Weezer at First Avenue, Minneapolis (09/06/2000)

I've seen Weezer three times, at various points in their career. The first time, they opened up for Lush in San Francisco in the mid-90s. I actually randomly met Rivers outside at the venue, while waiting for Emma & Miki. At this point, I only knew Weezer from that "Undone: The Sweater Song" song (which was the song they ended their brief setlist with), so I didn't know what to say to Rivers. He signed a few autographs to some fans while I watched him.

The second time I saw Weezer, it was well after their Pinkerton album, but pre-"Green Album", so this was basically their reunion-ish tour. Long gone from the band was Matt Sharp, who had his own Rentals project and undergoing a lawsuit that claims he wrote half of Pinkerton.

Opening up for Weezer at this 2000 show at First Avenue was Dynamite Hack, a one-hit-wonder band. They had that one hit cover song, "Boyz In Da Hood" by Eazy-E (or as we like to call him, 'Sleazy E'), but done in a style that only white boys can bring to the song. Needless to say, that was the only song I remember from their set.

Weezer was good, they did all the 'hits', "Buddy Holly", "Surf America", "Only In Dreams", "Sweater Song", etc., and it was very, very satisfying. I remember so many people in the audience moshing and singing to their old songs. This was the much-needed greatest hits tour and it was awesome.

I saw Weezer again later, probably during Maladroit-era in 2002 or 2003, and I have to say, it wasn't as great. Possibly because they did lots of new songs and I wasn't a fan of modern-day Weezer. Weezer had outgrown me by this time.