Dean Ween stretches out on the seven-minute funk bump “Mercedes Benz”

Heady New Hope alt-rockers Ween are back on the road in a few weeks, starting here in Philadelphia at Festival Pier on August 21st. Along with the surprise novelty of a Ween tour, which none of us thought we’d see a year ago, comes the news that Dean Ween – aka Mickey Melchiondo – has a new solo effort in the works as well.

The Deaner Album is out October 11th via ATO Records, and was recorded during the band’s breakup, while The Gener was off working on his Freeman project. The album features the playing The Dean Ween Group – basically the rest of Ween sans Freeman: Claude Coleman Jr., Dave Dreiwitz, and Glenn McClelland, plus Bill Fowler – and the lead single hit the internet today.

“Mercedes Benz” is a thumping, thundering, seven-minute funk opus. Imagine David Bromberg’s “Sharon,” with a heavy dose of hallucinogens; listen to it here, via Consequence of Sound. When the Ween reunion wraps up, the Dean Ween Group goes on a fall run, joined on some dates by The Meat Puppets. There’s no Philadelphia appearance, but a road trip to Asbury Park might be in order.

09/24 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Anchors Bend Beach Stage
10/18 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room *
10/20 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall
10/21 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre *
10/22 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom *
10/24 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall *
10/25 – St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall *
10/26 – Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar *
10/28 – Aspen, CO @ Belly Up *
10/29 – Jackson, WY @ Pink Garter Theatre *
10/31 – Missoula, MT @ The Wilma *

* = w/ Meat Puppets