Weezer, Roseland Ballroom, New York

Anyone with even a passing interest in mid 90s slacker-pop could have a decent stab at predicting the reaction to these shows. Chronological run-throughs of Weezer’s first, and most lauded, two records - against which everything they release subsequently is inevitably measured - plus a warm up set of ‘the best of the rest’ (and ‘Beverly Hills’). If this summer’s festivals showed they were ‘on form’, the prospect of this is the proverbial ‘something else’. People would (and in this instance have) travel half way round the world for this kind of thing.

In reality, it’s even better than fantasy would dare to dream.

Night one is the ‘Blue’ album. Prefixed with a first set winding from ‘Memories’ to ‘Falling For You’, via ‘Troublemaker’, a Brian Bell-led ‘Keep Fishin” and, yes, ‘Beverly Hills’, we’re even treated to a slideshow of the band’s beginnings. Embarrassing photos ahoy!



The album itself sounds practically perfect, providing it’s possible to make it out behind the tightly-packed Roseland crowd’s own voices. It’s bright and bubbly just where you remember it (‘Buddy Holly’, ‘Holiday’) and tender in those familiar heartwrenching spots (‘Undone’, ‘Say It Ain’t So’) before the nothing-short-of-majestic ‘Only In Dreams’ leaves more than a few wishing the lights hadn’t come up quite so quickly.

If that’s not enough, ‘Pinkerton’ night makes what happened 24 hours ago feel a bit like a warm up. In place of the greatest hits a few B-sides and rarities are thrown into the mix: ‘You Gave Your Love To Me Softly’, ‘Susanne’ and, for the first time since 1996, ‘Jamie’ are supplemented by ‘The Greatest Man That Ever Lived’, ‘Dope Nose’ and another stadium sized ‘Only In Dreams’. Add to that a euphoric blast of crowd participation to ‘Pink Triangle’ before we’ve even begun and later a reminder that Rolling Stone once called tonight’s subject matter the second worst album of 1996 and the stage is set for something really special.



While last night’s ‘Blue’ run through was brilliant, more than a few of those tracks still stand proud in the band’s current set list. There’s enough excitement to hear any of ‘Pinkerton’ at all - a full playback almost seems a bonus. But what a bonus, sounding even better than anyone remembered, some moments appear almost literally gut wrenching. Rivers, curled over, grabbing his fringe; the audience, following every word - by the time ‘Butterfly’ begins with Rivers and an acoustic guitar, it’s hard to use any word other than perfection. The perfect end to the perfect gig, in turn the perfect close to a perfect two night stand - Weezer are even worth getting stranded in a foreign country for. Or should that be stuck ‘Across The Sea’. Sorry.