Asking a Weezer fan to choose the Blue Album or Pinkerton as their favorite album is like asking a mother to choose a favorite child. It’s just unfair. It’s always been a tough call for me, but Pinkerton has grown an incredible amount since I was a little boy. After seeing the band perform the album from top to bottom, I can assure you, it’s Pinkerton. It’s probably always been Pinkerton, but tonight sealed the deal.
Free Energy opened the show. It’s gotta be tough opening for an established act like Weezer. This show had to be tough, considering that everyone was waiting to hear a classic like Pinkerton. That’s a tough crowd. Free Energy have a sound that is built for big stages, and they delivered. It was my 5th time seeing them this year, and it was just as refreshing as the first time.
Weezer were one of the first bands I truly fell in love with. They have been that one band I still had to see (along with The Strokes), and I felt like the day would never come. Once I saw the big bright W light up the stage, I knew that it was a reality. They kicked things off with “Memories” and slowly worked their way backwards in time, playing a cut from each album. “Pork & Beans” and “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” really came to life live, energizing a crowd that hardly needed a boost. They dipped into (the underrated) “Perfect Situation” before hitting on “Dope Noise” and the always classic “Hash Pipe”.
The band rewarded the die hard fans with three b-sides: “You Gave Your Love to Me Softly”, “Susanne”, and “Jamie”. The only Blue Album cut was “Only In Dreams”. It was an absolute delight to hear it live, but I couldn’t wonder why they couldn’t throw in other Blue Album cuts like, “The World Has Turned And Left Me Here” or “Say It Ain’t So”. I don’t think I’m alone on that.
When it came time for Pinkerton to be played in full, the crowd was antsy with anticipation. All of that waiting paid off when the all too familiar sounds of “Tired Of Sex” kicked the crowd into a frenzy. “Getchoo” grooved with ease. “Why Bother?” got some fans to mosh and crowd surf, ultimately recreating the 90’s scene that the song once thrived in. I almost lost my voice during “Across The Sea”, but wisely saved it for the big punch. The big three combo of “The Good Life”, “El Scorcho”, and “Pink Triangle” is just unfair. It’s an assault of just pure greatness. All three songs were immensely fun to hear live, something I will never forget. Things came to a close with a stripped down version of “Butterfly” that was a perfect way to calm the pink storm.
It’s mind boggling to think that Rolling Stone once called this one of the worst albums of 1996. It really doesn’t get much better than Pinkerton. The band was on point, effortlessly recreating the emotions that were invested in these songs. I feel lucky to have heard Pinkerton in it’s entirety live. Say what you want about Weezer’s recent output, but they absolutely bring it live. This was a show for the ages, and a memory that I will pass on to my children, and theirs.
=W=
Setlist & Some Videos, after the jump:
Memories
Pork and Beans
The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)
Perfect Situation
Dope Noise
Hash Pipe
You Gave Your Love to Me Softly
Susanne
Jamie
Only in Dreams
Encore:
Tired of Sex
Getchoo
No Other One
Why Bother?
Across the Sea
The Good Life
El Scorcho
Pink Triangle
Falling for You
Butterfly
El Scorcho:
Butterfly:
Getchoo:
The Good Life:
Pink Triangle:
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