Massachusetts’ own The New Motif kicked off a five-show residency dubbed “F@#K You It’s 2022” last Tuesday, January 18 at Soundcheck Studios. The band’s performance at the Pembroke, Massachusetts venue was highlighted by the debut of a new original, a tribute to Ween featuring special guests and a 29-minute “YASSS!!”
The New Motif — consisting of Cory Schectman (keyboards, saxophone and vocals), Dan Kelly (bass, vocals), Tyler Arnott (guitar, vocals) and Sean Ball (drums, vocals) — opened the evening and the residency by premiering “Flat Top.” Starring Schectman on organ, the groovy instrumental also features fiery lead guitar from Arnott. Jam vehicle “Pi Day” followed before Cory moved to sax for “Corn” and “Fungus.” The quartet then capped the first set by working “Fangs” into “Pink Wind.” Both songs were debuted at Soundcheck Studios in recent years.
Schectman, Kelly and Arnott came out for the second sans Ball and with Pink Talking Fish drummer Zack Burwick behind the kit. Burwick and the three members of The New Motif covered Ween’s White Pepper gem “Even If You Don’t.” Then, Tyler introduced Canadian lounge singer “Shane Boulé,” aka Sean Balls’ alter-ego from Winnipeg to front the group on three more Ween classics. Boulé led the musicians on “Boys Club,” “Mister Richard Smoker” and “Pandy Fackler.”
Each night of the residency will see members of The New Motif Facebook fan page Crooooshtown vote on the concert’s longest jam. “YASSS!!” won out last Tuesday with the four-piece treating fans to a version that spanned nearly 30 minutes not long after the Ween tribute. The New Motif went on to end the set with “Big Ass (Bill To Pay)” and re-emerged for an impromptu cover of The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)” as the encore.
The New Motif returns to Soundcheck Studios next Tuesday, February 1 and every other Tuesday until the finale on March 29. Watch pro-shot video featuring the “Flat Top” debut and covers of Ween’s “Mister Richard Smoker” and “Pandy Fackler” below:
Setlist
Set One: Flat Top^, Pi Day, Corn, Fungus, Fangs > Pink Wind
Set Two: Even If You Don’t*, Boys Club**, Mister Richard Smoker**, Pandy Fackler**, Organ Donor > See What I’m In, YASSS!!+, Big Ass (Bill To Pay)
Encore: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
- ^ – Original Debut
- * – with Zack Burwick on drums
- ** – with Zack Burwick on drums and “Shane Boule” on vocals
- + – Fan Voted longest jam of the night, 29-minute version
