Weezer's On An Island Having Fun

Weezer has always been seen as one of the best alternative rock groups. Whether you like the introspective Pinkerton or the rocking Raditude. they have a place in rock history that can't be denied. So with a reputation like that how can a live show compare?

As I sat in the media section, an are a that was new and scary to me, Weezer took the stage. I took a ton of photos before they kicked us out. Rivers Cuomo didn't come out for a while though, he knows how to play an audience. He's an excellent frontman and his nerdy exterior really deceives you as he jumps across the stage and onto speakers. He almost scared me a few times, I was worried I was watching their last show.

The highlight of the was "Say It Ain't So" which Rivers opened up by saying "I gotta get this right, because I care, I really do." I know he probably says it every show, but it seemed like he really cared, which is good, because I was getting worried that Weezer had lost it's way. With all their party songs, I felt they had stopped being an artistic endeavor and more of a band that sticks around for a paycheck. But after this concert I have to say that Weezer may have tripped but they have not fallen.

"Island in the Sun" by Weezer (MP3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

The Band That Was There

The band that was on everyone's lips Thursday night at SunFest was the band that wasn't there.

From the warning signs at the entrance to the repeated apologies from the stage, the cancellation of The Flaming Lips' show due to a band member's illness enveloped the Meyer Amphitheater atmosphere. Local band and last minute fill-in for the missing Lips, Ladies and Gentlemen, even did a spirited version of "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots."

When the Canadian trio Bedouin Soundclash took the stage, replacing the Lips as the headliners, guitarist and singer Jay Malinowski said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are not the Flaming Lips."

With that ice-breaker, Bedouin Soundclash launched into a one-hour set of their infectious brand of pop-oriented reggae and ska. Although Malinowski's voice wavered at time, the rhythm section of bassest Eon Sinclair and drummer Sekou Lumumba were solid and strong.

The small crowd, only about a quarter of the seating area, were up and dancing for the length of the show. The band, which is heading into the studio next month to records its fourth album, were obviously pleased with the response.

"We weren't sure what was going to happen," Malinowski said.

What happened was the talented trio took a bit of the sting out of the disappointment about the band that wasn't there.

“Nothing To Say” by Bedouin Soundclash (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

(Photo by Palm Beach Post)

Weird Cover Wednesday: "Weezer- Kids and Pokerface"

The band Weezer has performed many weird

covers, most of them caught in crappy youtube

cell phone videos. So here's their cover of

MGMT's Kids and Lady Gaga's Pokerface as

shot by the band themselves. Also in our daily

Sunfest plug, Weezer will be performing tonight

at 9:00 on the Bank Of America stage. I'll be

there and I'll deliver a review.

“Kids/ Poker Face” by Weezer (mp3)

Flaming Lips Cancel at SunFest

The Flaming Lips has cancelled its SunFest appearance for Thursday night.

The cancellation was prompted by the hospitalization of the group's lead guitarist Steven Drozd. This is a large disappointment to area fans as the Lips were probably the most anticipated set of the festival. Here's hoping a quick recovery for Steven.

The ZZ Top show, scheduled at the same time as the Lips' set, just got a lot more crowded.

SunFest Survival Guide

Now that the storms have blown through and there's nothing but clear skies ahead, it is time to get your prep on for West Palm Beach's annual music and arts festival, SunFest. After more than 20 years of SunFest attendance, I have discovered there are several tenets for a successful festival. Here are a few:

• Respect the blanket. Placing a blanket down in front of a stage is the equivalent of staking a claim on the Yukon Trail. It is a land claim, pure and simple. However, a blanket claim is only temporary unless its properly tended. Any blanket abandoned for more than 90 minutes loses all claim. Bringing parents or other sedentary folks as designated blanket-sitters is a popular move.
• Cheap, disposal beach chair. These things need to be issued with your SunFest ticket. Put logos all over it, I don't care, just supply 'em. It is essential if you plan on being at SunFest for more than 2 hours. Beach chairs can also serve as a substitute for a blanket land grant claim for concert seating, however the claim evaporates much quicker with a beach chair. Buy a cheap chair because you never know when you'll need to leave one in a quick exit.
• Hydrate for god's sake. The sun will take down more concert-goers than the alcohol will. You get to carry a water bottle into the festival. Do it, you'll thank me later. Or risk becoming one of the baked and confused masses doing the zombie walk on Flagler. Sunscreens is another good idea.
• See something different. The best part of a music festival is the ability to see something new - to hear a new sound. There are numerous opportunities this week, especially on the first night, Wednesday. When in doubt, catch a show at the Meyer Amphitheater (i.e. the Tire Kingdom stage). It is best spot to catch a show and rarely is it crowded.

