Watch out Radiohead fans, Trekkies and comic book lovers, there’s a new cult following in town and it’s coming on strong. Its followers live among us and can often be denoted by dark-framed glasses, vintage T-shirts and unwashed hair. That’s right, they’re Weezer fans and they were in their glory last Tuesday night. The Weezer show at the Tweeter Center was the mother ship calling all subscribers to “Geek Chic” home.
The musical phenomenon known as Weezer began in Los Angeles in the early ’90s and got its kick start in New York with the recording of its self- titled debut album. Junior high schools everywhere began bopping to the infectious tunes cranked out by this beloved, awkward group, and teenagers instantly embraced Wee-zer’s self-deprecating genius. Never before was it so cool to be uncool.
Rivers Cuomo told it like it was, building an anthem around pacifism toward the class bully: “If you want to destroy my sweater, pull this thread as I walk away.” They were simple, they were deep, they were nerdy and people loved them for it. In fact, people couldn’t get enough. Or could they?
The plot thickened when Weezer released their much-anticipated follow-up album, Pinkerton. Suddenly, fans were a little threatened by their musical friend. Weezer’s second album, which is in fact responsible for much of their cult status, took a stylistic turn as Weezer transitioned from the hit of the party to the sad guy in the corner.
Which brings this reviewer to her latest encounter with the band. Weezer played a valiant set to an enthusiastic crowd, performing a set list that hit upon the high notes of both the blue and green Weezer albums. The standouts were the usual suspects, “Say It Ain’t So,” “Hashpipe,” “Buddy Holly,” “Undone – The Sweater Song” and “My Name Is Jonas,” all of which were electrifying crowd-pleasers punctuated by a sea of hands making the “W” sign in a show of allegiance.
Weezer’s performance came off as the realization of a spin-off on Wayne’s world when Garth goes solo and starts his own band. Weezer’s refusal to take themselves too seriously while celebrating its self-conscious image induced a sentiment of “we’re not worthy” from the ecstatic crowd. Weezer’s Boston show proved to the band and to their fans that the cult of Weezer has never been stronger, and that Weezer fans will always like Rivers and the rest of the gang just the way they are.
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