Music Review 2 Weezer Music Midtown Erin Paredes Dec 9, 2013 Dr.

r. Tullos On September 21, 2013, I viewed Weezer in concert in Music Midtown at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The concert was delayed for about thirty minutes due to excessive rain, and the band came out covering their equipment with saran wrap. The crowd became antsy as Weezer began entering and exiting the stage, and after ample time spent waiting, Weezer finally opened up with their first song My Name Is Jonas, their hit single off of their first album titled Blue Album. This song, characterized by up and down guitar riffs and the random, nonsensical lyrics Weezer fans have some to love and appreciate. To my delight, the lead singer, Rivers Cuomo, really sang with vocal clarity, and impressive feat. The next song they played was Hash Pipe, another Weezer classic involving a discarding of the narrators problems and instead picking up a hash pipe and smoking hashish. I think this song really involved the fans because at this point, as I looked around, many were actually smoking marijuana, not to mention that marijuana is very appealing to the youth and a song involving kicking back, discarding ones problems, and replacing them with marijuana appeals to Weezers fan base. Soon there after, Weezer took a break from performing to tell a story of the bands formation in Los Angeles, and to inform the fans of where he grew up. I myself really found this story touching because it gave us, the fans, a sense of connection with the band and gave them a sense of humanity, instead of just people playing guitars and drums for our entertainment. Rivers went on to explain how he used to ride the golf carts in an Atlanta country club where his grandmother frequented. He then went into detail explaining how he wanted to ride his golf cart into an Island In The Sun, Weezers hit off of their album Green Album. This song, reminiscent of early surf rock, with a simplistic 4-chord melody, and simple drumbeat, was a feel-good song to for the audience. Rivers sang with vocal integrity, with his lyrics involving a picture perfect life on an Island where our daily problems and hardships dissipate like the ocean waves. Weezers set list consisted of back and forth pattern alternating between feel-good melodies and the mosh pit sing along anthems theyve become known for. Later in the concert, Weezer played their last song before exiting the stage, Memories. This song really involved the crowd because it involves a universal theme of nostalgia and wanting to return to a time of romanticized happiness or euphoria. Weezer exited and the crowd cheered for an encore. At this point Weezer re-entered the stage and played one last song, The Sweater Song, a hit off of their debut album about unraveling a sweater until the wearer is naked. Weezer performed with excellent energy and connection with the fans and as a fan, I felt a connection with the singer, Rivers. Their multiple performed songs about feeling inadequate to the status quo and kicking back and releasing ones problems were relatable and were sang with emotion and vocal clarity.