Weezer make their long awaited return to Australia
THE air was heavy with nostalgia last night at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre as American alternative rockers Weezer worked their way back in time.
Last night's show kicked off the band's first Australian tour in 16 years.
Front man Rivers Cuomo told the crowd it was "the memory show" that would start in 2009, when the band released their seventh studio album Raditude, and travel back in time all the way to the band's beginnings in 1993 and their massively popular self-titled debut album, better known as The Blue Album.
The two-hour show started with (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To and continued with Pork and Beans and Troublemaker off 2008's The Red Album.
"It was a good year. I know I was on the road hanging out with these guys," Cuomo said before introducing the rest of the band: drummer Pat Wilson, rhythm guitarist Brian Bell and bass guitarist Scott Shriner.
As the "time machine" continued back through the years to the 20th Century, the glow of the smartphones screens slowly faded as punters opted to simply rock out to their favourite songs of old.
There were even a few lighters waving in the air. I can't remember the last time I saw that at the Entertainment Centre.
The band finished up the first half of the show with Beverly Hills, from 2005's Make Believe, Hash Pipe and Island in the Sun from The Green Album, and El Scorcho off Pinkerton.
During a short intermission, long-time crew member Karl hosted a slide show of photos from the band's history, ranging from Cuomo taking karate lessons to the band's first written review where the writer called them "the most blatant Nirvana wannabe band I've seen yet" and even a poster from their first Australian tour with Cream.
The band then returned to play their entire debut album.
A sea of pumping fists and waving arms indicated the crowd favourites - Buddy Holly, Undone - The Sweater Song and Say It Ain't So.
The band, like its fans, might be a bit older but Weezer still knows how to rock.
Weezer's Australian tour continues in Melbourne on Wednesday and Thursday (Pinkerton show), then Sydney on Saturday and finishes in Perth on January 23.
