Weezer is REAL

I had been thinking about going to Weezer with Sayak for months, but I didn't make the decision until the night before. Unfortunately, Sayak had course selection that night, so I had to brave it alone. Though it wasn't the safest space (there were no Black people within a 5 km radius), I still had the time of my life.

@ Budweiser Stage

The venue wasn't too busy when I got there, so I secured merch pretty quickly (charging tax was CRAZY). It was still really hot outside, so I started heading to the Amex lounge when I remembered that Hailey and Benji from the Redveil concert said they got Weezer tickets. Of course, I had to say hi to them, so I trekked up to the lawn. It took me a minute to find them because I'm severely directionally challenged, but I did it! It was so nice getting to see them again, and I'm sure this won't be their last feature.

I read The Celebrants in the lounge for a bit, and I probably would've stayed in there until Weezer went on, but what would a "... is REAL" post be without a vague review of the openers? Joyce Manor was the first group, and they were pretty good. I'm not really a rock girly, so the music wasn't for me, but it was interesting background music for my book. The lead singer of Future Islands scared me SO much. I literally couldn't look up the entire time. Also, Ticketmaster is so fake for not telling me to bring earplugs because how was I supposed to know the openers were allowed to shatter my eardrums?

I thought I saw one of my childhood friends when I was walking around the venue, so I texted him to see if he was there or if I was just delusional and sure enough, he was. He was sitting with this other guy who went to my middle school, and I talked to them before Weezer went on.

Post Budweiser Stage

Getting home was disastrous. It took FOREVER for the 509 to get to the stop and then even longer for it to get to Union. By the time I got off, I decided that I didn't feel like Subwaying the rest of the way and wanted to Uber. I don't even want to talk about how long it took to call one. Dundas Square is my least favourite place to be alone at night, but outside Union Station is a very close second. I went to bed pretty soon after I got home because I was going to Vegas the next day (more on that soon).

The setlist was FANTASTIC. I could only do minimal preparation, but I knew enough to enjoy it. I love "Pink Triangle," so imagine my surprise when it was crickets from everyone else in my row when they started playing it. Also, "I Just Threw out the Love of My Dreams" wasn't on the original setlist, but they added it for Toronto's show, along with a surprise guest performance by Serena Ryder (who literally fell off the face of the Earth, hello???). I was devastated when I didn't see it on the setlist, so my entire life was made when they started playing the intro. Some lady had the audacity to walk in front of me while I was recording on my camera (she had already interrupted "Pink Triangle for alcohol like please seek help).

They played all my favourite songs, including "All My Favourite songs" (I was literally the only person at the venue who knew the AJR verse) but excluding "Photograph." You win some; you lose some.

OTW to Budweiser Stage

I HATE getting to Exhibition Place. The venues there are fine, but getting to and from them is a nightmare. Luckily, I was coming from work so I was already downtown. They didn't let me take a 15-minute break so I was STARVING. I ran to Subway right after my shift and then got on the streetcar.

I'm not exaggerating when I say this was one of the best concerts I've ever attended. I don't know how I could even debate going to Weezer Eras Tour because why is it in the top two of the year right now...

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