Have a great festival! See you there.

“Party Out Of Bounds” by The B-52s (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

Five Video Friday: Sunfest Edition

With SunFest coming up, we decided to give you the best music videos of some of the bands playing at the West Palm Beach festival.

Weezer- Buddy Holly

The music video made both Weezer and director Spike Jonze stars. It's also well known for being

the last big music video on MTV, before it descended into a hole of reality TV it has never

escaped from.

Smash Mouth- All Star

In the summer of 1999, everyone knew this song. It was impossible to not hear it if you turned

on the radio without hearing it. It also gave us the phrase "she was looking kind of dumb with

her finger and her thumb in the shape of an L on her forehead." So you know, that's pretty cool.

The B-52's- Rock Lobster

Some may say that Love Shack is the best B-52's video. We here at After Hours Music Blog buck

that tradition, giving you the craziness of Rock Lobster.

Flaming Lips- Yoshimi Battles The Giant Robots (Part 1)

I honestly have no idea what is going on in this

video.

Bedouin Soundclash

the Ni

While starting out kind of slow, this video picks up around the 50 second mark into awesome.

Weird Cover Wednesday: About A Girl

Everything about this trippy cover of Nirvana's "About A Girl" by the Cibo Matto drips of the hipster scene. One can imagine the song drifting from a small downtown club amidst the smoke of foreign cigarettes. The streets are wet from a light, early morning rain, the taxi cabs are blowing their horns and the kids are all dressed in black. On the stage are two cooler-than-thou Japanese ex-pats. Their pitch tends to wander with the song, but that really doesn't matter. This is all about the attitude. These crazy girls have it in spades.

The Brazilian jazz piano opening is oddly reminiscent of the "Sex and the City" theme song. For a brief, shining moment, Cibo Matto held court in downtown Manhattan. Hell, Sean Ono Lennon was their bassist for a time. But like last year's fashions, the girls have moved on. They split up the band and moved on to other exceedingly hip endeavors. This cover of Kurt Cobain's first "pop" song is a fine souvenir of the trip.

“About A Girl” by Cibo Matto (mp3)

Five Video Friday

Piano Chat Improv With Merton

The newest internet hit, Merton has become a household name

among the nerdy and computer savvy. He's got millions of views

in just a few months and even got Ben Folds to give him a tribute.

Merton continues to upload videos and you may even see him on

Chatroullete if you dare to go.

Pomplamoose Covers Single Ladies

Folk band Pomplamoose has gotten famous due to this great

cover of Beyonce's Single Ladies. The interesting video and

fresh take on the song made it an instant hit.

The Golden Age of Video

An amazing mash up of a staggering amount of

quotes from TV show and movies. See how many

you can guess.

Transistor Radio- Cloud Cult

This home made music video for Cloud Cult makes you feel like

you're reading your favorite childhood picture book. NSFW as it

will make you cry like a little girl, and no one at your work wants

to see that.

The Hives Medley

Sweden's most American band plays it's heart out, doing

great covers and just rocking the stage.

Weird Cover Wednesday: "While My Ketar Gently Weeps"

Everyone knows the Beatles, they’re famous and every single music lover knows their songs. So when a band covers them they must tread lightly, or they might tread on a classic, alienate fans and bring shame on their family. But not so with Lemon Demon’s cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Throwing reason to the wind, he totally redid the song, with no guitar to weep and a vocoder replacing George’s voice. Is it destined to be a classic? No, but it shall remain one of the weirdest songs on my iPod and the weirdest cover I ever heard.

“While My Keytar Gently Weeps” by Lemon Demon (mp3)