Weezer Get Their Hooks Into Wembley Arena

by | Oct 30, 2017

Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo isn’t your typical rock star. He keeps a Google Sheets database of lyrics, tagged by rhyme and meter. He sticks to a strict writing schedule: Monday’s for words, Tuesday is melodies, verses, and structure, and Wednesday’s all about new hooks. He’s clearly no slacker either, having released six albums since 2008. Oh, and he wears a sweater vest (without irony) for the band’s debut headline performance at Wembley Arena tonight.

Weezer @ Wembley Arena

But looks (and work ethic) can be deceiving. Cuomo and his three bandmates may never rival KISS in the rock ‘n roll showmanship stakes, but even without pyro, smoke machines, platform boots, and make-up, Weezer have absolutely no trouble connecting with each and every one of the 12 000 people who’ve turned up to see them.

Weezer @ Wembley Arena

It’s partly down to the arena-appropriate staging, like the giant Weezer logo lit up in Broadway-style lights, the confetti cannons, and the massive HD video screen behind them showing classic American cereal commercials, vintage surfing footage, retro eight-bit graphics, iconic British women (from Amy Winehouse to JK Rowling), and day-glo animations (not all at the same time).

Weezer @ Wembley Arena

It’s partly down to Cuomo himself. The musician freely admits live performances aren’t his favourite part of the job, but he throws himself into the role of front man with as much enthusiasm as his singing and playing. Whether he’s coming to the front of the stage for guitar solos, thrusting his microphone towards the audience or using it to play air drums, simply holding his arms wide open as if to embrace the crowd, donning a sombrero for Beverly Hills, or joking about the people who turned up at their hotel to see the soccer team (not the touring US rock band) staying there, he never loses that vital human touch.

Weezer @ Wembley Arena

But mostly the connection is down to the spreadsheet-collated songs themselves. With its sunny reggae verses, indie-rock choruses, and Green Day namecheck, set opener El Scorcho isn’t just the sole representative of 1996’s stellar Pinkerton album, but the perfect introduction to a night of feel-good music that, for all its bright major chords, is often undercut by weighty, soul-baring sentiments.

Weezer @ Wembley Arena

Like In The Garage, one of several tracks from 1994’s self-titled debut LP (aka the “Blue” album), which pairs chunky  guitars and a noodly solo with its self-effacing line of “I write these stupid words”. Or Island In The Sun from 2001’s self-titled LP (aka the “Green” album) that matches the brightest tune this side of the Caribbean with a world-weary vocal that’s somewhat less than sunny.

Weezer @ Wembley Arena

Although such layered nuances can easily get lost in a show of this size, Cuomo’s hooks and melodies never run that risk. Crafted to fill arenas, that’s exactly what they do, from Pixies homage Undone – The Sweater Song to hip-hop rocker Pork And Beans (complete with the lines “everyone likes to dance to a happy song, with a catchy chorus and beat so they can sing along”).

Weezer @ Wembley Arena

As if to prove the point, even Happy Hour and Feels Like Summer, the two songs from brand new Top 40-leaning album Pacific Daydream are more contagious than the joyous rendition of Outkast’s Hey Ya! that slips easily into this sleek set of muscular pop music.

Weezer @ Wembley Arena

And the big hooks just keep coming, so by the time Buddy Holly and the confetti cannons come out to close the show, Wembley Arena has been well and truly bowled over by the man with the sweater vest and catalogue of irresistible songs.

Ash @ Wembley Arena

Ash, tonight’s main support act, have a couple of instantly memorable tunes in their arsenal too and singer-guitarist Tim Wheeler relishes leading the trio through some of their biggest. During a whirlwind 11-song set, the band who’ve shared stages with Weezer since 1996, rip into the likes of Goldfinger, Kung Fu, Girl From Mars, and the once ubiquitous Oh Yeah. They leave the audience wanting more, but Wheeler promises they’ll be back, and soon.

Weezer @ Wembley Arena

Live review of Weezer @ Wembley Arena by Nils van der Linden on 28th October 2017. Photography by Kalpesh Patel.

Sigur Rós Mesmerise At Hammersmith Apollo

GeeJay (Phoebe Nightingale)

GeeJay Share New Track Murder And Announce Biggest Headline Show To Date

North London soul-pop duo GeeJay have unveiled their brand new track Murder and announced details of their biggest...
YES (Gottlieb Bros.)

YES Announce 2026 UK Tour Celebrating Fragile

Progressive rock legends YES have announced their return to the UK with a nine-date tour in spring 2026, following the...
Hannah McFarland (Chris Ashlee)

“It Has Been a Whirlwind” — But Hannah McFarland Is Just Getting Started

Alabama country singer Hannah McFarland has barely had a chance to catch her breath. Since releasing her Broken Hearts EP in February, her career has skyrocketed with opportunities she once only dreamed of.

Lewis Capaldi @ Glastonbury Festival 2023 (Kalpesh Patel)

BST Hyde Park 2026 Kicks Off With Garth Brooks And Lewis Capaldi As First Headliners

BST Hyde Park has announced the first two headliners for its 2026 edition, setting the stage for another blockbuster...
Blondshell @ Electric Brixton (Kalpesh Patel)

Blondshell Brings Electric Brixton To Boil On First Night Of London Double-Header

Sabrina Teitelbaum — better known as Blondshell — has built her reputation on raw honesty and songs that cut deep, and...
Ash @ Scala (Kalpesh Patel)

Ash Light Up Scala & Celebrate Ad Astra With Career-Spanning Set And Graham Coxon Collaboration

There was a palpable sense of anticipation outside North London venue Scala on Wednesday night as Ash returned for the...
Callum Beattie @ Glastonbury Festival 2017 (Kalpesh Patel)

Callum Beattie Announces New Album ‘INDI’ And 2026 Tour Dates, Including Biggest Headline Show Yet at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro

Scottish singer-songwriter Callum Beattie has announced details of his third studio album INDI, set for release on...
Maya Lane @ The Grace (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Maya Lane On The Hurt And The Healing: From Vulnerability to Growth

On a rain-soaked evening in London, rising singer-songwriter Maya Lane celebrated the release of her brand-new EP The Hurt And The Healing with an intimate show at The Grace. Just weeks earlier, we had met under sunnier skies at The Long Road Festival, beers and whiskies in hand, denim and sunshine everywhere. Now, umbrellas and storm clouds in tow, it felt fitting that Lane’s new project, a record that navigates through storms towards moments of calm, should arrive on a night like this.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing