Last Friday at Johnny Brenda's it was The Freeman Tour, bringing Aaron Freeman's new band Freeman back to Philadelphia with Providence, RI buzz-band Arc Iris. The sold-out crowd was completely amped, with local hero Aaron Freeman a.k.a. Gene Ween making his return to the hip Fishtown neighborhood venue. With his new self titled album dropping just over a month ago, the excitement of his return was electric. Many fans arrived dejected to find out the show was sold out, but the hardcore fans were ready with tickets in hand, ready for the show.
After what seemed to be a long delay to get upstairs, Arc Iris went on stage on time to start the show. It has been a great year for Arc Iris, releasing their eponymous debut album earlier this year, getting major buzz on the SXSW circuit and major coverage all year round. The Freeman tour would be an exciting one with keyboardist Zach Tenorio-Miller having double duty, playing in both bands.
Arc Iris, making their sixth appearance in Philly, was remarkably at their best. While they only played three songs from their Arc Iris album, their set was filled with insanity. Lead vocalist, Jocie Adams was also at the best Philly has seen of her, even including several appearances with former band The Low Anthem. She let nothing get in her way of an amazing set. At one point she even dropped down into the crowd during "Powder Train" serenading the crowd. (see "Powder Train" video)
Powder Train (clip) by Arc Iris - Johnny Brenda's / Philadelphia, PA
Little things, like trumpet player Mike Irwin, being off tour to spend more time with his newborn, were hardly a blip. Jocie played a little trumpet on top of vocals and keys when needed. (See "Saturation Brain/Rainy Days" video) Jocie wasn't the only one on double duty either. Zach, on keys & synth, was a one man rhythm section providing a wild backbone to the songs.
Saturation Brain/Rainy Days by Arc Iris on the Freeman tour at Johnny Brenda's
With Robin Ryczek on cello, and Ray Belli on drums, this foursome took fans on an already best-of collection with this rising band. The songs, new and old, fit were great stuff for the Freeman/Ween fans. The new material was just as eclectic as the Ween catalog, making them a perfect option to open the tour.
Swimming (live clip) Arc Iris - Freeman Tour / Johnny Brenda's
Arc Iris at Johnny Brenda's October 3rd 2014
Song Title - Album/Release
1. Paint with the Sun Unreleased Original
2. Kingdom Come Unreleased Original
3. Kaleidoscope / Give the Worried Man a Rose Unreleased Original
4. Lay Down a Rose Unreleased Original
5. Powder Train Arc Iris
6. Whiskey Man Arc Iris
7. Saturation Brain Unreleased Original
8. Rainy Days Unreleased Original
9. Swimming Arc Iris
Freeman and band took the stage next for the expansive sold-out crowd. Fans young & old pressed to the stage to welcome Geener. The days of being a part of Ween the band may be completely behind him, but the Ween catalog will always be a part of Aaron Freeman. Freeman took fans on a tour of old Ween songs and songs from the brand new album Freeman. The set was amazing. Even with skipping the lead single from Freeman and many Ween hits, the set was still thoroughly impressive. More impressive was the crowd giving their all to the deep Ween cuts and new Freeman tunes. Most impressive was Aaron Freeman looked great and sounded even better. With an killer cast around him of Chris Boerner (see 2nd video below), Kyle Keegan, Joe Young, and Zach Tenorio-Miller it's easy to be energized and have a great show.
LIVE Buckingham Green-Spirit of '76 // Freeman Tour // Johnny Brenda's
The show was everything a Freeman fan could have wanted. There were lots of new songs, but many throwbacks to the days of Ween. There was killer lighting, an over-active fog machine, and the solos were fabulous. The most epic solo was Chris Boerner on "(For A While) I Couldn't Play My Guitar Like A Man." Although all the Ween songs are 10 & 20 years old, with the band mates being newer to Freeman and Ween, it's only natural that this future classic would be played with just as much, if not more vigor than some of the Ween tracks. With this song representing a return to glory for Aaron, it made perfect sense that it would be that the song turned into a 7 minute epic set capper.
LIVE (For A While) I Couldn't Play My Guitar Like A Man / Freeman the band
For one of the most interesting encores in recent memory, Aaron did "Pollo Essado", the spoken word rendition of a customer/waiter interaction at a Mexican restaurant. And to cap the night, the band reached deep into their bag of tricks and pulled out a Prince deep cut with "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man."
