Weezer hitting 'prime' live
SINCE THE RELEASE of its 1994 debut, Weezer has become known for its quirky pop-rock sound and oddball sense of humor. On this year's third self-titled release, known by most as the Red Album, the band experiments with synthesizers, rap-like vocal deliveries and operatic song structures.
Frontman Rivers Cuomo has been credited with practically all the songwriting on previous releases, but the rest of the band was given more creative freedom on this album. Longtime guitarist Brian Bell took a moment to talk about the new album, the tour and his other musical projects:
Weezer is typically viewed as the brainchild of Rivers Cuomo, but you seem to have had more creative input on the latest album. Why is that?
I have a song on the album ["Thought I Knew"], but otherwise it's pretty much the same process. Before we started the album, we discussed that we wanted to have some other writers and singers on the record.
Early in Weezer's existence, you worked with producer Ric Ocasek and more recently with Rick Rubin. How does the recording process change with these different high-profile producers?
Really not too much. For the most part, we've been involved with every single record almost 100 percent, and if we don't like something, we won't do it. We won't have a producer push us a certain way if we don't believe in it ourselves. Sometimes I wonder why we need a producer.
Weezer has always put on a great live show. What does the band have in store for fans on this tour?
That's definitely something that we've upped the ante on with this tour. If you look on our Web site and the forums, fans who have seen 16 shows will say this is their favorite. I think we're just in full prime right now. We've just blossomed and really become a confident band and everybody is great in their own right. Rivers is really stepping out and being a frontman instead of playing the role of an introvert.
How does the sound of your other band, the Relationship, compare with Weezer's?
It's completely different; it doesn't compare at all. I actually wouldn't even utter it in the same breath other than the fact that I'm in both bands. In fact, I do the same song ["Thought I Knew"] on both records and that's probably the best way to tell because they are completely different versions.
THE 411: Weezer with Angels & Airwaves and Tokyo Police Club. $29.50-$45.50. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25. Gwinnett Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770-813-7500. www.weezer.com.
