Alt-rock pioneers, Weezer, brought their extensive catalog of hits with them to Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario this past Friday night. The sold out crowd was strapped in and ready for a fun filled romp through the 90’s and 2000’s when many of their “heart songs” were born. Bespectacled and eclectic front man/guitarist/writing guru, Rivers Cuomo was in fine form as the geek god, playing thunderous riffs on his signature turquoise Fender Strat to the masses. He was the epitome of the anti-rockstar with his dry wit and quasi-nervous stage banter sprinkled throughout the 80 minute set. Opening the show with “My Name Is Jonas,” the first track off their first release (the Blue Album) back in 1994, was a fitting start to a set which featured at least one song from every one of their albums except their latest, “Death to False Metal.” The set played like a 20 song greatest hits collection brought to life. Cuomo and company plowed through the setlist with a calm confidence that comes with 20 years of rocking. Vocal duties were spread between Cuomo, rhythm guitarist Brian Bell and bassist Scott Shriner. Bell took the reigns on “Keep Fishing,” while Shriner did a fine job on “Dope Nose.” Drummer Patrick Wilson, with the band since it’s inception, kept the beats and backing vocal on track throughout the night. Cuomo decided to give the security staff a workout during “Troublemaker,” when he jumped off the stage and sang his way through the crowd in the floor section before rejoining the band to the delight of the fans. Vocal melodies play a major role in Weezer’s signature sound with 2, 3 and 4 part harmonies in play often. “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” demonstrated the 4-part version wonderfully, with Cuomo hitting all the ultra high notes, while wearing the big black cowboy hat from the “Red” album cover. Doing it on the album is expected, but nailing it live is spectacular when a band can pull it off.
Vintage favorites like “Surf Wax America,” “Buddy Holly,” and “El Scorcho” still work today as well as they did back in the day. With “Hash Pipe” and “Undone” getting raves from the crowd. After a short break the band returned with their 2008 smash hit “Pork and Beans” off the “Red” album and ending off with “Say It Ain’t So” from their debut.
Setlist:
My Name Is Jonas
I’m Your Daddy
Hash Pipe
Memories
Keep Fishin’
We Are All on Drugs
Surf Wax America
I Want You To
Dope Nose
Island Intro
Island in the Sun
Troublemaker
Perfect Situation
Photograph
Buddy Holly
El Scorcho
Beverly Hills
The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)
Undone – The Sweater Song
Encore:
Pork and Beans
Say It Ain’t So
We would like to thank Jenna Hunter from Casino Rama for her assistance in helping BackstageAxxess review the show.
