Cat Ears & Coffee: Weezer

The Story Of Us

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10-7-2014 "Everything Will Be Alright In The End"

This isn't the story of "Boy meets Girl", this is a Love story.

Sarnia Bayfest, my first Weezer concert (I bought an enhanced ID just to go to Canada to see them)

I was young when Weezer broke out into the music scene, really young. I was 7 years old when Weezer formed in 1992, and 9 years old when The Blue Album became successful. I grew up in a household where the only music my parents listened to were oldies and/or country music (which is why to this day I cannot stand country music), so I really cannot say when I first heard "Undone-the sweater song", or "Buddy Holly". I had friends with older siblings who were always playing interesting music, so I assume I heard Weezer that way.

However, the very first time that I heard a Weezer song, and immediately knew who they were has always stuck with me. Kyle and I were bowling with our friend Dan in Royal Oak (the bowling alley isn't even there anymore), I was in 11th grade, and "Photograph" came on over the speakers. There was a girl dressed in all black, with brightly colored hair, and she turned around to face the guy she was with and started singing along. I remember just sitting there and taking the song in, and really enjoying how I felt as I listened to it. I remember saying something to Kyle along the lines of "This is Weezer, I like them". A month or so later I bought a used copy of The Green Album from a record store on 9 mile in Ferndale, it was my first Weezer album.

1) Scott Shriner & myself/Weezer Cruise 2) Rivers Cuomo/Weezer Cruise 3) Brian Bell/Weezer Cruise 4) My friend Vera, Rivers, and I/Weezer Cruise

I slowly started accumulating more of their music over time, and I always would play one of their CD's whenever I felt down, because Weezer had this magical way of making me feel better. It wasn't that their music was always super uplifting, but just belting it out along with Rivers & co. was therapeutic. However in 2008 when The Red Album was released, that was when the obsession began. I played that album to death, I am pretty sure Kyle was borderline hating Weezer at that point. 2008 was a rough year for me, I had a "real" full time job at that point, but I had also wanted to finish school, so I was going full time as well. I have always thrived on being busy, especially when studying something I was passionate about, but at the same time I felt very lonely and disconnected from the ones that I loved. It was the start of many changes in my life; I was finally going to get out of the community college that I had been drifting around in for years, Kyle and I were engaged at that point, and it felt like all of adulthood was crashing down on me at once. I spent a lot of time driving around blasting The Red Album, and I think because it was the first album to feature each member of the band on vocals on separate songs, I started to notice how much I appreciated each member of the band.

No matter the content of the song, Rivers has this angst, this desperation in his voice that is just so convincing to me. Brian has a way of hugging the lyrics with that guitar, and giving them the extra push to make them true. Pat and Scott hammer everything together, sealing the song up in a complete package.

Weezer at Caesars Windsor, 2013

Of course, not everyone agrees with me, and I don't expect them to. To me however, this band is everything. I have never received a letter from a young girl in Japan, and fallen in love with her. How could I possibly relate to "Pink Triangle", "Perfect situation", or "In the garage" (other than being a fellow dork) for that matter? I can't. I can relate to the complete sincerity that is delivered with each song, the ability to capture experience, a moment, or even just acknowledging an emotion. Weezer represents the underdog, the beta male. That is how I fell in love with an entire band.

My first tattoo

1) Weezer Cover band 2) Kyle, myself, and Pat/Weezer Cruise

We met my heros, and gave them bunny ears

How do you express a love for a band that has gotten you through some really shitty times? How do you explain that an album, Pinkerton, gave you a sympathetic hug, while simultaneously tugging at your heart strings?

You can start by terrorizing your husband non-stop for years on end. Every time Kyle walked into the door after working a long day he was greeted with "I am the greatest man that ever lived" blaring in his ears, he would scream "NO YOU'RE NOT, RIVERS!" and slam the door. Each time we got in the car and I would casually ask if Kyle wanted to listen to music, Kyle would say yes, only to frantically hide my Ipod before I could plug it in and play Weezer. He had to endure two years of me ~~crying hysterically~~ wistfully talking about how amazing it would have been to go on that first Weezer cruise, knowing damn well we could never afford to go. The things we do for love, correct?

Weezer cruise

Although I can't bring myself to give a review of their latest album, only because I love it too much and will have a biased opinion, I can say that it really is everything a Weezer could have asked for in an album since the 90's. Personally, I love all of their albums, but EWBAITE is an album about music. They are acknowledging past mistakes with music, not that they regret any of it (and they really shouldn't), and are proving that they are just here to rock out and have fun, and this album is saturated in that sentiment.

