching into "Ocean Man," Gene Ween mentioned he'd visited the Denver Aquarium. He dug the tigers. Random Detail: The limited edition poster for Friday's show featured a gilded dragon and a crimson sun on an all-black background.
Ween Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO 12/30/11
1. "Exactly Where I'm At" 2. "Marble Tulip Juicy Tree" 3. "Happy Colored Marbles" 4. "The Grobe" 5. "Even If You Don't" 6. "Voodoo Lady" 7. "Back to Basom" 8. "Monique the Freak" 9. "Chocolate Town" 10. "Joppa Road" 11. "Flutes of the Chi" 12. "Drifter in the Dark" 13. "Squelch the Little Weasel" 14. "I Don't Want It" 15. "You Fucked Up" 16. "Dazed and Confused" (Led Zeppelin cover) 17. "Mister, Would You Please Help My Pony" 18. "Woman and Man" 19. "Ocean Man" 20. "Pandy Fackler" 21. "Big Jilm" 22. "Slow Down Boy" 23. "Wayne's Pet Youngin'" 24. "Sketches of Winkle" 25. "Never Squeal"
ENCORE
1. "I Can't Put My Finger On It" 2. "Captain Fantasy" 3. "Baby Bitch"
