There's nothing more frightening to the layman music fan than humor in music. Throw on Frank Zappa's Hot Rats, or Tenacious D's self-titled debut, and people will run screaming from the room, terrified of what they are unable or unwilling to understand. Ween has been scaring audiences for more than two decades with their tongue-in-cheek take on rock n' roll. Songs jump from topic to topic, genre to genre, and the majority demonstrate a refreshing lack of good taste. Take for instance the band's 1992 break out album, Pure Guava, which jumps from a cracked-out love song with helium-high vocals ("Push th' Little Daises") to a freaky techno number ("The Goin' Gets Tough from the Getgo") to a fuzzy, spacey number about a rhasta music lover with a drug problem ("Reggaejunkiejew"), all set against a drum track and each offering its own unique moments of charming abrasiveness. Several local musicians pay tribute to the band during a Halloween-night show, Ween-O-Ween. The bill features sets by instrumental nu-jazz foursome Poetry n' Lotion, experimental duo Insect Joy and a special lineup that includes members of PnL, former members of Life of Pi, and a few others performing Ween songs as The Stallion Part 9. Area folks are encouraged to come dressed up in costume; the best Ween-inspired duds earn a Ween-worthy prize. Fri., Oct. 31, 9 p.m., New World Brewery, 1313 Eighth Ave., Ybor City, $7, 813-248-4969.
This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2008.