At first, the association between Weezer and heavy metal is imperceptible, but as you get to know the band better, you can understand the appeal that the American group's sound can have for fans of heavy music.
Rivers Cuomo , the band's vocalist, began his career in hair metal, as we explained in this week's editorial for Itaipava de Som a Sol , an event where the band performed last Thursday, the 26th – two days before their set at Rock in Rio. Furthermore, the musician has stated several times that his influences range across various subgenres of rock and heavy metal, and this was evident in the show.
At precisely 9:30 PM, an announcer introduced the band, and amidst shouts and applause from all corners of the venue, Weezer kicked off the Itaipava de Som a Sol event. Seeing the glass half full, the sheer number of fans made the performance feel intimate, contributing to the friendly atmosphere that Cuomo and company created at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium.
“Buddy Holly,” a classic from the band, was chosen to kick off the 20-track set, five of which were covers. Between hits, Cuomo ventured into Portuguese to thank the fans and express his happiness at finally returning to Brazil. The group's last performance was in 2005, and since then they have released several albums, including the Teal Album and the Black Album , both released this year. The first, released in January, featured covers of Black Sabbath , a-ha , Michael Jackson , Toto , and more – songs that filled the show.
After a 14-year wait, it's estimated that the band would choose their biggest songs to play, but even having spent some time away from their Brazilian fans, Cuomo knew exactly what they wanted. Rivers, Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner Nirvana 's "Lithium," and a-ha .
Weezer has been active since 1992, and their reliance on cover versions might sound strange to those unfamiliar with their work, but they are one of the only bands – if not the only one – that faces the challenge head-on and emerges victorious, doing the same with their original compositions. The group navigates between different areas and sub-areas of rock and heavy metal with such delicacy and subtlety that both an Ozzy Osbourne and a Morten Harket (a-ha) song could easily be their own.
The Americans' musical range didn't stop there. Returning for the encore, the quartet delivered an incredible a cappella version of "Buddy Holly," the song that opened the show. They then played another hit, "Say It Ain't So." After this sequence, there wasn't a single disappointed fan, and that's how Weezer bid farewell to São Paulo: carrying a large Brazilian flag with their logo painted on top. See you at Rock in Rio, Weezer!
See below for exclusive photos of the show taken by Marcela Lorenzetti , followed by the setlist.
Setlist Weezer @ Ginásio do Ibirapuera – 26/09/2019
- Buddy Holly
- Undone – The Sweater Song
- Hash Pipe
- My Name Is Jonas
- Happy Together (The Turtles) – medley with “Longview” by Green Day
- Holiday
- Island in the Sun
- Perfect Situation
- Take On Me (a-ha)
- The End of the Game
- Surf Wax America
- Africa (Toto)
- The Good Life
- El Scorcho
- Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
- Pork and Beans
- Beverly Hills
- Lithium (Nirvana)
BIS - Buddy Holly (a cappella version)
- Say It Ain't So
