Even when Weezer tries to copy something, they do something original.
Lovable Weezer is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their self-titled debut smash "Blue" album with The Voyage to the Blue Planet Tour. Rivers and the boys will play the absolutely perfect LP, in order, in its entirety, along with some other favorites.
On the incredible bill are the psychedelic freaky friends, The Flaming Lips, and guitar god J. Mascis' Dinosaur Jr.
With three bands who've been around the block and have not bent to the passing fads, it's no wonder some of the biggest shows on the tour were instant sell-outs.
The idea for the tour kickoff was to recreate the very first Weezer show which happened 30 years ago today at a tiny Hollywood basement club called Rajis. The set they played then only had two songs that would end up on the Blue Album, but it's the thought that counts.
"On March 19, 1992 at Raji’s on Hollywood Blvd, weezer played our first show, “opening” for a another new band called Dogstar - Keanu Reeves’ band. It was also Dogstar’s first show!" Weezer wrote on their Facebook yesterday morning.
"We say 'opening' because we begged Raji’s for a slot - any slot - at any time, and got offered this, the 'closing' spot, after Dogstar’s set. Dying to get on stage, we took the slot! Of course it was packed for Dogstar, because Keanu’s star was already burning bright in 1992 and people were naturally curious. For weezer...? Not so much.
"All but about 15-20 of our friends ghosted as soon as Dogstar left the room, so only a few got to watch the nearly amorphous still-forming weez, including Rivers, eyes perpetually closed, falling off the stage mid-guitar solo more than once!"
Thanks to their historian and friend, Karl Koch, Weezer's history is expertly documented in many ways. For example, did you know Rivers named the band Weezer on 3/19?
"Nearly 30 years to the date later, weezer has now had the pleasure of playing with Dogstar again, this time at the Lodge Room in Highland Park," the Facebook post continued.
"Of course, just like last time, weezer played last - but this time, more people stuck around to check it out! A lucky few hundred peeps got a taste of our Voyage To The Blue Planet Tour, coming this fall.
"Thank you so much Dogstar! Its SO cool you and we are both still rocking, and got to rock together!" the post read.
On Friday, March 15, 2024 Weezer attempted to play the Blue Album all the way through, but they accidentally jump the gunned after "Surf Wax America" and accidentally played "In The Garage" right away.
"Do we have the order right here?" Rivers asked looking down at the paper at his feet in front of the 500 lucky fans just north east of downtown LA.
"I think our setlist is messed up," he said looking at multi-instrumentalist Brian Bell.
"Does anyone have the Blue album?" Bell asked the audience filled with entertainment insiders, friends, and Weezer fan club members who had flown in from all over. It wouldn't be shocking if someone in the crowd had the track listings tattooed somewhere.
There was even a guy in the pit drawing the entire time.
"Setlist person, you had one job! Order of the Blue Album," Bell joked.
"That was me, actually," Rivers admitted as the stage crew arranged mics around so special guest Dominic Fike could sing "Say It Ain't So" with the band.
When they had played the entire album, they formed a line shoulder-to-shoulder, took a bow and left. Over the PA, as a beautiful tribute to the sisters who were founding members of the Weezer Fan Club, "Mykel and Carli" played, the first B-side tune from the first Blue Album single, "Undone - The Sweater Song."
It was full circle, touching, and sweet, for those who noticed.
A half dozen dates of the Weezer Voyage to the Blue Planet Tour have already sold out. Get tickets from their website before it's too late.
