Weezer

***UPDATE 7/15***
1. the Yahoo Live Sets videos are live here (or here - scroll down a bit) and they are awesome. Go watch!
2. Check out the Weezer Myspace Page for a new Hootenanny Slideshow, featuring a bunch of pix I shot on the Hoot Tour last month!
3. additional Weezer Tribute Band alert added below, in the NYC area.

Aaaaaand its contest time, folks! The Weezer Pork And Beans Signature Dance Contest is up now, on Dancejam.com! Check out the rules and a cool intro vid from Judson Laipply ("Evolution Of Dance"), and start working it out! Your dance could be... THE ONE. (The one to win cold hard cash and weezer concert tickets!)

AND...do not sleep, peeps! The time is nigh, for the video from Weezer's Yahoo Nissan Live Set to go up! The hootenanny show (shot 6/23 at Yahoo!'s studio on the Century City Fox Lot) will be shown on this Yahoo! Music page, arriving sometime Tuesday 7/15. Enjoy!

Weezer tribute band(s) alert!
* El Scorcho will be playing July 17 in Carrollton, GA, at the Off Campus Bar and Grill (doing 3 full hours of music).
* Our Name Is Jonas is playing July 19 at The Screamin' Eagle in Ypsillanti, MI.
* The Blue Album Group is playing July 19 at Union Hall in Brooklyn, NYC - 702 Union Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. ""We play Weezer's Blue Album straight through, note for note, with all the vocal harmonies, ripping guitar solos, and cardigan sweaters intact (or should i say undone?)."

Check out Weezer’s “Making of The Red Album” video now exclusively debuting on AOL Music Homepage and Spinner.com!

...Hey weezer peeps - we're in the midst of a li'l summer break at the moment, with the weez men scattered and engaging in various forms of R+R before their reunification for the purposes of the other two R+R's (Rehearsal and Rocking the crowd), later this summer.

Patrick thanks all for your support of his recently re-anointed knee. He says the last "support strip" came off today and while the knee is still swollen, its not painful. He's being encouraged to exercise it, as it will heal up fast that way. So he will be spending time at the gym every day to build his leg back up to rock and roll capability.

Meanwhile Scott's looking forward to celebrating his birthday this coming Friday, 7/11! Wish him a good one!

...This coming Saturday in Tokyo, Japan is the 4th annual "Weezer Night", created by and for the fans, held in the Shinjuku district in the famous "Rolling Stone" club.

Todays picture (large size here) is Weezer Night 4's supercool poster, made by Nami from Tokyo who also had this to say about Weezer Night 4:

"This time so many people want to join EVER!!! It's just like many people need to wait for the cancellation to come and join the event. You can see that how much we want to dance and sing for Weezer and simply all staff are very happy about this.

"This poster will be on the all walls in the club, that means this poster will be everywhere!

"Japanese fans with warm hearts and hot passion like to dance and sing for Weezer with smiling faces, and if you could imagine us even a bit, then we are more than happy."

Nami is also excited (as are many others in Japan) about the upcoming Weezer shows in Japan in September. Details about that, and about the subsequent USA tour in the fall, are coming as soon as we have them.

...Coming next Tuesday, 7/15: The video from the Nissan Live Sets On Yahoo! Music! (AKA the Century City Hootenanny!) By the end of the day on 7/15, the feature will launch on the Yahoo Music site, here.

Hey folks! Welcome to summer '08! Pat reports that his knee surgery went well and he's recovering nicely, about to go on a bit of R+R vacation to chill and let whats under the hood heal up right. Meanwhile, Scott is seen washing his dog in the new Weezer Webisode #6, up now on our Youtube channel, the media page, and embedded here (below) for your extreme convienience. Extreme!

...As far as the band's upcoming plans, nothing is ready for public consumption just yet, but things are gelling now and the answers you seek shall be revealed asap!

New Weezer AOL Sessions! 6 songs in all plus a Q+A! ...Okay, looks like AOL is having a bit of a tech issue. They say everything will be working good as of tomorrow morning (Wed 6/25). Sorry for the wait. (AOL link here, also they are linked off our media page).

...Pat's knee surgery is today! wish him the best!

...Here's a great report on the San Fran Hootenanny on SPIN.com, featuring nice videos of the performances of "Creep" and "Beverly Hills"!

...folks, here's your chance to get your hands on a piece of real weezer history. Way back in 1994 and 1995, weezer had a then state-of-the-art Sega Genesis on tour with them. Everyone would play NHL 95 for hours as we rolled along in the bus, and when things didnt go well, the console got punched! But it survived! Then in '98, I decided to use the console and games as a fan club contest prize, for desigining the new fanclub t-shirt. One Tracy Chang won for her aweome "I'm A Weezer Fan" design, and we shipped her the box of Sega classics.

