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Weezer Takes Minneapolis for a Ride

Weezer. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

Last updated on June 26th, 2023 at 05:55 pm

Weezer returned to the Twin Cities for their Indie Rock Road Trip tour. Along for the ride were fan favorites Modest Mouse and the rising group Momma. With a sold-out crowd supporting them, the iconic group drove through their greatest hits and more. 

Weezer. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

Celebrating his 53rd birthday, lead singer Rivers Cuomo graced the stage with his trademark nerdy dad energy. He remarked that he and Weezer have released 983 songs over the course of his career. With such a deep discography, their setlist possibilities are endless. 

Weezer. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

For example, the 24-song setlist pulled tracks from 11 different Weezer albums from Weezer’s long career. This included the tour debut of “Holiday,” a fan favorite from the Blue album. 

Weezer. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

In my five times seeing Weezer live, I felt like this evening was handcrafted for the diehard superfans – and there sure were a lot in attendance. The Armory was packed shoulder to shoulder, for better and for worse. 

Weezer. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

Along with my fellow Weezer Ride-or-Dies, I saw groups of friends drunkenly sing along and dance together. I also saw many people pass out and several disruptive fans being escorted out. I was surprised to see such a rowdy crowd at a Weezer show. 

Weezer. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

A different venue might have improved the audience experience. For me, Weezer screams summer, so an outdoor venue like the nearby Surly Brewing Festival Field would have been a perfect choice. 

Weezer. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

Regardless of that criticism, Weezer sounded great, as always. Their consistency, stage presence, and history with the fans make them a terrific band to see live. 

Another thing that elevated the tour was the incredible lineup. Weezer consistently crafts excellent tours. In the past, they’ve toured alongside Fall Out Boy and Green Day for the Hella Mega Tour or brought supporting acts like Panic! At The Disco, The Pixies, and more.

Modest Mouse. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

This time around, fans were treated to Modest Mouse as openers. As a casual fan of the group, I’ve been hoping to see them live for a while now, and they did not disappoint. 

Modest Mouse. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

Knowing primarily their singles, I was enthralled by their musicianship and raw sound. Seeing their fans get really into it helped add something special to their performance. 

Modest Mouse. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

At one point, the group stopped the performance to get a medic to a fan. It’s always great to see a group that watches out for everyone in the audience. 

With fans singing along to the classic hit “Buddy Holly,” our road trip with Weezer came to a close. Although the more rowdy passengers encountered some bumps in the road, the ride was a fantastic experience of nostalgic indie rock. 

Weezer. Photography by Dylan Novacek.

What makes Weezer unique is the fan connection. With an ever-growing discography, I don’t see them going away anytime soon. If you have an opportunity to go on a nostalgic trip with Cuomo and crew, don’t miss it!

Click here to view their setlist. 

Written by Dylan Novacek

Photographer, graphic designer, and multimedia storyteller from St. Paul. Most likely listening to CHVRCHES, Of Monsters and Men or Fall Out Boy. Once featured in the New York Times for using the bathroom during Avengers: Endgame.

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