Blink And Weezer Show Is Awesome Nostalgia

Molson Amphitheatre

Toronto, ON

on Aug 23 2009

Sheena Lyonnais (CHARTattack)

08/24/2009 2:58pm

Nothing could have set the scene better for this glorious jaunt down memory lane with a sold-out crowd of 16,000 people to the front of me, a couple good friends at my side and the brilliant lights from the Canadian National Exhibition to the right.

Chester French opened with a mediocre performance despite the fact their usual two-piece was complimented by a touring back-up band. Songs like "The Jimmy Choos" fell flat next to the bleeding Exhibition lights. Sonically, the music wasn't exciting even though vocalist Andrew "D.A." Wallach certainly gave it his all. Perhaps another venue would better allow them to shine.

Having just seen Taking Back Sunday rock a dynamite performance a mere four days before, I was excited see them again at the Amphitheatre. The set was essentially a trimmed down version of their own shows, opening with "What's It Feel Like To Be A Ghost?" and "Sink Into Me" before closing identically with "MakeDamnSure."

They switched it up by playing "Error Operator," which I'm pretty sure they skipped before. It was a swimming example of why this band continues to reign high on my playlists, with their unparalleled ability to command their music and hone their stage show.

A notable number of TBS fans were littered throughout the crowd, but vocalist Adam Lazzara and friends didn't get the love they truly deserved this time.

After a brief video montage of their preceding adventures in Toronto, Weezer took the stage in matching fluorescent orange construction worker outfits. They spared no expense, opening with "Hash Pipe" before traveling through their catalogue of hits such as "Island In The Sun," "Undone — The Sweater Song" and "Say It Ain't So," to name a few.

Rivers Cuomo was on this night and the band were brilliant and hilarious with never a lackluster moment. They ended with a cover of The Clash's "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" and claimed crowd cheering would determine the answer to that question. Thankfully they decided to stay, and came back on for a one-song encore of "Buddy Holly." It was definitely an amazing performance that could have easily held top billing.

Then the heroes of the night finally took the stage, as Blink-182 tore into "Dumpweed" and "Feeling This" with the fervor of their past selves. On their Aug. 8 visit to Toronto they opened with "The Rock Show" and "What's My Age Again?," so it was a welcome relief to see the band restructured their whole set in order to give Toronto fans an entirely different second show.

While the anticipation was greater for that previous date, the actual show was better this time. Their sex jokes felt less contrived, while their set sounded tighter, more polished and so entirely organic you'd forget they're now in their thirties and had barely talked for years. They played all the favourites including "All The Small Things," "Don't Leave Me," "Adam's Song" and it really felt like it was 1999.

They ended their set with "Reckless Abandon" and "Josie" before Travis Barker came back to perform an extreme drum solo reminiscent of Tommy Lee's famous Motley Crue antics and previous Blink-182 tours. While it was seemingly identical to the one on Aug. 8, it was no less amazing.

The strapped-in Barker drummed to a backing track while his kit platform floated and swung through the air like a pendulum, at times stopping to spin around in vertical circles while Barker never stopped rocking the skins. The band joined him again for an encore presentation featuring a brief rendition of the "O Canada" followed by "Carousel" and "Dammit."

It's safe to say this is still very much the Mark, Tom and Travis show and this bill was easily one of the best of 2009 thus far.