It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

When I bought a ticket to a Weezer show at an outdoor venue a few months back, I thought to myself: May 19. It will be a nice spring evening at one of my favorite concert venues (Bank of American Pavilion).

Sadly, I was mistaken. As I listened to the opening act last night, looking at my breath as I exhaled and feeling a mist of rain gently shower me from a sideways angle, I knew it was going to be a long night.

Which it was, but it still rocked my world. I think it’s partly due to the midlife crisis I’ve been stuck in for the past 10 years or so. Weezer’s debut album (and its most popular, I think) came out in 1994. So when you’re at a Weezer concert, and you hear the opening chords of the “Sweater Song,” you and the hundreds of other audience members are turning back the clocks to ’94 in their minds. I was a freshman/sophomore in college without a care in the world! (I realize now.)

Rivers was very endearing, which made the weather more bearable. He flailed around like Kermit the Frog at times. He also engaged with the crowd a lot…and sang “Pork and Beans” with his sweater over his head kind of like a burka.

At one point, someone threw him a towel that he used and then showed the crowd. It was a Bruins playoff towel. The crowd went ballistic. If I ever leave Boston, I will secretly miss the crazy sports fans.

I saw Weezer a few months ago, as well (maybe Rivers has a soft spot for Boston since he went to Harvard), and ever since then, one particular song sometimes gets stuck in my head. It’s a f’in good song.

“The World Has Turned and Left Me Here”

The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
Has filled the void behind my face

I just made love with your sweet memory
One thousand times in my head
You said you loved it more than ever, you said
You remain, turned away
Turning further everyday

The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
Has filled the void behind my face

I talked for hours to your wallet photograph
And you just listened
You laughed enchanted by my intellect
Or maybe you didn’t

You remain, turned away
Turning further everyday

The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
Has filled the void behind my face

You remain, turned away
Turning further everyday

The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
Has filled the void behind my face

The world has turned and left me here (Do you believe what I sing now?)
Just where I was before you appeared (Do you believe what I sing now?)
And in your place an empty space (Do you believe…)
Has filled the void behind my face

Do you believe what I sing now?
Do you believe what I sing now?
Do you believe…?