Weezer: Difference between revisions

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On March 19, 1992, Rivers Cuomo and Matt Sharp moved into [[Amherst House|2226 Amherst Avenue]], the new location for Weezer. Complete with it's own garage, the house was perfect for a new band to write, record and rehearse. On the same day, Rivers called a local club, Raji's (as seen on the Nirvana 7"). Looking for a show, the club actually told the band that they had an opening slot that day for Keanu Reeves' "Dogstar". The band took the gig and quickly began to brainstorm a setlist and a band name. After much deliberation, Rivers stuck with his original idea: Weezer.
On March 19, 1992, Rivers Cuomo and Matt Sharp moved into [[Amherst House|2226 Amherst Avenue]], the new location for Weezer. Complete with it's own garage, the house was perfect for a new band to write, record and rehearse. On the same day, Rivers called a local club, Raji's (as seen on the Nirvana 7"). Looking for a show, the club actually told the band that they had an opening slot that day for Keanu Reeves' "Dogstar". The band took the gig and quickly began to brainstorm a setlist and a band name. After much deliberation, Rivers stuck with his original idea: Weezer.


Weezer continued to play clubs around Los Angeles throughout the remainder of 1992. Shows were an excellent format for the band to test new songs and figure out which ones worked for the band and which ones were not of the direction they were interested in pursuing. The band found it increasingly frustrating that their shows were not turning up more fans. Rivers himself was dumbfounded that songs like [[Undone - The Sweater Song|Undone]] and [[Say It Ain't So]] were not drawing larger crowds. Large following or not, the band did manage to draw the attention of two sisters, [[Mykel and Carli Allan]]. Said the two, "''July 9, 1992 we were at Club Dump (Johnny Depp bought the place, called it the Viper Room, River Phoenix died there) to see a good band Crux (No longer a band). At someone's suggestion we stuck around to see the next band Weezer.''" The next day, at the birthday party of Bryan Ray (of Black Market Flowers), Mykel noticed the long haired guy sitting alone--it was Rivers Cuomo, whom she recognized from the night previous. The two began to strike up a conversation and it was not long before a strong friendship between Weezer and the sisters was formed. As time went on, Rivers began to work on a song called "Please Pick Up the Phone", which eventually morphed into "[[Mykel & Carli]]".
Weezer continued to play clubs around Los Angeles throughout the remainder of 1992. Shows were an excellent format for the band to test new songs and figure out which ones worked for the band and which ones were not of the direction they were interested in pursuing. The band found it increasingly frustrating that their shows were not turning up more fans. Rivers himself was dumbfounded that songs like [[Undone - The Sweater Song|Undone]] and [[Say It Ain't So]] were not drawing larger crowds. Large following or not, the band did manage to draw the attention of two sisters, [[Mykel and Carli Allan]]. Said the two, "''July 9, 1992 we were at Club Dump (Johnny Depp bought the place, called it the Viper Room, River Phoenix died there) to see a good band Crux (No longer a band). At someone's suggestion we stuck around to see the next band Weezer.''" The next day, at the birthday party of Bryan Ray (of Black Market Flowers), Mykel noticed the long haired guy sitting alone--it was Rivers Cuomo, whom she recognized from the night previous. The two began to strike up a conversation and it was not long before a strong friendship between Weezer and the sisters was formed. As time went on, Rivers began to work on a song called "Please Pick Up the Phone", which eventually morphed into "[[Mykel and Carli (Weezer song)|Mykel & Carli]]".
[[Image:Diystour.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Weezer touring early in their career.]]
[[Image:Diystour.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Weezer touring early in their career.]]
Rivers said, "Nobody would come to our shows, for months and months and months, and it seemed like forever. And I remember just being totally shocked at how little people responded to us, because I thought we were so good. I mean, we were playing the same songs that eventually became big hits, like 'The Sweater Song' and 'Say It Ain't So', and we'd play 'em out in the LA clubs and everyone would just be like, 'Go away, we want a grunge band." Cuomo also said, "We would always be last slot on the bill at 1 A.M. when everyone was leaving. So we had really low self esteem. Matt said it was the same friends showing up every night only because they felt bad. Justin Fisher said, "I can remember Rivers and Pat and Matt sitting around in the kitchen until four in the morning after, discussing those club shows, just trying to tighten things up with the band. Analyzing who might have hit a bad note here, who missed a part there, that kind of thing."
Rivers said, "Nobody would come to our shows, for months and months and months, and it seemed like forever. And I remember just being totally shocked at how little people responded to us, because I thought we were so good. I mean, we were playing the same songs that eventually became big hits, like 'The Sweater Song' and 'Say It Ain't So', and we'd play 'em out in the LA clubs and everyone would just be like, 'Go away, we want a grunge band." Cuomo also said, "We would always be last slot on the bill at 1 A.M. when everyone was leaving. So we had really low self esteem. Matt said it was the same friends showing up every night only because they felt bad. Justin Fisher said, "I can remember Rivers and Pat and Matt sitting around in the kitchen until four in the morning after, discussing those club shows, just trying to tighten things up with the band. Analyzing who might have hit a bad note here, who missed a part there, that kind of thing."