Freeman at Johnny Brenda's October 3rd 2014
Song Title Album/Release
1. Cops
2. All The Way to China Freeman
3. Transitions Shinola Vol. 1
4. Exactly Where I'm At White Pepper
5. More Then The World Freeman
6. Black Bush Freeman
7. Your Party La Cucaracha
8. Demon Sweat The Pod
9. El Shaddai Freeman
10. Stay Forever White Pepper
11. Buckingham Green the Mollusk
12. Spirit of '76 Chocolate and Cheese
13. Mountains And Buffalo Tried and True B Side
14. Golden Monkey Freeman
15. (For A While) I Couldn't Play My Guitar Like A Man Freeman
**** Encore ****
16. Pollo Esado The Pod
17. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man PRINCE COVER
After what seemed to be a long delay to get upstairs, Arc Iris went on stage on time to start the show. It has been a great year for Arc Iris, releasing their eponymous debut album earlier this year, getting major buzz on the SXSW circuit and major coverage all year round. The Freeman tour would be an exciting one with keyboardist Zach Tenorio-Miller having double duty, playing in both bands.
Arc Iris, making their sixth appearance in Philly, was remarkably at their best. While they only played three songs from their Arc Iris album, their set was filled with insanity. Lead vocalist, Jocie Adams was also at the best Philly has seen of her, even including several appearances with former band The Low Anthem. She let nothing get in her way of an amazing set. At one point she even dropped down into the crowd during "Powder Train" serenading the crowd. (see "Powder Train" video)
Powder Train (clip) by Arc Iris - Johnny Brenda's / Philadelphia, PA
Little things, like trumpet player Mike Irwin, being off tour to spend more time with his newborn, were hardly a blip. Jocie played a little trumpet on top of vocals and keys when needed. (See "Saturation Brain/Rainy Days" video) Jocie wasn't the only one on double duty either. Zach, on keys & synth, was a one man rhythm section providing a wild backbone to the songs.
Saturation Brain/Rainy Days by Arc Iris on the Freeman tour at Johnny Brenda's
With Robin Ryczek on cello, and Ray Belli on drums, this foursome took fans on an already best-of collection with this rising band. The songs, new and old, fit were great stuff for the Freeman/Ween fans. The new material was just as eclectic as the Ween catalog, making them a perfect option to open the tour.
Swimming (live clip) Arc Iris - Freeman Tour / Johnny Brenda's
Arc Iris at Johnny Brenda's October 3rd 2014
Song Title - Album/Release
1. Paint with the Sun Unreleased Original
2. Kingdom Come Unreleased Original
3. Kaleidoscope / Give the Worried Man a Rose Unreleased Original
4. Lay Down a Rose Unreleased Original
5. Powder Train Arc Iris
6. Whiskey Man Arc Iris
7. Saturation Brain Unreleased Original
8. Rainy Days Unreleased Original
9. Swimming Arc Iris
Freeman and band took the stage next for the expansive sold-out crowd. Fans young & old pressed to the stage to welcome Geener. The days of being a part of Ween the band may be completely behind him, but the Ween catalog will always be a part of Aaron Freeman. Freeman took fans on a tour of old Ween songs and songs from the brand new album Freeman. The set was amazing. Even with skipping the lead single from Freeman and many Ween hits, the set was still thoroughly impressive. More impressive was the crowd giving their all to the deep Ween cuts and new Freeman tunes. Most impressive was Aaron Freeman looked great and sounded even better. With an killer cast around him of Chris Boerner (see 2nd video below), Kyle Keegan, Joe Young, and Zach Tenorio-Miller it's easy to be energized and have a great show.
LIVE Buckingham Green-Spirit of '76 // Freeman Tour // Johnny Brenda's
The show was everything a Freeman fan could have wanted. There were lots of new songs, but many throwbacks to the days of Ween. There was killer lighting, an over-active fog machine, and the solos were fabulous. The most epic solo was Chris Boerner on "(For A While) I Couldn't Play My Guitar Like A Man." Although all the Ween songs are 10 & 20 years old, with the band mates being newer to Freeman and Ween, it's only natural that this future classic would be played with just as much, if not more vigor than some of the Ween tracks. With this song representing a return to glory for Aaron, it made perfect sense that it would be that the song turned into a 7 minute epic set capper.
LIVE (For A While) I Couldn't Play My Guitar Like A Man / Freeman the band
For one of the most interesting encores in recent memory, Aaron did "Pollo Essado", the spoken word rendition of a customer/waiter interaction at a Mexican restaurant. And to cap the night, the band reached deep into their bag of tricks and pulled out a Prince deep cut with "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man."
Freeman at Johnny Brenda's October 3rd 2014
Song Title Album/Release
1. Cops
2. All The Way to China Freeman
3. Transitions Shinola Vol. 1
4. Exactly Where I'm At White Pepper
5. More Then The World Freeman
6. Black Bush Freeman
7. Your Party La Cucaracha
8. Demon Sweat The Pod
9. El Shaddai Freeman
10. Stay Forever White Pepper
11. Buckingham Green the Mollusk
12. Spirit of '76 Chocolate and Cheese
13. Mountains And Buffalo Tried and True B Side
14. Golden Monkey Freeman
15. (For A While) I Couldn't Play My Guitar Like A Man Freeman
**** Encore ****
16. Pollo Esado The Pod
17. I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man PRINCE COVER
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