Free Weezer Concert in Tally

Twice this week we have been reminded of the importance of voting. The first time was the surprising victory over socialism of Scott Brown, a Republican in an overwhelmingly democratic state. The second was the Weezer concert in Tallahassee.

Florida State University won the T-Mobile Motorola CLIQ Challenge through votes on Facebook, winning a free Weezer concert, and more than $10,000.

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo returned to the stage one month after a tour bus accident forced the band to cancel their remaining Raditude tour dates. Rivers broke 5 ribs. He seemed healthy onstage, although he occasionally limped.

It was an awesome concert with all of the Weezer hits, and a few surprises. One song featured a Van-Halen guitar solo, while another had a couple of verses from Lady Gaga’s “Pokerface” (with Rivers sporting a blonde wig). They even covered a Pink Floyd song. Rivers played “Island in the Sun” solo, but with the musical quality of a full band. First he looped a drumbeat, then bass and guitar. As he played along with his loops, the crowd sang the “hip hip” backing vocals.

For “Say It Ain’t So,” Hayley Williams from Paramore joined the band onstage for a duet. Could this be rock music’s new couple? Watch out Gwen and Gavin. A second duet followed as Jermaine Dupri came down from Atlanta to join the band for “Can’t Stop Partying” (which Dupri wrote for Cuomo’s second solo album Alone II). As if that weren’t enough, 3 fans were pulled onstage to help sing a song.

Weezer is taking a break from the road for a few months. Maybe they’ll return to Florida later this year.

--John Davisson