...Coming February 12th, Watch weezer's performance at the Hollywood Guitar Center (shot in November) on a new episode of Guitar Center Sessions! This episode premieres Saturday, February 12th on DIRECTV in 3D and 2D hi-def (channels 101 and n|3D). There is also a new interview with Rivers in the mix. More info available on the Guitar Center blog and the show site, where you can also see some preview video from the show!
...Note: If you havent looked at our redesigned online store recently, you might not have seen that we are now carrying the limited edition Hurley merch that was originally a Pac Sun exclusive last fall. We got the remaining stock and its now available online for you. Some items are sold out, and what we do have wont last long, so have a look.
Today is the day people. The Hard Rock lobby is pumping the Aerosmith, the Carlos Santana and Ramones displays are polished up, the one armed bandits are parting the gamblers from their gold nuggets, and into this dusty western town rolls Weezer. The stage coach doors open and the antique weapons of rock n roll are drawn at high noon. Well, not high noon actually, more like 9:15 pm, after the opening set by Imagine Dragons.
Tonight's Memories show is unique in that its a combination Blue + Pinkerton dual album show. Its never been done before (by weezer) so there's bound to be some surprises...
(later...)
And in fact the main suprise was saved for the encore, with Rachel Haden joining the band onstage to sing the Pinkerton B-Side "I Just Threw Out The Love Of My Dreams". Rachel, one of the triplet daughters of jazz great Charlie Haden and original member of weezer buddies that dog., is the featured vocalist on that recording, and as such the song hasnt been performed since the mid 90's, as Rivers wrote the song from a girls point of view. It was so great to see Rachel again, and everyone had a chance to catch up with her after years of separation.
The rest of the show was understandably epic, with the entire Blue and Pinkerton albums performed in order (separated by my old time weezer memories slideshow). It had a slightly different feel from the previous two-night Memories shows, which had the wild first set of hits and b-sides. That created an immediate celebratory atmosphere, that for this show had to be slowly (but surely) built up to as the classic albums were laid out and the collective freak out gathered strength like a storm.
Big ups to Rachel Haden, Brian's sister Leia Bell and family, Michael McCarthy (=w= Flag Guy!); and Luis S., die-hard front and center man going big with the ILAA package!
Did you go? Comment here and/or in our message boards, tell your tale! Post your show pix on our photo page!
Wow, night 1 was pretty darn spectacular, and the Aragon was utterly packed to the gills with ravenous weez army members. The School Of Rock kids did a great job with their intermission mini-set of weezer covers, and we're expecting another such set tonight, with different songs. The Limousines rocked hard and warmed us up (literally!) as the interior Aragon temperature climbed from near freezing in places to hotter than hell. Tonight should be more, more, more!
(later...) And indeed, tonight's show was intense! The audience were amazing both nights, singing along loudly and freaking out constantly. I met so many cool fans both nights, from the I Love All Access VIPers to people from all over the place who had to come see the Memories Tour, and I've got to say it once again, weezer fans are the best fans!
Tonight the School Of Rock kids did "Say It Aint So" and "Surf Wax America" during the intermission, which actually got some crowdsurfing going! They did a fantastic job again. Also tonight the winners of the State Farm Grantin' Wishes With Weezer contest were granted their wishes, and Scott from Magic Hugs (AKA "Chazz" from How To Be Tight) was on hand to help film and interview the goings on for upcoming segments on the State Farm website (we'll link it up when its up). The winners were: One guy got to play drums with the band during soundcheck, he played "the Good life" with them. A girl named Nicole got to meet the band and have Jeremy her garden gnome signed. Then Scott suggested the gnome hang out on the drum kit for the show, and so it came to pass. Another guy got to come up on stage and do his magic trick routine for the crowd while the band played Hash Pipe. And finally a school teacher from Kansas got to sit with the band while they answered questions from the guys classroom kids back in Kansas via iChat. That class also got some new guitars. And also a bunch of fans questions were answered on video which will be a part of the stuff that will go on the State Farm site soon. http://twitpic.com/3nyviq
Big ups to Jam Productions, Paul Natkin, ILAA, The ILAA VIPers, Anuj Behal (RWA OG webmaster 1995-1999, Spice Girls doll owner), Brian's mom, and the many many awesome Boardies of every stripe we met over these 2 nights!
Are you going? Did you go? Comment here and/or in our message boards, tell your tale! Post your show pix on our photo page!
We hope everyone has had a terrific holiday season and a happy new year so far. Team Weezer has reassembled for the Chicago shows, and today is the first one here at the Aragon. Chicago is bitterly cold right now, not even cracking 15 degrees, and so far its not much warmer inside the Aragon! But thats what happens when you tour in January. The rock will warm us.
Lots going on at these shows - tonight, on top of the bands wicked "hits" and "blue" sets, The Limousines opening the show, my mid show slideshow, the general mayhem, the State Farm lobby photo booths and the merchandise tables, we also had a bunch of talented kids come down from the Chicago School Of Rock to do a mid-show mini set of covers, songs not done by weezer tonight: "Don't Let Go" and "El Scorcho". And they did a really great job, the crowd sang along just as much as they did to the weez. Theyll be back tomorrow too. Plus we had Scott from Magic Hugs (AKA "Chazz" from How To Be Tight) on hand to film a bunch of behind the scenes interviews and other madness for some upcoming TBA stuff. Plus we had legendary photog Paul Natkin in the house capturing things the Paul Natkin way.
Thanks to Cary LaScala, the drummer for The Limousines - he gave Rivers the cool shirt that he wore at New York's night 2, and he and the Limousines have been a lot of fun to mini-tour with.
Are you going? Did you go? Comment here and/or in our message boards, tell your tale! Post your show pix on our photo page!
Weezer! You guys are timeless! Continue making beautiful music!
Yes love band and the guitar sounds. Just the right thickness.
I love weezer :)
<3