|
Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
 Posted - 07/12/2005 : 05:13:01
|
http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2005/07/1113.cfm
LIVE: Pixies And Weezer Bring Rock Assault To Toronto
Monday July 11, 2005 @ 05:00 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff
Molson Amphitheatre
July 9, 2005
Toronto, Ontario
By Bryan Borzykowski
A few years ago the idea of Weezer opening for The Pixies would have caused blank stares and serious ridicule. With The Pixies broken up and Weezer selling millions of albums, hipsters could only dream of this bill. However, no one counted on The Pixies reuniting.
Although it's not the perfect show anymore, seeing Weezer open for The Pixies was still an indie-rock treat. And after Weezer's lackluster performance at the Kool Haus back in May, it was the perfect opportunity for them to kiss and make up with Toronto.
Possibly apologizing for their last T.O. show, Weezer launched into "Say It Ain't So" to start their set, to the delight of the fans who weren't standing in the enormous Molson Amphitheatre box office line waiting to get tickets to the show.
Quickly following it up with "Photograph" and then The Blue Album's "Undone," helped Weezer win over the audience, but when Rivers Cuomo launched into "El Scorcho" — one huge hit he didn't play in May — the crowd went nuts.
Although Weezer did put on a far better performance this time around, it was no thanks to Rivers. Like last May, his stage presence and enthusiasm were lacking even when their devoted fans sang their hearts out to new tunes "Beverly Hills," "We Are All On Drugs" and older tracks, "Buddy Holly" and "Hash Pipe." Their only saving grace was the great Molson Amphitheatre sound and the rest of the band's ability to show emotion.
As Weezer finished, most of the crowd got up and left a sea of empty blue seats. It was unclear at first if all the younger Weezer fans took off, leaving all the 25-35-year-old indie-rock geeks to watch The Pixies, but as soon as the veteran band's rock assault began all the kids quickly returned to their chairs.
At first glance, The Pixies' stage show isn't that different from Weezer's. Like Cuomo, Frank Black doesn't say much. Weezer don't like to move around and The Pixies are pretty stoic too. However, the one big contrast between the two groups, is that Black, bassist Kim Deal, guitarist Joey Santiago and drummer David Lowering appear to have fun.
It was clear that the night would belong to The Pixies as soon as they launched into Bossanova's "Velouria" but if anyone had any doubts, Frank Black's throat-tearing scream during "Tame" would guarantee Best Band Of The Night honours.
The group's endless energy helped them barrel through 25 songs in an hour, including two versions of "Wave Of Mutilation," a crowd approved "Caribou," a rockin' "Debaser" and a host of other familiar numbers.
Of course, the loudest applause was reserved for their best known songs, "Here Comes Your Man" and "Where Is My Mind?" For Weezer fans unfamiliar with The Pixies, it was these two pop friendly numbers that will stand out.
While Weezer (or Rivers specifically) sheepishly walked off stage between their set and encore, The Pixies chose to remain on stage after "Where Is My Mind?" closed their set. In what proved to be the funniest part of the night, Black ran around the stage and then gave Lowering the finger before the band picked up their instruments and finished their monstrous set with the appropriate "Gigantic."
While it was a great night for rock 'n' roll overall, Weezer could learn a thing or two about stage presence from The Pixies — It's not how much you say, it's how hard you play. |
|
Toronto Review.