Now Tracy has decided to let this priceless memento go ("It's still in good working order!" she says), and it's on ebay for whoever wins it! Check it out!

, Well, as we locked in the Century City Hootenanny details, initially there were worries that it would be hard to sustain the great vibes that happened on the tour, given the more "official" location and circumstances of the Yahoo! Nissan Live Sets taping. Once you have people with walkie talkies tripping over each other, fire marshalls, etc, its easy to see how the loose and fun spirit could be squelched out of a Hootenanny. However, once the contest winners came in and things got going, it became obvious that these fears were unfounded! Not only was the Hootenanny fun and great, it was in fact the most free form and spontaneous jam yet!

In fact several unplanned "between song" jams erupted, usually starting as a group of fans kicked it off and with the band joining in for some unscheduled fun. The "extra" songs were "Troublemaker", "Jamie", and "Surf Wax America". The actual setlist was Pork And Beans, Radiohead's Creep, Island In The Sun, Say It Ain't So, El Scorcho, Automatic, and Beverly Hills.

Some special guests on hand (and singing and playing along of course!) included Joe Matt, Eric from The Relationship, Jose from Ozma, and Rivers' ol' budrow and early Amherst house resident Adam Orth, who posted this picture-laden blog about his experience at the Hoot.

Today's photo (large size here), is a painting done special for Yahoos wall of band paintings. They ask every band who does the Live Sets to paint something for their big wall. I was assinged to the task, and Bokkus was the only answer.

Hey, more Pictures! #1, #2, #3, #4.

As seen in Picture #1, Pat's knee surgery is imminent! Wish him well!

The Live Sets hootenanny video should be online approximately 7/15. Not confirmed yet, but it should be around then. Will post confirmation when we have it.

Were you there? Post your tale here!

Travelling back to L.A. today, gearing up for the special Yahoo style Hootenanny tomorrow. As I write this, it appears "Pork And Beans" is about to crack 8 weeks at #1 on the modern rock chart, while its flirts with the "Hot 100" pop charts too. Over the pond in the UK, tomorrow marks the release of the UK Pork And Beans single, on cd and 2 different 7"s.

Todays photo (large size here) shows the L.A. Galaxy's David Beckham in front of a huge Red Album banner. At this recent game in L.A. on 6/7, The Red Album was played over the PA system and a lucky section of seats got a free copy of the CD!

Weezer tribute band alert - "Say It Ain't So" is playing 6/28 at My House Bar & Lounge - located at 609 Washington St. in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Today's Hootenanny was held in Seattle's recently relocated Vera Project, a very cool all ages art+rock venue replete with stage and everything. So the setting was the one that most resembled a normal rock tour date, but the approach used remained radical. The band did not take the stage, but rather spread out on the main floor in a triangle, with the orchestra of contest winners spread out all around them. Certain folks were put up on the stage, those with the giant double basses and such, and there were so many people trying to squeeze in that there had to be some overflow put up on the balcony - which ended up being a big help for "Beverly Hills" with the big footstomping beat.

All in all, each Hootenanny has been quite unique and special in their own way, even though the setlist remained the same so far. Its been fascinating to see these performances coalese out of thin air each show. There always seems to be someone stepping up just in time to do a needed part, and the collective energy has been amazing. Kudos to both the contest winners for their energy and talents, and to the band and crew and radio stations for guiding and coordinating things on the fly so artfully.

Seattle Hootenanners - post your comments on the show here!

06/20/08 San Fran Hootenanny!

***New Webisode #5 up now on the Media page! (or just scroll down here) Check it out!

Today was the San Francisco Hootenanny, which was actually across the bay in Alameda, in what was once the Officer's Club at the former Alameda Naval Air Station. This was a particularly special location for Scott, who was actually stationed here as a young Marine some 20 years back. Scott talked to the crowd abiut his expericnce here and the weird emotions he felt at returning under such different circumstances. He then dedicated "Creep" to his commanding officer who agreed to let Scott discharge from the Marines to pursue music. Pretty cool!

...Speaking of Scott, check out this unusual and detailed interview with him in Inked tattoo magazine!

Were you at the SF hoot? Post your story here in the comments!

Webisode #5! "The Plots Of Scott"!

Today was the Portland Hootenanny, which was held at the beautiful Oaks Park amusement park in a building known as The Dance Hall. Rivers found some lifesize R2-D2's in a back room which were immediately purloined to add decor. As was an antique carnival camel. Then in came the peeps, carrying a dizzying array of instruments. The band (sans injured reserve Pat) had a blast, and the hootenanny sounded great! Great job from the Portland hootenanny class of '08! Post show the guys decided they had to take a spin around the go kart track convieniently located next to the Dance Hall.

