Written by Samuel Barker
Aug 01, 2002 at 08:00 PM
ImageWeezer has been on the up for past few years. In their last three tours through Houston, they have stepped up each time. Originally playing a sold-out small club show to less than a thousand people at Numbers, then playing to packed house at the Aerial Theatre and now they take the step to arena rockers, they are playing the Woodlands Pavilion.

At first most were left to wonder how four nerdy rockers, known to never move around the stage a great deal, would fair on such a large stage. This doubt lasted until the end of the first song.

Opening with an oddly misplaced improvisational song, complete with Rivers Cuomo spouting gibberish over the guitar licks, the band caught the attention of the rejected youth who make up their larger fan base.

Unexpectedly, Weezer’s set list contained mostly older songs, failing to properly represent their latest two efforts, Self-titled (Green) and Maladroit, both of which felt like plug in the numbers, formula albums. The best-represented album at this show was Pinkerton, which was once called “the worst album of the year” by the burnouts over at Rolling Stone. The older fans who hold it in the highest regard of all the albums appreciated the Pinkerton heavy set.

Surprisingly, omitted from the set was last summer’s popular radio hit, “Hash Pipe,” which was replaced by the equally popular “Island in the Sun.”

The show took its best turn as Cuomo took out his “metal guitar” on Undone and taunted the crowd with promises that they were “in for some punishment.” Then as Cuomo was playing a blazing solo during the song, the trademark light up “W” came into place highlighting the intensity of the song and the set.

Opening the show was new found kiddy heartthrob Dashboard Confessional, who dropped the pseudo-original dork with acoustic guitar to front a full out band which ended up sounding like yet another New Found Glory knock-off.

As legions of young rejects made out to the music and sang along, Chris Carraba and company provided the soundtrack for young misfit love.

Unfortunately, there are 30 other bands doing the same thing right now, and they are doing it better. I still cannot believe this guy shafted Drive-Thru; they were a perfect fit for his generic kids in love banter. To make it even more frightening, Carraba is well into his adult years and still sings about Junior High love. Some people never grow up.