New Solo Song ‘Medicine for Melancholy’
By DONNA BALANCIA
Rivers Cuomo gave dialed-in fans a special 27-song solo acoustic show at the Hi Hat in Los Angeles last Saturday afternoon, playing favorite Weezer tunes and select ’90s cover songs. The show came one week before the release of a new single, “Medicine for Melancholy.”
Last week, fans lined up in the rain to see Cuomo, who with his band Weezer, is gearing up for a North American summer tour supported by The Pixies. The current Weezer album is Pacific Daydream.
Cuomo Plays Weezer’s Best
Cuomo dusted off fan favorites and played the 27 songs in over a little more than an hour and a half, with a list that included “Beverly Hills,” “I Want You To,” “Undone,” “Pork and Beans” and “In the Garage.” He also brought a little sunshine on a wet, gray day with “Feels Like Summer” the lead single off Pacific Daydream.
The Fans of Rivers Cuomo
“We wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” said Amber of Northern California, who was one of the first in line outside the Highland Park venue on a rainy late afternoon. When the doors opened, she and her husband rushed to grab a prized spot at the small stage.
The Cover Songs and Stories by Cuomo
When Cuomo came onto the stage, he was met with thunderous applause and told the massive crowd they would in for an interesting set list. He did not disappoint, and in addition to Weezer favorites he performed covers including “Champagne Supernova” from Oasis, “Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins, and “Losing My Religion,” by R.E.M.
He released his solo song on Spotify:
He was jovial with the crowd, with inside jokes and anecdotes interwoven into the impressive, marathon set. After playing the popular song, Cuomo gave the crowd a good laugh when he recalled being socked in the face by B.o.B. during an active filming segment of the music video for “Magic.”
The Fan Pipeline
Bethany, a fan from Las Vegas said she hoped the set list would be similar to a gig she discovered Cuomo performed in Avon, Colorado, on Feb. 19. His eclectic selection of cover songs at the Agave included “You Might Think,” by The Cars; “Kids” and “Poker Face” my MGMT and Lady Gaga; “Talk Dirty to Me,” by Poison,” and “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” by Mike Posner.
El Scorcho on a Rainy Afternoon
The afternoon session was intimate with a couple of hundred fans and Cuomo, the crowd singing along word for word with songs including “El Scorcho,” “No Other One,” “I Want You To,” and “Beverly Hills.” The simplicity of the songs is what’s most appealing to this mainly clean-cut, granola-style crowd. There were even a couple of babies at the all-ages performance.
Cuomo Endearing Up to a Point
Cuomo was endearing in his humility. He engaged the crowd with little Cuomo-isms and casual banter and sipped from his arsenal of pink electrolyte bottles. He wrapped up the session with “Buddy Holly” and an encore of the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind.” There was some disppointment when he didn’t sign a fan’s poster because she didn’t already have the pen cap removed for him.
FOR MORE RIVERS CUOMO VIDEOS GO TO CALIFORNIAROCKER.COM YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Weezer and The Pixies Tour
Check out the dates on the Pixies tour with Weezer, the bands announced additional dates.
Weezer and The Pixies will make stops in at The Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View on Aug. 7, The Forum in LA on Aug. 8, the Mattress Firm Amphitheatre in San Diego on August 11 and the Ak-Chin Pavilion in Phoenix on Aug. 12. Sleigh Bells opens on those dates.
See Weezer To Tour With The Pixies This Summer
SET LIST:
Losing My Religion
Today
Island in the Sun
Across the Sea
I Want You To
El Scorcho
California Kids
Feels Like Summer
Beverly Hills
The Good Life
In the Garage
No Other One
Magic
Pork and Beans
Sober Up
Undone
Hash Pipe
LA Girlz
No One Else
Falling for You
Pink Triangle
Why Bother
Perfect Situation
Champagne Supernova
Say It Ain’t So
Buddy Holly
Where Is My Mind
