If you want to be a good band, play your instruments flawlessly. If you want to be a spectacular band, play your instruments flawlessly and frequently jump on a trampoline…Ok, so that formula might not work for everyone, but it definitely works for Weezer.
The quirky rockers were in Kansas City Friday to headline the first of 96.5 the Buzz‘s annual summer concert series: Buzz Under the Stars. They were joined on the bill by American Bang, Manchester Orchestra and Coheed & Cambria.
Nashville’s American Bang gave the audience a dose of their soulful southern rock. With stretched out, yowling vocals, big drums and even bigger guitar riffs, these guys are like a more affordable Kings of Leon. Though the audience didn’t seem that familiar with their tunes, many were at least able to sing along with single “Wild and Young” and pick up on the choruses to the rest of the catchy Americana rock songs.
After American Bang, was Manchester Orchestra, and with how often they play for this city, they might as well move here and take up residence. Like American Bang, they’re also from the South, but their sound takes on a completely different edge. I love them for the energy and intensity they bring to their music, but as they kicked off with their popular, “I’ve Got Friends,” I was dismayed with how rushed and sloppy this set seemed in comparison to previous performances. They’re a good band, so I know they can do better than what I heard Friday. Only “Shake It Out” seemed up to its usual standard.
Manchester Orchestra Set List: I’ve Got Friends, Pride, Shake It Out, Everything to Nothing, The River
Next up were the science loving prog rockers Coheed & Cambria who played a juggernaut of set list. Wailing, soaring guitar riffs made this the perfect music to rock your head up and down to and it was almost a shame that it was so hot that the mosh lovers couldn’t really get into it. The only issue here was that while the set sounded great down in the front, if you moved further out into the venue, the falsetto vocals got swallowed up. Not necessarily the band’s fault, but one of the pitfalls of an outdoor show.
Coheed & Cambria Set List: (Intro), The Broken, Here We Are Juggernaut, At The Killer, Three Evils, World of Lines, Made Out of Nothing, The Suffering, Pearl, Time Consumer, No World for Tomorrow, A Favor House Atlantic, Welcome Home
Watching Weezer, it is a little hard to believe that they’re seasoned veterans of the alt rock world with the youthful and downright jubilant energy they use in their performance. Their set of hit after hit though, served as a good reminder that these guys have been around for awhile and good with reason. Singer Rivers Cuomo danced around the stage, hopped on a trampoline, smashed instruments and every other spectacular performance trick you can think of, but the real treat came during the encore performance. Weezer mashed together MGMT‘s “Kids” with Lady Gaga‘s “Poker Face.” Brilliant (you can check it out below). I know that Weezer fans are divided and some even go as far to ignore the new music, but the thing about Weezer is that no matter what you say you like, all their music is fun.
Weezer Set List: Intro, Hash Pipe, Troublemaker, Undone, Surf Wax America, Woolly Mammoth, Trippin’ Down the Freeway, Perfect Situation, Dope Nose, Say It Ain’t So, Brian’s Theme, Can’t Stop Partying, Why Bother?, I Want You To, My Name Is Jonas, Beverly Hills//Hot for Teacher, Pork and Beans, MGMT’s “Kids”/Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”///Island in the Sun, Buddy Holly
