Freeman: ‘The Best Thing … For Every Ween Fan’

Freeman’s self-titled album is due out July 22 on Partisan Records. After releasing the cover album Marvelous Clouds in 2012, the new LP will be Aaron’s first collection of new material since his split with Ween and getting sober.

Along with Aaron on guitar/vocals, the band features Chris Boerner on guitar, Dave Godowsky on keys and Kyle Keegan on drums. Brad Cook plays bass in the studio and Joe Young takes over the instrument live.  

Freeman is described as a set of “gorgeous, subtly offbeat songs – in other words, a continuation of the thread that runs through the entire Ween catalog.”

“I want this record to pay homage to Ween,” Aaron says. “These are the same songs I would’ve written in Ween – except without [ex-bandmate] Mickey.”

While most people would be happy for someone who’s become sober, Aaron acknowledges that some fans might be concerned a lack of substance abuse means the new material will be missing something.

“I wrote the songs I wrote in Ween despite all the drugs and alcohol I was doing, not because,” he said. “Most people don’t get sobriety at all. They assume you’re this better-than-thou monk sitting on a mountain, judging everybody. It’s not that way: You have to let everybody do their thing, and you get weirder.”

He added, “If I hadn’t left my partnership, there wouldn’t be anything. I’d probably be dead too. I know that at the end of the day, this is the best thing I could’ve done for me and for every Ween fan.”

Here’s the itinerary for the fall tour:

Sept. 16 – Providence, R.I., Columbus Theater       
Sept. 17 – Cambridge, Mass., The Sinclair   
Sept. 18 – South Burlington, Vt., Higher Ground – Showcase Lounge       
Sept. 19 – Rochester, N.Y., Lovin’ Cup      
Sept. 20 – Cleveland, Ohio, Beachland Ballroom    
Sept. 21 – Indianapolis, Ind., Radio Radio  
Sept. 23 – Detroit, Mich., Magic Stick         
Sept. 24 – Chicago, Ill., Lincoln Hall           
Sept. 25 – Milwaukee, Wis., Turner Hall Ballroom  
Sept. 26 – Paul, Minn., Turf Club     
Sept. 27 – Omaha, Neb., The Waiting Room           
Sept. 28 – St. Louis, Mo., Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room      
Sept. 30 – Columbus, Ohio, The Basement  
Oct. 1 – Pittsburgh, Pa., Brillobox    
Oct. 2 – Washington, D.C., Rock And Roll Hotel   
Oct. 3 – Philadelphia, Pa., Johnny Brenda’s
Oct. 4 – New York, N.Y., Bowery Ballroom           
Oct. 22 – New Orleans, La., One Eyed Jacks          
Oct. 23 – Houston, Texas, Fitzgerald’s – Downstairs           
Oct. 24 – Dallas, Texas, The Loft     
Oct. 25 – Austin, Texas, The Parish 
Oct. 28 – San Diego, Calif., The Casbah      
Oct. 30 – West Hollywood, Calif., The Roxy Theatre         
Oct. 31 – San Francisco, Calif., The Independent   
Nov. 1 – Portland, Ore., Doug Fir Lounge   
Nov. 2 – Seattle, Wash., Tractor Tavern       
Nov. 5 – Salt Lake City, Utah, The State Room      
Nov. 6 – Denver, Colo., Bluebird Theater    
Nov. 7 – Kansas City, Mo., The Riot Room
Nov. 8 – Columbia, Mo., Mojo’s

A presale for select dates begins May 28. General onsales are scheduled May 30.

For more information visit FreemanTheBand.com.