The Special Goodness' Fall 1999 tour: Difference between revisions

Since [[1996]], [[Patrick Wilson]] has spent off-time between recording and touring with [[Weezer]] working on his solo musical project, [[the Special Goodness]]. In July [[1999]], during the prolonged [[Weezer#Hiatus_and_Matt_Sharp.27s_Departure|Weezer hiatus]], Wilson partnered with childhood friends [[Pat Finn]] and [[Lee Loretta]] to play the band's first few live performances in venues around Oregon. These shows have been unofficially referred to as "the special napkin tour", titled after Napkin, a local band who accompanied the Special Goodness at many of these early sets.<ref>[[Pat Finn|Finn, P]]. [Pjfsk8s]. (1999, July 9). "the special napkin tour rocks salem". ''[[alt.music.weezer]]'' message. https://groups.google.com/g/alt.music.weezer/c/NNzHfxLVW4I/m/9sRikFA0TiIJ.</ref>

After testing the waters with these shows, the band quickly planned out a tour for the upcoming fall. Unofficial fifth Weezer member [[Karl Koch]] entered as a tour manager, roadie, and archivist, and [[Mikey Welsh]] (recently initiated as the new Weezer bassist) replaced Finn on bass. The band played about a dozen shows along the east coast and midwest, headed south to hit venues in and around Texas, and then ended the tour with a handful of shows in California (including three with {{PN|Brian Bell}} [[Space Twins]]) before heading back home northwest. The tour lasted from [[October 26]] to [[November 27]], [[1999]].<ref>[[Karl Koch|Koch, K]]. (1999). "[[The Special Goodness tour diary - Fall 1999]]". ''[[weezer.net]]''.</ref>

Homemade copies of the band's first album, ''[[The Special Goodness (album)|The Special Goodness]]'', were sold by the band during this tour. Early on, Welsh designed unique collages for each copy's cover art with miscellaneous found images between shows. Later, photocopied versions of three specific designs were used.<ref>[[Karl Koch|Koch, K]]. M., Woodbury, J. P., et al. (Hosts). (2022, July 15). [[The Special Podness: Meet The Special Goodness]] (No. 1). [Audio podcast episode]. In ''[[The Special Podness]]''. Wastoids. https://wastoids.buzzsprout.com/1811884/10928203-the-special-podness-meet-the-special-goodness.</ref> Although the album originally released the year prior, this was the first time copies of the album were accessible to American fans, as Wilson had so far only managed to secure distribution in Japan. The album ultimately would not see any official American release, making the copies sold on this and the following tour unique as the album's only domestic release. Other merch sold on this tour included a simple T-shirt design, as well as hats manufactured by New Era (whom Koch shares a familial connection with).