Arts & Entertainment, Music

If You Want to Destroy My Sweater, Take Me to a Weezer Show in 2011

When I was seventeen, I saw Weezer twice on the Pinkerton tour. One show was at the Rosemont Horizon, I believe, for one of those ten-bands-play-the-radio-station’s Twisted X-Mas, and the other was at the Riviera. I think? Anyways, never would the twain meet again until Friday night at the WaMu Theater in Qwest CenturyLink Field. (I had deliberately skipped their mugging-to-the-cameras at Bumbershoot last year in favor of Pavement.) But when it’s just The Blue Album and Pinkerton, yes, I am willing to pay to see that version of Weezer again.

In case you are not familiar with these seminal 1994 and 1996 albums, here’s the setlist. I had hoped that Rivers and Co. would play the albums exactly as written, and for the most part they really did. One can accuse such a performance as being rote, but rote is exactly what I wanted–no joke-ass histrionics, no lame cool-dad behavior, and certainly no “Beverly Hills.”

Just let us all scream along all the words while making =w= signs with our hands, together. Of course the crowd’s singing was far more urgent for the Blue Album portion of the night. You can always appreciate it for what it is, but Pinkerton is an awkward little piece of work that, let’s not forget, puts Rivers’ sexual creepiness on full display. And while it looked as if none of the major players seemed to be very into the performance (an intermission slideshow?), it felt like great paycheck rock, so get them dolla bills, Rivers.

The Thermals, who were playing their own cover of “My Name is Jonas” at Bumbershoot last year, opened the night. We all know that the WaMu Theater is a terrible venue if you enjoy live music, so no need to rehash that territory yet again. Also, the crowd was exactly what I expected: the right mix of people in their 30s, the kids, and a not insignificant number of douchebags. I hope that shitty cameraphone photo turned out awesome, brah. Meanwhile, ahead of me on the floor was a family of four: mom and dad in their early 40s, girls 12 and 15.

As a lights-on encore, Weezer played some new song (“Blast Off!”, video here) which seemed to be about beer and babes and at best could be described as “unpolished.” Then the lights came up and Barbra Streisand’s version of “The Way We Were” filled the big concrete room. Memories. Now that’s how to end a show.

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Audrey

Managing Arts Editor, Film & TV Audrey is kinda a big deal. She was Chicago-born and –raised, but doesn't miss the weather one bit (the people and the politics are another story). She spends a great deal of time eating oysters and drinking wine, watching movies and going to shows, reading Videogum and The Awl, and quoting Arrested Development (yes, still). Her favorite stuff on television includes 30 Rock, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Community, Parks and Rec, and pretty much any VH1/Bravo reality trashvaganza. In terms of movies, she tends to agree with Glenn Kenny. Fun Fact: She always tries to keep on hand at least two pounds of Tillamook extra sharp cheddar cheese.

3 thoughts on “If You Want to Destroy My Sweater, Take Me to a Weezer Show in 2011”

  1. “Blast off!” isn’t new, actually: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_from_the_Black_Hole but interesting that they played it.

    Signed,
    A formerly huge but still enthusiastic =w= fan who wasn’t there but would have sung along to Pinkerton louder than the blue album if she had been

    1. Thanks for the info, Chelsea! I didn’t know the song myself, and other reviews had it listed as “new.” You are clearly a =w= aficionado!

  2. Actually, after the show, the room was filled with the sounds of “Time Flies” from Weezer’s “Hurley” album. Streisand!?!?!?

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