I'm going to man up and be "First to Admit to Going to the blink-182 / Weezer Concert" guy. I waited 11 years to see the most influential bands in my life play together. This isn't to say they've remained my favorites over the years, but they were crucial in developing my musical tastes to the Orgcore I currently live for. Earlier in the week, I was in the pit for the Bouncing Souls / Lifetime / Tim Barry show at the Trocader -- a crowd larger than could fit on the Troc's floor welcomed me before I even got through the gates. I couldn't help comparing the attendees to the Poison / Def Leppard concert I'd been to earlier in the summer, only instead of 35-year-olds in cut-off Dokken shirts and 15-year-olds in tight jeans, there were 35-year-olds in fading "Jumping Bunny" shirts and 15-year-olds in, well, even tighter jeans.
I missed the openers (Chester French and Taking Back Sunday) due to Philly rush hour traffic, but I'm not losing any sleep over it. After a video played with drummer/guitarist Pat Wilson showing off his favorite sights in Philly (think cheesesteaks and the Rocky steps), Weezer came out with their new setup: Brian Bell on guitar and keyboard, Scott Sharp on bass and Wilson on guitar, with a new drummer and Rivers Cuomo acting as a "frontman." They opened with "Hash Pipe," then launched into "Troublemaker." I knew I wasn't at a typical Weezer show when the crowd response was greater for "Pork N Beans" and new single "(If Youâre Asking If I Want You To) I Want You To" than for Pinkerton gem "The Good Life" or "Perfect Situation," which I feel is their best song released this decade. "My Name Is Jonas," was performed with rotating vocals by the whole band except Rivers, who was off stage until the harmonica solo at the end. The roles were reversed for "Island in the Sun," with Rivers performing a bit of the song on drums, bass and guitar, which was then looped until the rest of the band joined at the end of the song. Cuomo had a lot of energy throughout the set, running around the stage and even singing while jumping on a trampoline next to the drums. Yeah, a trampoline. They closed with "Buddy Holly" and a cover of the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go," but I would've much rather heard something off Maladroit, which was completely ignored.
Set list:
- Hash Pipe
- Troublemaker
- Undone
- Surf Wax America
- Perfect Situation
- Say It Ain't So
- My Name Is Jonas
- Pork N Beans
- The Good Life
- Island in the Sun
- (If You're Asking If I Want You To) I Want You To
- Beverly Hills
- Buddy Holly
- Should I Stay or Should I Go
Set list:
- Dumpweed
- Feelin' This
- Rock Show
- What's My Age Again?
- I Miss You
- Obvious
- Stay Together for the Kids
- The Fallen Interlude / Stockholm Syndrome
- Always
- First Date
- Going Away to College
- Man Overboard
- All the Small Things
- Not Now
- Adam's Song
- Josie
- Reckless Abandon
- Anthem Part Two
-----
Travis drum solo - Carousel
- Dammit