Album Review: Ween - Bring Out The Foos: Live 1996

Ween

Bring Out The Foos: Live 1996

*** out of *****

The New Hope, PA based duo Ween have been going through their archives and recently released this live album, Bring Out The Foos: Live 1996. It captures the band during an interesting phase, when they were the opening act for the Foo Fighters and once again playing as a duo. That opening slot leads to lot of interplay with fans who had never heard of anything Boognish related. 

During the touring phase of the bands breakthrough, 1994's Chocolate and Cheese, the group expanded to a full live band and dug into jamming/rocking out each night. For this opening tour in 1996, they stripped back to a duo, working again with a DAT machine supporting them with pre-programmed drums/bass/beats like they did earlier in their career. This would be the final time they worked with backing tracks live, and it shows how the Dean and Gene evolved over the years. While it is a connection to their lo-fi "Brown" days, it also is a clear example that the duo were ready to move on. 

Gene's falsetto kicks things off with their ode to whacky Philly history via "Spirit of '76" as Deaner's wah-wah electric guitar work sounds great, but the DAT beats thin, for "The Stallion Pt. 3". A disco influenced beat with revved up guitars color "Captain Fantasy" while "Voodoo Lady" is fun but never gets truly out there with the backing track limitations. Same applies to "Don't Get 2 Close (2 My Fantasy)" which sounds weak while the sixth grade humor of "Piss Up A Rope" doesn't land well either. 

Things improve as the album gets towards the second half as "Marble Tulip Juicy Tree" is a blast, "Never Squeal" flashes the best guitar solo on the album from Deaner and "I Can't Put My Finger On It" has an extended chanting introduction and meaty playing throughout. That interplay with the crowd inspires the band, such as when they spar with the Tulsa fans before "The Golden Eel" or taunt the Salt Lake City crowd before the off color "Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down)" where they proclaimed, "listen to this song and see if we still suck!". 

Ween flashes some metal flair with the pairing of "Sketches of Winkel" and "You Fucked Up" as the screams and guitar riffs fly. The Prince inspired smooth funk of "LMLYP" is fine, but drags towards the end, while "Demon Sweat" is a fantastic closer, mixing minimalist keyboards and the DAT backing well before searing guitar work to close.    

While not as fully flushed out as the band's best live albums, with full backing support, it still manages to display their tunes with interesting results. Only released on CD, with minimal linear notes/fanfare Bring Out The Foos: Live 1996 is not a must here, but rather a nice slice from the band's lesser heard touring era.

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