=w=w=w=w= Weezer Show! =w=w=w=w=

Greetings everyone!!! On Saturday the 18th was the Weezer show at the AZ State Fair. I can sum it up in one word: ridiculously awesome. It was definitely one of the greatest nights of my life, closely rivaling my wedding and the birth of my child. Oh, it's up there alright. 

So there were about 25 or 30 of us picked to get to play onstage. Me, my bro Mark, and friend Adam were all on acoustic guitar. Then my other bro Todd played tambourine, friend Hawkz played cello, and Amber (Adam's wife) played flute. So around 5:00 we were taken backstage to have a practice session before going on stage during the show. 

Here's us walking backstage to the practice room

So we had about an hour-long practice session with Brian Bell (guitarist) from Weezer. Totally rad. We were all standing in a circle and he comes waltzing in all quiet and weird. It took everyone a second to realize who it was. His hair is all in his face and he's all scruffy and bearded. But we ran through the chords to the songs and worked out parts and solos and ran down how we would get on stage and such. So that was cool. 

Then the show started and Weezer took stage around 7:30, opening with My Name is Jonas, wearing white jumper suits. Classic. That was the same song we played to get into the contest. Rivers (guitarist, singer, song writer) even played the harmonica. Totally sweet. But to say the least it was a rockin show. They played a perfect mix of old songs from the blue album all the way up to new ones off the red album. The band was fun too. When I first saw them in Tucson back in high school, Rivers stood by the microphone and didn't move or talk in between songs. I think Brian Bell jumped once and we were all shocked. But this time they were all so crazy and funny. Rivers would say the funniest most random things and really got the crowd into it.

So then the show ends... and here comes the encore. We were all lined up back stage ready to come on once the band ended. So we're standing in line and the Weezer boys exit the stage right where we were standing. I notice Brian and give him a "what's up". Then give Scott (bass) a finger point. Then I give Pat (drummer) a solid high five and tell him what a solid performance he had done. And then I can't find Rivers. No one can. I was bummed that I saw everyone BUT Rivers! Then, out of the corner of my eye I notice a small man with a mustache crouched behind a drinking fountain. It was dark so kind of hard to tell but it finally triggered that it was indeed Rivers. I gleamed with excitement and told my bro, waving at Rivers and pointing to my stache (twas our only thing in common). He glanced my way but was pretty out of it. 

Here is Rivers during the "Hootenanny" jam session

My buddy Hawkz on cello, he had the solo during "Island in the Sun". Nailed it.

So we played two songs, "Island in the Sun" and "Beverly Hills", probably the two easiest songs to play. Great to rock out to though. We lined up across the stage. I was furthest to the right (when looking at the stage) and stood right on Pat's drum stage. I could smell him I was so close. It was beautiful.

So that was pretty much it! The crowd really seemed to like it. Everyone sang along to the songs and loved the strings, brass, and other random instruments. It was a great time. After we played, we exited the stage. Weezer then came back on and rocked out 2 more songs for a 2nd encore, ending with Buddy Holly. Another classic. 

We spent the rest of the night hanging at the fair, still high on celebrity status. Everyone recognized us from being on stage so we got in a few pictures and received a few random high fives from complete strangers. I think it'd be safe to say that at one point or another we all contemplated quitting our jobs to start a new band. Then reality sunk in when I realized I was too poor to afford a ferris wheel ride. So I guess it's back to work. 

Anyway, that's it! For those of you still reading, I hope you felt like you were there too. It was such a cool experience. I am so lucky to have been involved. I am also lucky to have a super wife who let me spend hours everyday preparing, filming, competing, practicing, and eventually playing on stage! She is always so supportive and lets me do almost anything I want. What a champ. Thanks Amy!

I will be available for autographs on November 11th at the Bank of America near the Santan Mall from 8 to 5.