Weezer!!!

It took entirely too long to get to Irvine Meadows last night (yeah, I'm old-school like that, still calling it Irvine Meadows) for the Blink-182/Weezer show. The parking lot was super-full so I had to walk forever to get the venue. The concession stand was having some kind of beer issue so it took me 20 minutes to make it through that relatively short line.

With pizza and drink finally in hand, the lights go off and Weezer's intro music comes on. Damn it!! I power walk up the hill and across the walkway, finally making it into my seat as the second song was wrapping up. My pizza could wait.

The band members performed in matching white Nike track suits in front of a gold glitter backdrop. There was a trampoline that Rivers used to get up on the drum riser. Rivers busted out the most beautifully awkward dance moves ever. There was no way I was going to miss a second of that to eat.

Here's the set list:

War Pigs
Hash Pipe
Troublemaker
Undone—The Sweater Song
Surf Wax America
Perfect Situation
(If You're Wondering if I Want You To) I Want You To
Say It Ain't So
My Name Is Jonas
Island in the Sun
Why Bother?
Pork & Beans
Beverly Hills
Buddy Holly
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?



(Rivers at last night's show from the OC Register)

I'm not a fanatic Weezer fan, I don't own bootlegs and imports, I don't follow the band's radio station or webisodes, but I have solidly liked (and sometimes loved) the music for nearly 15 years. The songs are so fun and energetic in that great, true, American rock-and-roll kind of way. Sometimes they're silly or strange, but quite often the band delivers really beautiful songs about heartbreak and loneliness and insecurity. I've heard "Say It Ain't So" probably hundreds of times and am still wowed by its sincerity and vulnerability on each listen.

This was my third time seeing Weezer live and each show has out shown the last. I first saw the band in 1997 opening for No Doubt. The performance was good but not super-memorable, except for how super-slimy sweaty Rivers was when he shook my hand (I think he was dealing with some stuff then and perhaps drinking a lot). The second time was with Foo Fighters in 2005 when the two bands co-headlined and Weezer was incredible, playing every song I could think of wanting to hear, Rivers all healthy and charismatic performing "Island in the Sun" acoustic on a small B-stage feet from me, and the band members doing an impressive instrument rotation (rhythm guitarist to keyboard, keyboardist to drums, drummer to bass, bassist to lead guitar, lead guitarist to vocals and vocalist to rhythm guitar, and then everyone move over again). This performance with the set list and the costumes and the gold backdrop and the excitement of the crowd and the quality of the music, the instrument-swapping and everything else made this show even better than the last.

My only complaint was the set was too short. I wanted to hear "In the Garage," I wanted to rock out with the boys for the rest of the night. I so have to see the band again, preferably as a headliner, though I would settle for Weezer opening for U2 one day (if I wish it hard enough, it will come true).

My throat was horse and my legs stiff once the set came to an end, but I was so ecstatic.
Lately, there's been a bit of a cloud in my life, not anything traumatic but just a feeling of treading water and so wanting myself and everyone I love to be able to catch a break. A small set from the band didn't solve anything but it definitely made me feel better and got me out of my head for a while. And I figure, how can I be down when Rivers, with his Buddy Holly glasses and bald spot and awkwardness and brilliance and keen fashion sense and shy smile, is in the world? Really, a world with Rivers is a world worth celebrating.


(Mark from the Register)

Blink-182 did a great set as well, though Weezer was the champion of the night. I got to hear the tunes I've been singing along with on the radio since college, got to experience the man-love firsthand (Tom DeLonge is perpetually a 13-year-old boy), got to enjoy Mark Hoppus in all his radiance and got to witness the complete drumming brilliance of Travis Barker. Anything I say about his work is going to seem over-the-top but probably won't express how truly impressive he was last night. Everyone should take the opportunity to see him in action, he really is something else.


(Travis from the Register)

I didn't get home until 1 and still had to be at work at a decent time this morning so am running on not enough sleep, but I had a fantastic evening. I'm still feeling my Weezer high and want to keep that running. I'm listening to the "Red Album" right now and have "Blue" and "Green" to keep me company on the drive home. And I'm definitely once again crushing on Rivers, something about a guy in Buddy Holly glasses.



From last night's set list, a nice little f-you anthem that had Irvine Meadows rocking.

Pork & Beans
They say I need some Rogaine to put in my hair
Work it out at the gym to fit my underwear
Oakley makes the shades to transform a tool
You'd hate for the kids to think that you've lost your cool

Imma do the things that I wanna do
I ain't got a thing to prove to you
I'll eat my candy with the pork and beans
Excuse my manners if I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like
I'm fine and dandy with the me inside
one look in the mirror and I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot about what you think

Everyone likes to dance to a happy song
With a catchy chorus and beat so they can sing along
Timbaland knows the way to reach the top of the charts
Maybe if I work with him I can perfect the art

Imma do the things that I wanna do
I ain't got a thing to prove to you
I'll eat my candy with the pork and beans
Excuse my manners if I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like
I'm fine and dandy with the me inside
One look in the mirror and I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot about what you think

No, I don't care
I don't care
I don't care
I don't care
I don't care
I don't care

Imma do the things that I wanna do
I ain't got a thing to prove to you
I'll eat my candy with the pork and beans
Excuse my manners if I make a scene
I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like
I'm fine and dandy with the me inside
One look in the mirror and I'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot about what you think