...info you need! The Yahoo/L.A. Hootenanny info! check it out!

Here is you chance to play music with Weezer! If you can play an instrument, we want you. Weezer is taping their version of Nissan Live Sets on Yahoo! on Monday June 23rd.

Bring a friend - but we ask that they at least be able to sing, and like you, rehearse the songs a little beforehand. After you jam out with the band there will be time for questions and answers with the band.

Here is what we will need from you:
1. Available from noon to 5pm on Monday June 23rd in Los Angeles, CA
2. You must be at least 13 years old to attend. Fans under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
3. You must provide your own transportation and accommodations (if necessary).

To be considered as a guest to the smallest Weezer show ever taped, email the following to WEEZERHOOT@YAHOO.COM :

1. A link (Youtube or other) showing us your hootenanny skills playing a tune or two
2. Your full name as it appears on valid photo ID, your (1) guest’s full name as it appears on their valid photo ID.
3. What instrument you are bringing... suggestions:

* Think acoustic guitars, banjos, fiddles, flutes, handbells, mariachis, accordions, didgeridoos, ukuleles, bongos – anything you can carry in one hand
* Please no instruments larger than a person, no electric instruments, no carrying cases or free-standing instruments
* One instrument per person only

Scroll down for a video explanation from the band of what the hootenanny is and how to play the songs!

The songs you will be playing and/or singing with the band are:
Pork and Beans
Island In The Sun
Say It Aint So
El Scorcho
Creep by Radiohead
Beverly Hills
Automatic

You will be playing and singing with the band. This is not a joke. If you want to rock with the Weez we would love to have you. It is going to be an amazing event.

If you’d like to be part of a Q&A segment with Weezer, submit your smart, insightful, clever question for the band when you submit the above and you just might be part of the taping!

So send your email submission as quickly as possible to help your chances of being picked. These limited spaces will fill fast!
You will receive an email confirmation with more details if chosen.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND MULTIPLE EMAILS

This invitation is not transferable, without the express permission of Yahoo!. Yahoo! Reserves the right to rescind any invitation, at any time, in its sole discretion.

Today was the Phoenix Hootenanny. About 200 fans, randomly selected by the Edge radio station joined the band at The American Legion Post 41. Were you there? Did you bring an instrument and play along? Tell your story! Add a comment to this news report!
Here's a fan's video clip, hot off the press!
Also, the Edge's webcam seems to have captured some pre-show set-up.

SPECIAL NOTE: As weezer emerges from spring training into regular season action, we suddenly have a member on injured reserve. For those keeping score, please scratch Patrick Wilson from tonights line up. The strong right hander tore up his knee up in that friendly basketball game with team mate Johnny Knoxville. The good news is that even though he is expected to be out until the Century City hootenany with Yahoo being taped June 23rd - he WILL in fact be rested up and ready for that one. After that performance, he then goes under the laser for minor knee surgery. A full recovery is expected before the fall playoffs when Weezer hits the road in Japan and the good ol' USA.

NEXT UP: Thursday 6/19: PORTLAND, OR! KNRK is handling it! Good luck!

See the band's instructional video clip (now on the homepage and media page, and our Youtube channel and our Myspace Video page), letting you know critical details about how to play the songs! Definitely watch this video, youll need it to know what key the songs are in and other musical details!! Remember, if you get in, be prepared to at least sing, and bring an instrument if you can play it! Anything!

songs to learn and sing: same as Phoenix:
Pork and beans
Island in the sun
Say it aint so
Creep by radiohead
El scorcho
Beverly hills

MORE HOOTENANNYS COMING UP:
Thursday 6/19: Portland, OR! Listen to 94.7 KNRK for more info
Friday 6/20: San Francisco, CA! See Live 105 for more info
Saturday 6/21: Seattle, WA! See 107.7 The End for more info
Monday 6/23: Century City (L.A.)! In conjunction with Yahoo! info TBA!
(note: The song list will probably be changing somewhat for each hootenanny)

(Note that another, probably bigger Los Angeles Hootenanny is now in the planning stages but wont be happening for a little while. Details to follow.)

...The Weezer “Making of ‘Pork and Beans’” special (full length 1/2 hr. version!) is coming soon to Fuse TV!
Premieres: Wednesday 6/25 @ 10p ET
Repeats: Thursday 6/26 @ 1a ET; Sunday 6/29 @ 3p ET; Tuesday 7/1 @ 1am ET

thanks to Janet Zhou for the photo! many more Phoenix pix here!