First, a VK announcement:
I'm still a bit overwhelmed from the 3-day musicfest here in Seattle, and have many more awesome concerts on deck in the next month. Reviews will trickle out as my brain sees fit.
Upcoming reviews:
Joanna Newsom,
Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes),
The XX,
Sufjan Stevens,
Vampire Weekend,
Ra Ra Riot,
The Decemberists,
Neko Case,
Bob Dylan,
Plants & Animals,
The Flaming Lips,
Neutral Uke Hotel
Broken Social Scene
ONTO WEEZER!
=W=
I mean, I could spit vague platitudes like "it was so awesome" but I'm gonna let the Setlist say that for me:
Epic Intro
Hash Pipe
Troublemaker
Undone - The Sweater Song
Surf Wax America
Memories
Perfect Situation
Dope Nose
Say It Ain't So
Brian's Theme
Island in the Sun
El Scorcho
My Name Is Jonas
Beverly Hills
--
Hot for Teacher (Van Halen cover)
Pork and Beans
Kids (MGMT cover)
Poker Face (Lady Gaga cover)
--
(If You're Wondering If I Want You to) I Want You To
Buddy Holly
Rivers Cuomo, adorably gymnastic, spent much of the set climbing the stage like a jungle gym and just giving it all to the enormous, grateful crowd. He donned an appropriately blond wig for the Lady Gaga cover. The band was at the top of their game, and took some liberties with songs.
Recent covers aside, this could have been a show from a time machine... imagined by someone who idolized early 90's Seattle as a place of grungy, devil-may-care, flannel-bedecked crowd surfers. Weezer's set followed Hole, for Chrissakes, and an chilly late summer evening under the Space Needle added to the ambiance that it really could have been 1994.
...I mean, did I mention the crowd surfers? And Moshing? (seriously, who's moshing at a Weezer show. Get with the times).