WHAT I DID THIS MARCH

HAIR BALL 2001: A HAIR ODDITY - The Wexner Center celebrated the fifth anniversary of their ever-bizarre Hair Ball on March 24th. Being a Hair Ball virgin, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. After seeing it, the best way I can describe it is a Tim Burton film mixed with a lost episode of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. The costumed attendees went all out. Highlights of the night include a group of bee-hived bingo grannies accompanied by a guy dressed up as the bingo machine. One attendant’s head donned the doomed Muir Space Station. But my personal favorite of the night was an amazingly detailed Edward Scissorhands who showed up with two friends dressed as sculpted bushes. It’s a sure thing that the Hair Ball will return again next year with more costumes, more surprises and more hairdos. So start getting your costume ready now.
WEEN IN CONCERT - Even more bizarre than the Hair Ball was Ween’s visit to the Newport on March 30th. Ween, with frontmen Dean and Gene Ween, are one of the best bands to see live. Typically, they put on a three hour set with more change-ups in style than you would get surfing radio stations. They dished out their fair share of “feelgood” tunes with hits like “Push th’ Little Daisies,” “Voodoo Lady” and “Take Me Away.” They handled darker, twisted songs like “Spinal Meningitis” and the amazing “She Wanted to Leave.” They even gave the audience a tiny dose of country with “Piss Up a Rope.” Yeah, you heard me right: country. And last but not least they did astounding covers of Neil Young’s “Ohio” and (cocksuckers) Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” The coolest thing about Ween is that they encourage their fans to bootleg their shows. So if you were unable to make it to the sold-out show, look for it online on Ween fansites.