Music

Weezer was amazing Friday night. I blogged from the event before they took the stage. I had to post again about the actual show because it was that good. It was 2 hours of almost everything they’ve done. They came out in white jumpsuits and started with their older music. Then a few songs in they took the white jumpsuits off and revealed the red jump suits. This is when they began playing from their new album, known as the red album.

They played and played. The energy was high and the showmanship was amazing. Some people may think from the surface lyrics of the latest album that frontman Rivers Cuomo has a huge ego. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Those lyrics are clearly satirical. He was continually giving props to the other band members throughout the show. It’s truly a collaborative group. Everyone in the band sung at least one song. There was lots of instrument changing up throughout the show. They also invited the lead singer and the drummer out from the opening band, Angels and Airwaves, to join them for Undone-The Sweater Song.

And just when you thought, no way they’ll do an encore, they gave the crowd some more. Earlier that day, they had the radio station rustle up a bunch of locals. That group got to come up and play musical instruments onstage with Weezer. They played two songs with Weezer and Rivers even had parts for the audience. The first song, Island in the Sun, included a ‘hip, hip’ lyric and clap part for the audience. For the second song, Beverly Hills, Rivers invited the men to sing the ‘Beverly Hills, that’s where I wanna be’ with all the ladies in the house following that up with a ‘Gimme, gimme’ lyric.

Next the local musicians left the stage, Weezer left the stage and a stage hand brought out a record player. He put on a single red album of the song, Heart Songs. Right after the lyrics, “my roommate said, “C’mon” and put a brand new record on it had a baby on it, he was naked on it….” Rivers kicked the record player over in a dramatically Nirvana style and they launched into Nirvana’s Sliver. Then they closed it all down with a great version of Buddy Holly.

We saw Weezer way way back in 1995 with Archers of Loaf opening for them. At that show Archers kicked their butts. Weezer was dealing with new found success then and they had a bad attitude. But since I loved the new album so much and it had been well over a decade we decided it was time to give them another shot at a live show. I’m so glad I did. It was the best arena show I’ve ever seen. They were into it, they gave so much, they shared and they got all of us to participate. It helps that they now have a freaking amazing body of work behind them and a deep well to draw from for content.

As my husband smartly stated when it was done. “Success wears on them well”. Thanks Weezer. Way to be the best rock band ever!

Here we are at weezer. It’s our anniversary concert early this year. 2 opening bands. Way too much time in between bands. No good food.

BUT, it’s my first concert with an iPhone so NONE of that is bugging me. I’m live blogging and taking photos and tweeting and having a great time. Thank you iPhone.

Playing this September 12th at Club Underground in NE Minneapolis.

Go watch them. DO IT.

We sent The Skullcranes off today at a BBQ at the lead singers house. Thanks Keeler and Johnson for your hospitality.

It’s so Joe.

Rock N Roll

&

Bye Bye

For some reason, I have a song stuck in my head. It’s been 3 days now and when I’m not listening to it (or other music) I’m humming it. True, it’s a very catchy song, but it seems like there has to be more to it. It has hung on so long, I wonder if it’s trying to tell me something.

The name of the song is Kids by MGMT.

My friends were in a band they called The Skullcranes. I just found out on their blog that they are done being a band. I’m not even sure how I feel but I know I’m pretty freakin sad. RIP Skullcranes.

I’ve always wanted to go to SXSW. I think the first time I heard about it was when I was a DJ at my college radio station. It sounded to me like a freaking mecca of cool.

Sadly, I’ve never made it to the event. Due to things like work and not having an extra $1000 or so on hand for something like that, that stars have just never aligned.

Now I’ve been reading all kinds of things about the event this year that make me feel like it might be too late to attend this event with the expectations I’ve carried with me since college.

Here’s a few things I’ve been picking up through my various social media channels.

One of the sessions was not giving participants the content that they thought they could expect from the panel. Since the audience was filled with a bunch of social media savvy people, they all started talking to each other about this on Meebo. Unbeknownst to the panelist and traditional journalists in the room, an entire conversation about how this happened without the presenters.

There was also an article in Salon.

The kicker of it for me was the info graphic I found in the latest Fast Company.

And the twitters that people are sending, point to the end of an era.

I’m not saying it won’t be a great event next year, I’m just saying I don’t think the event I’ve always heard about happens anymore. No judgment, but sometimes , ‘their old stuff WAS so much better’. Things change.

They are giving this one away for embedding in your blog. Share it, love it, Buy their album from iTunes.

This independent musician is singing the praises of her favorite web site. I sure do love the Internet!

YEAH!

The Skullcranes are releasing the new album on Saturday, ‘Cum On Feel The Shortbus’. The show is at the Uptown. You should go and buy their new album. It’s the best they’ve done so far and they’ve already done real good, ya’ll.