Pop-rock was in a bit of a dry spell in the ‘90s, when everyone too busy trying to prove they were dark, deep, and cynical enough in a way that said, “Yeah, my heart got broken but fuck you so what?” Then Weezer came along in the spring of 1994 with a self-titled debut LP full of joyous-sounding songs about sweaters coming undone, posters of Kiss hanging up in the garage, and going surfing in ways not noted since The Beach Boys’ All Summer Long three decades prior.
Due to its stark cover art hue, it was nicknamed the Blue Album, also aligning in it being a record full of heartbreak, anxiety, and sadness, with frontman Rivers Cuomo spilling his guts all over tracks like “Say It Ain’t So” and “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here.” Though the guitars were loud, they were offset by barbershop quartet harmonies and an unmissable sparkle courtesy of producer Ric Ocasek from The Cars.
To mark the 30th anniversary of what is the best of the decade in its genre – and probably a few others – Weezer are currently performing the Blue Album in full under the banner “Voyage to the Blue Planet,” touching down tonight (September 10) at TD Garden. This isn’t the first time the band have leaned on their first record live, but it certainly feels like the most grandiose, taking place in an arena and all that.
Since it clocks in at just over 41 minutes, finishing with the brilliant, epic close of “Only in Dreams,” there’ll be plenty of time for the requisite “fan favorites, rarities, and more” thrown in for good measure. Let’s hope that goulash includes the near-perfect fuzz pop of “Jamie” from the 1994 DGC Rarities Vol. 1 collection.
The rest of the bill is nothing to sneer at either, with the Flaming Lips returning to town for the first time since that magical set at Boston Calling 2023 where they were doing their own in-its-entirety with Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. Coincidentally (or is it?), that went down on the festival’s Blue Stage. And Amherst’s own Dinosaur Jr. kick it all off at 7 p.m. sharp, so show up early and support.
WEEZER + THE FLAMING LIPS + DINOSAUR JR. :: Tuesday, September 10 at TD Garden, 100 Legends Way in Boston, MA :: 7 p.m., all ages, $59.50 to $149.50 :: Event info :: Advance tickets
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