Weezer has always felt like the biggest personal band ever. The type of group whose fans don't seem to realize how many other millions of people have had the same emotional relationship with their music over the years. So seeing them headline Madison Square Garden, maybe a decade past their prime, but with 18,000 fans singing along to every word, was an strange scene. A band that has always thrived on being small and intimate was forced to connect with a nearly full arena. And while a Weezer show can almost run on auto-pilot these days, with their timeless tunes doing most of the heavy lifting, there was still a curious void between the performers and the fan experience. Granted, this awkwardness is part of their charm, but in contrast to the sharpness of their now time-worn classics, it doesn't seem to add up. How can they seem so unsure of themselves while performing some of the greatest songs of a generation? more ›

As we've mentioned before, once upon a time John Darnielle promised fans at a Knitting Factory show that, even if he was playing Madison Square Garden someday, he would make the time to play a show at the Knit, his favorite club in the city. He may not be quite that big, but it's clear he's moved on from those once noble statements, considering his impressive and always expanding popularity. He headlined Music Hall of Williamsburg and Webster Hall (!) this week to his rabid fan base, and managed to make these larger shows intimate and as personal as he always has in the past. The shows were full of storytelling and tangential banter, interacting with the fans as though he was playing a backyard party. To complement his sound in these clubs, however, he did decide to bring along a drummer to help fill out his stage show. While some surely miss the days of his cassette recordings and minimalist sets, the songs are all still there, and they sound as good as ever. (pic via Bryan Bruchman's flickr) more ›

Wolfmother more ›