I decided to take the opportunity this week to play hooky from work to pose like a Weezer fan and participate in the video shoot of Troublemaker. And I’ll be honest here: I like the band but I haven’t really loved ‘em. I guess the disadvantage bands might have with me is that when they achieve instant commercial success from the debut album, I’m never given the chance to get intimate with their music privately. My possessive self has to deal with sharing the music with everyone and their mother – including people who wouldn’t ordinarily be scoping out the “good” music from the mediocre.
This =W= holds the world record for the largest logo made of nachos.
Then again, I think about it and realize that sometimes that’s the ungrateful L.A. scenester in me. Because that’s only been true since I’ve become local to this area. “So many things to do, so many bands to see,” as they say. So while you could also argue that the music scene is a little bit diluted in L.A., there’s always a silver lining when you come to events like these and get the chance to observe the diehard fans in all their glory. I noticed fans drove all the way from Sacramento to be a part of this shoot, even Las Vegas. And we only got the confirmation email the day before.
Anyway, Weezer is one of those bands that first achieved success before I had even convinced myself that the best music was the stuff I could lick up from import magazines and the DJ store in downtown Milwaukee. I got sucked into their first two albums, noticed an additional single hit or two along the way as it was – while hearing Rivers got all experimental for awhile and kind of respected that – and that was good enough for me.
The shoot was for the single Troublemaker and by the end of the day I had heard it played-back and seen it lip-synced a total of 30 times. It might seem glamorous and everything, but I can’t think of a more burdensome chore for a shy musician signed to a label than lip-syncing and faking like you’re performing. Of course, that was exactly what I came to see.
They told the fans to bring instruments to participate in the Hootenanny by playing along to the song with the band. And so, in the holding area, everyone sang and played along to their favorite songs under the tent. It was cool sharing a little of that bliss they were experiencing just from being there.
Troublemaker isn’t my favorite song and the fact that the verses are entirely made up of two notes drives me crazy, but heck if I wasn’t going to take advantage of the fact that it was an opportunity to be a part of breaking (making) a bunch of obscure Guinness Book of World Records no one even knew existed. (Yeah, I believe they even said it was official.)
We also broke records for the largest dodgeball game, the smallest drum kit in a music video, the longest guitar cord (amp cord, not key chord) in a music video, most number of fans pulled in a station wagon by (Rivers’) teeth, most number of people on the world’s largest skateboard in a music video, most number of air guitarists in a music video, most number of acoustic guitars smashed … and a couple others I’m not inclined to remember. It seemed like they tried to get as many fans as they could involved with different things, so that was also cool.
At one point while playing dodgeball, I got whooped on my arse pretty good. At another point, the huge red ball landed on my finger thereby jamming it and making it grow huger and huger at the knuckle. Meh.
Probably the coolest thing about it was just hanging out in the vicinity of Weezer themselves in all their lip-syncing glory. They all look like they’re in great shape still, with Rivers definitely bringing the most intense vibe. Patrick, Brian and Scott were really cool about hanging out and seemed at ease with everyone else.
I skipped out before the last shot of the day, which was the world record-setting largest custard pie fight.
Yeah, I guess I cheated. I left it up to the real fans to get down and dirty. 
To hear the Troublemaker single, you can check the front page of the Official =W= site.
Other reading: Weezer on Wikipedia
8 Comments
Although I own Weezer’s first album, straight off the success of that song from that film (sorry, can’t remember exactly), I’m not what you might call a fan. But I have to give Weezer some respect here. Because they’ve not only involved many of their fans in a special moment for them (I’m assuming it was free to take part) but they’ve also allowed people who aren’t necessarily die-hard fans to have a great time as well.
Weezer have a reputation over on these shores as a stereotypical 1990’s/2000’s band from West coast America. While I’m sure that isn’t accurate in the slightest, I can see where the rep came from. But maybe, just maybe, their attitude towards their fans makes them less stereotypical.
Do let us know if we get to pick you out on final cut of the video.
Apologies, didn’t actually explain what some Brits consider a stereotypical West coast band is. Basically, it’s a similar thing to our boy and girl bands (Take That, Westlife, Spice Girls, Girls Aloud…). Same old s@£t every single day of the week. Just that Californians use more guitars. And apparently, have more fun.
Sounds like a fun day! I’ve liked Weezer’s stuff since I was eleven or twelve, and these days I get nostalgic every time I hear them. Their “Pork and Beans” video hit home with me as well, after all my webscavating.
So, do you think we’ll see much of you in the video?
Boy I know that feeling.
@Ollie: I might think that’s similar to the reputation Weezer has over here actually.
I have to give it to you in that I agree it was cool they tried to involve their fans in an original way, though. As far as their latter 2 albums compared to their first 2, though, … I can’t say I’m sorry I fell off as even a lukewarm “fan.”
That’s funny – I guess Californians do like the guitar. There’s definitely a rock influence in the air over here in LA in particular, which is why a lot of bands come here to “relocate” and base themselves in a “scene” so they can get noticed. But Weezer definitely takes a bit of the beachyness and infuses it in a lot of their tunes. Of the ones I’ve heard, anyway.
@Hrafn: T’was a fun day!
I do hope I get in the final cut, because then that would have essentially been a whole day wasted. But at least it was fun, so I can’t really complain.
I’m sure you’ll hear if I make it.
We’re a bit of elitists aren’t we?
I have a hard time feeling sorry about that though…haha. I’m just thinking, discerning > non-discerning. 
i hope the nachos were tasty.
@moet-chan: Gross! Those nachos were out all day and the cheese had totally solidified on top of them. We noticed a beetle going to town making under-nacho tunnels… eew. The jalapenos were getting dried and pruny, too.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for you when the video debuts
@Hrafn: Me too!!