Search This Blog

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Weezer @ Williamsburg Waterfont July 16th 2010!

Tonight we embark on the 30th edition of the Jay Porks Never Ending  concert series, where we go to Brookyln, NY- The Williamsburg  WaterFront for Weezer ( try saying that 5 times fast). Here we have  ourselves a newer venue in the hipster town of Williamsburg- home to a  few cool places to see shows such as 'Brooklyn Bowl' and the 'Music  Hall Of Williamsburg'.. Bands booked at the Williamsburg Waterfront  this summer are the likes of Faith No More, Band of Horses, Silversun  Pickups, Modest Mouse, Pavement and tonight, the Weez.. Let's hope this  lives up to the hype of $55 tickets ( 3 of which I had to sell for way  less then face value)-not to mention having to evade a brawl that  ensued on the bus back in Staten Island on the way over.. To add  insult to injury, about halfway to Brooklyn I realized I forgot my  SD memory card, basically making my camera usless! I'm not sure how  many still frames this can hold without extra memory...I feel like  it's 2008 all over again... Let's hope for better times ahead!  
After getting lost in Williamsburg, I heard a familiar voice blasting  through the streets.. It was Matt Pinfield, welcoming everyone to this  WRXP sponsered event.. So there, I found myself outside the venue at  about 8PM.. Fresh after Rival Schools went off.. There's a paragraph I  won't have to waste..as for the Williamsburg Warerfront- what a  frigging dump this place was.. What are they renting a park for the  summer.. It overlooks the East River, which is a good look- but the  rest of this place is like a slab of concrete with a stage equipped..  It's all standing room, right in front of 40 Porta-pottys(Spell check is telling me that's the correct spelling)  giving me the feel that I'm in the parking lot at a Jets game.. with an area  they called ' the Beer Garden', a concessions section which is roped  off.. This place is packed.. The stage is huge, but looks so out of  place in the middle of a crummy neighborhood. It's a great view when your NOT facing the stage, but everything else is abysmal .. 
Showed up late enough  where even though I feel like I've been here 5 minutes- Weezer is  about to go on.. 
And at about 820- Weezer hit the stage and kicked the set off with 'Hash  Pipe' Sweet, I love this song.. From back here, looks like avid soccer  fan Rivers Cuomo is wearing a New York Red Bulls soccer jersey... If only someone  gave a crap about soccer..after Hash Pipe, the band got into  'Troublemaker'.... Then a stage hand gives Rivers a guitar as they go  into 'Undone(the sweater song)... Rivers has tried to get away from  playing guitar at shows recently, so he started without one and was  given it as needed.. I can't say that this isn't pretty cool so far  as we get into 'Surf Wax America"..then a newer, surprisingly likable  song-'Tripping down the Freeway'.. Towards the end of the song Rivers  had grabbed an Emergency Exit sign and planted it mid-stage... Now Rivers back to Guitar as next  up 'Perfect Situation'.. Now everyone around me goes from excited to  borderline giddy... Where are all those crappy Weezer songs I hate?  Absent so far.. 'Dope Nose' followed, then "Say it ain't so"- one of  Weezers like top 3 songs ever.. this rocks right now- how did I have  so much trouble selling these extra tickets?  
There it is! Weezer crappy side surfaces with "I can't stop  partying'.. Never thought I'd say these words- I'd rather hear the  version with Lil Wayne!.. Then we hear a "this ones for you for" as  balloons and a few clear beach balls fly from stage and they get into "Island in the sun".. When  the balloons surfaced- I said aloud "what are the Flaming Lips in  town?".. I got looked at by spectators.. I can't believe nobody got  that joke.. 'El Scorcho' was next.. Sometime during the last few  songs Pat Wilson jumped out from behind the drums and grabbed a guitar  to be replaced on drums by some other guy..next in the set came 'My  name is Jonas'.. The crowd is beginning to cram more towards the front,  I notice because I keep obtaining more room in the area in front of  me.. Now it's time for us to channel our inner Hollywood with "Beverly Hills".. I can't tell if Brian Bell is really using that talk box for the solo like Peter Frampton-or is he just mouthing the sounds.. I'm too far away to tell.  
9:20 Weezer ducks off stage for what seems to be the first encore..  Came back out and started with Pat Wilson soloing something wicked(I think it was EVH but I'm not 100% because I hate Van Halen).. That lead into "Pork and Beans", fitting for a Jay Porks Experience.... Then something really fun happened- Weezer doing MGMT- Kids/ Gaga's Pokerface.. With Rivers sporting  a platinum wig....
930- they head off for what seems to be the 2nd encore- because I  didn't hear Buddy Holly yet- and I'm not leaving til I do! Now all the  lights on stage are off and I this is when I finally notice that there is an abandoned building  behind the stage- and it's full of spectators(If you look at the top picture, you can seriously see the buildings behind the stage).. How much do those seats cost?  
Now a fan is on stage, it's 9:33 and they let the fan:' Chris from New  Jersey', sing lead on "If your wondering If I want you to (I want you to)'.. Guy didn't do half bad- I wish I could do that-Looked like he had a good time.. that must be the VIP package.. NOW we can get into the climax of the night: 'Buddy Holly'.. A song I can never get tired of.. By this time  everyone in this place is drunk on the Weezer kool-aid.. Everyones  having a blast.. After they played Buddy Holly it was followed by an impromptu drum jam- and off stage at 9:42...

Can't call myself disappointed  with the set.. played several songs I was hoping they would (they didn't play 'The Good Life', but I'll live).. I can't say anything that Weezer did pissed me off.. The schlep to the slums of Brooklyn, the heat, and the bums grubbing cigarettes, well, that can get tiring and make you never want to hit the borough again.. But we will, as this party will be continued at Prospect Park July 31st, where Sonic Youth is playing a FREE show.. Til then-if you made it this far, you've made me proud.. LATE...

No comments: