Nerdy nostalgia took over Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids
Wednesday night as alternative rock mainstays, Weezer, and elder statesmen,
Pixies, brought their US tour through Michigan. Hits and history alike were the
focus of the night, rather than an emphasis on newer material, though Weezer
included a fair amount of cover songs from their self-titled (teal) album,
released earlier this year (yet only one from their self-titled (black) album,
released just a few weeks ago). The crowd was a blend of older fans who were
there for Pixies with mild interest to indifference toward seeing Weezer, and
younger fans who felt and reacted the opposite way, though most seemed to enjoy
the sets from both bands.
The production for each group was professional and
well-executed but quite different when comparing. After a short opening set
from Basement, Pixies took the stage to the sounds of The Beatles’ later-era
B-side, “You Know My Name (look up the number”, and launched right into “Where Is
My Mind?”, one of the most-notable and influential songs, followed by another
early classic, “Nimrod’s Son”, before veering off into a segment of newer
material from the current decade. Singer/guitarist/songwriter, Black Francis, led
the band through tight performances of 22 songs in 70 minutes, bringing new
life to old favorites as the group experimented with arrangements and tempos
throughout their show. While still able to hit most of the tougher, higher
notes, Francis’ voice is gruffer and more gravely than the band’s original
recordings from 30 years ago. Bassist/vocalist, Paz Lenchantin, replacing
departed founding member, Kim Deal, did well to replicate Deal’s bass parts and
most of her signature vocals, and she got a few minutes in the spotlight later in
the set singing lead on a spirited rendition of “Gigantic”. While it would be
impossible to include all of the band’s greatest hits and fan favorites in
their slightly-shorter set time, and considering their surprise reunion tour was, itself, 15 years ago, the modern version of the band did a great job
balancing older and newer material alike and presenting each song with passion
and well-rehearsed skill. Other classic songs that were featured included “Here
Comes Your Man”, “Gouge Away”, “Hey”, “Caribou”, “U-Mass”, “Wave of Mutilation”,
and “Debaser”.
After another set change, slightly longer than the first,
fans were delighted to see Weezer emerge from behind a large curtain that
surrounded the stage, wearing the matching, striped jackets and hats they
recently sported on an episode of The Tonight Show, and again performing a barbershop
quartet arrangement of the first verse and chorus of “Buddy Holly”. They then
ducked back behind the curtain to begin the show, proper, and the band started
off with a strong 5-song punch of tracks from their first two (and best) albums,
including “My Name is Jonas”, “Pink Triangle”, “El Scorcho”, and the
full-length “Buddy Holly”. A few songs including, “Undone-The Sweater Song”, “I
Want You To”, “Pork and Beans”, and “Beverly Hills”, were shortened for time or
featured alternate lyrics, usually changed for comedic effect, but with some lines left out
completely in a few cases. Over the course of the show, the backdrop and stage
design changed every 5 songs or so, keeping things visually engaging and different
from one block of songs to the next. One stage set resembled the “Buddy Holly” music
video while another resembled a garage band practice, and later in the show, everything
from brightly-lit disco balls to classic-metal flash pots were used to accompany
the various moods in the songs that were included.
About half-way through their set, front man, Rivers
Cuomo, boarded a small prop boat that was wheeled slowly around the outer rim
of the main floor, allowing the guitarist to perform solos to audience members who
were further away from the stage. During this portion of the show, Cuomo
performed two songs on his own with only an acoustic guitar, including Weezer’s
mid-00’s minor hit, “Perfect Situation” and a cover of The Turtles’ classic, “Happy
Together”, which also included a verse and chorus from Green Day’s “Longview”,
itself celebrating a 25th anniversary this year, along with Weezer’s
self-titled debut LP (blue album), both released in early 1994. Among the 7
(!!!) cover songs that were played or referenced throughout their performance,
most of which were from their recent covers album, most notable was a nearly-perfect take on Jane’s Addiction’s, “Up the Beach”, the opening track from Nothing’s Shocking. The track is more an
atmospheric introduction or transition than a proper rock song, and most in the
audience probably didn’t really notice it or even know what it was, but it was
a very notable choice for the band to include. Also played were TLC’s “No
Scrubs”, Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” (with guitarist Brian Bell on lead vocals),
and their two recent ‘80s cover hits, “Africa” and “Take on Me”, celebrating almost
all corners and decades of the rock ‘n roll timeline. By comparison, they
included no songs at all from 6 of their own 14 albums. Even when the band
stumbled at times, or when planned parts of the show didn’t quite play out right,
their performance was charmingly awkward, much like the group itself. Fans and
newcomers alike were dazzled by Weezer’s showmanship and responded well to
their proud-geek spirit. And so, a random Wednesday evening in Grand Rapids
concluded with a triumphant “Say It Ain’t So” as the smiling and satisfied
audience headed back into the Michigan non-spring evening.
Pixies Set List
(The Beatles “You Know My Name” intro tape)
Where Is My Mind?
Nimrod’s Son
All the Saints
Here Comes Your Man
Death Horizon
Mr. Grieves
*(still working to verify which
song was played here)
Cactus
Motorway to Roswell
Gouge Away
Blown Away
*(still working to verify
which song was played here)
Hey
Caribou
Saint Nazaire
Head On (The Jesus and Mary Chain)
U-Mass
Gigantic
Wave of Mutilation
Debaser
Vamos
Winterlong (Neil Young)
***********************************
Weezer Set List
Buddy Holly (barbershop quartet)
----------
(Happy Days
intro tape)
My Name is Jonas
Pink Triangle
El Scorcho
Buddy Holly
Undone-The Sweater Song
(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To,) I Want You To
Pork and Beans
Can’t Knock the Hustle
Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
-----------
Perfect Situation (Rivers solo)
Happy Together (The Turtles)/Longview (Green Day) (Rivers
solo)
-----------
Up the Beach (Jane’s Addiction)
Beverly Hills
Surf Wax America
No Scrubs (TLC)
Island in the Sun
Africa (Toto)
Hash Pipe
-------------------(encore break)-----------
Take on Me (A-Ha)
Say It Ain’t So
******************************
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