Weezer

21st Century Appearances: 2010 Main Stage, 2002 Main Stage

The Defining Reading Moment: Rivers in 2010, there is no one moment, just forty plus minutes of Rivers being Rivers at his most insane and energetic, giving one of the most memorable performances by any front man in Reading history.

Weezer are a band who made a massive impact and then a commercial U-turn in the 1990s but in 21^st century they pulled themselves back up and become one of rock’s most successful and beloved bands of the century so far. That’s no mean feat and it’s been documented at the Reading and Leeds festival.

Weezer were in full flow of bounce back when they played mid card on the main in 2002. Back at Reading for the first time since 1996’s Pinkerton, the band were supporting The Green Album which was a return to the simple pop rock of their debut and 2002’s Maladroit which had some of the darker a-melodic sound of Pinkerton mixed in.

Weezer then disappeared from the UK festival circuit, and the UK in general for the better part of 8 years. There were sporadic shows at the likes of Brixton Academy (in 2005 to support fifth album Make Believe) but the band had gone festival shy despite rumours each year and fans demanding the Weezer back at the festival year after year.

Finally though our prayers were answered in 2010 when Melvin Benn and co. booked Kenosha, Wisconsin’s own, and what a show they laid on for us. The time away from Reading’s main stage seemed to have done front man Rivers Cuomo some good as he was positively buoyant up there running and jumping around, freed from guitar duties thanks to Josh Freese taking to the drums and the band’s drummer Pat Wilson taking on the six strings. Covers of “Teenage Dirtbag”, “Kids” and “Poker Face” went down well but it was the band’s biggest tracks, “Hash Pipe”, “Island in the Sun” and the closer “Buddy Holly” that truly went down a storm. Next time Weezer, don’t leave it so long to come back! Adam McCartney