Karl's Corner - 10/04/2005

10/04/05 - it's almost like they welcome us

...MB '05 Tour: Day 107: Foozer/Wee Fighters 12: Champaign, IL - Assembly Hall
You'd think that you wouldn't need an air conditioned hall in Illinois in October...and you'd be wrong! Hot steamy and muggy was the order of the day in the air conditioner-less and UFO-like Assembly Hall, which was smallish for an arena, sort of like SD's Cox but even more intimate feeling. And hot. And sweaty.

The fightin' Illini call this place home, and they have the fancy locker rooms to prove it. Said locker rooms doubled well as dressing rooms, proving that basketball players and musicians are more similar than either of them think. They both like fresh fruit and all natural peanut butter too.

Theres something about midwestern towns like Champaign. Colleges, farms, truckstops, drive thrus. When the sun starts to set on the flat horizon, it really feels like what it is: the middle of a huge country. Somehow I tend to get a better sense of the country here, like you can sorta feel 'the map' of the USA spreading out around you...or maybe it's just me.

The crowd tonight was kinda calm for the most part for the first 2/3 of the set, and finally came to life as the hits started piling up one after another as the set reached its peak. Still more rarely played songs rising out of the ether and joining the setlist. Todays show was sort of a more refined version of yesterdays, with the new risers and stairways working out well and the planning of the band and crew resulting in a tighter set, though not without a glitch or two - to be expected when things are getting modified daily of course.

Thanks to Matt, todays Undone helper. He seemed to bust out with some nice freestyle flamenco shredding but didnt really play the actual song the whole time... but he sure was stoked!

Big ups to Kyle C., the Champaign/Silverlake connection!

Large size picture link: here, more: 1.

The current tour merchandise(updated 9/8/05).
(Note: these shirts are bootlegs - do not buy them if you see them!)

...These 2 shows have just been added! Note they are Weezer headlining shows, not Foozer shows. we dont know the opening act(s) yet.

10/29 - Fresno, CA - Selland Arena - On sale sat at 10am
10/30 - Las Vegas, NV - Hard Rock - on sale friday at 10 AM (note that weezer mailing list members have recieved important new info about this show's onsale!)

...Mish Mash Magazine has posted a live show review and photos from the Weezer show 9/27 in San Diego. Their recent interview with Scott should be posted later this week as well.

...The "We Are All On Drugs" video is up to #14 this week on the MuchMusic Countdown.

...Weezer on the Howard Stern Show Monday 10/17!
...Weezer on AOL Sessions on Wednesday 10/19!
...Weezer on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno Thursday 10/20!