I know at this point most of you guys are rolling your eyes, or scratching your heads in confusion. I know, this primarily a personal style blog, but it it is also a life blog, and Weezer is a big part of my life. I just love it when I see someone so passionate about something, that they cannot even find words to express their excitement, or they are talking so fast, or screaming so loud, that you have no idea what they are talking about. They have let something become such a huge, passionate part of them, and it is apparent. That is how I feel about Weezer, it is simply, love.

Weezer Cruise

11:35 AM
9 Comments

Back To The Shack

Threads

At the start of the week, I promised you guys fall outfit photos! Alas, here we are and, well, these are kinda fallish! Anyway, I like this outfit. Mostly because Kyle told me that I looked like a "Professional Four" (Fourth Doctor, for you non-whovians!) all I need is a long, awesome-possum scarf and I am there!

This week has been insane! Monday was Kyle's birthday, so we went out with some of his family to celebrate. We weren't out too late, but I was up late that night re-launching my Facebook page. A few years ago in an effort to simplify my life, I had stopped using my blog Facebook page, and instead just posted it on my regular, personal page. Since then, a lot of my friends and family actually started reading my posts, and were even going as far as to share them with their friends. I figured it would just be easier to use the regular blog page again, so that I can keep my regular Facebook page more private.

I have really liked how this blog has been going lately, especially the past two months. I feel like I finally have a grasp of what I want on here content-wise, and I have been more motivated. I went through a phase where I posted everyday, sometimes twice per day, and it felt like so much work. Then there was the phase where I stopped caring, but didn't have the heart to pull the plug on this blog just yet. Now, I am having fun with it again. So, huzzah!

Tuesday evening I won tickets to the Detroit Pistons game, and I took my Brother in-law Brian, my Mother in- law Debbie, and my younger brother Liam. It ended up being a blast, but again, I was up waaaaay past my bedtime.

But that isn't the best part of this week, not by far. On Tuesday, Weezer's new album Everything Will Be Alright In The End was released! Finally! For you new readers, I am a huge, HUGE Weezer fan. I have been listening to this album almost non-stop since I retrieved it from the mailbox, and it is just amazing. There are no actual words, other than this is the best thing since Pinkerton (like, 2 of you might know what I am talking about, but whatever). I will have to sit down and try to write up an actual review for this album, but right now I can't, I love it too much.

Oh, and I got a membership to the local YMCA this week too, so that I at least pretend to get in shape. I went after work on Wednesday, despite the fact that I had only gotten 10 hours of sleep in the past 48 hours. Motivation, or, just energized by my Weezer Fangirl reserves, you decide!

Anyway, here is the video for their single "Back to the shack" from Everything Will Be Alright In The End. It is amazeballs, Rivers is adorable as all hell, Scott is the only one in the band who looks like an actual rock star, Pat needs to be my best friend, he is just hilarious and awesome, and Brian looks like he is advertising for a shampoo commercial with that majestic mane of his.

I don't know how else to explain this song, other than it is an awesome rock song that hugs you like a best friend. I know, I KNOW, sap fest. Whatever.

I have a special guest-post coming up from one of my awesome friends, as well as some more outfit photos, and hopefully some house stuff too coming up soon, so stay tuned! Oh and if you are on Facebook, please check out my page, thanks!

=W=

Details

Blazer, belt-Modcloth

Jeans, hat-Target

Purse-Gift

Glasses-Warby Parker

Shirt, boots-Thrifted

Earrings-c/o Anjolee

11:09 AM
12 Comments

Shenanigans

Life

We had a pretty exhausting weekend, but it was still a lot of fun. Friday night, Kyle and I went with our friend Mariah to the Tigers game, and then to a bar downtown to see my friend Ashley who works there. We ended up drinking waaaay too much, eating some junk food, and stayed up too late, but it was a lot of fun. I didn't end up taking any pictures, but we are hoping to go to more games soon, because sportsball.

Saturday I started the day with a seven mile walk with Louie, followed by my usual trip to Eastern Market, this time with my friend Jamie in-tow. She had never been, so it was cool to show her around, although it was super crowded now that it is getting warm out. We then grabbed lunch, before I had to drop her off to head home.

Saturday evening we were supposed to go to a family dinner on my Dad's side, to see my grandma. However, Kyle got out of work late, and my brother Mark couldn't go. It was already 6 pm when we went to leave, and that was the time we were supposed to meet everyone. Turns out they had to wait awhile for a table, so we could have made it! Grrr. Kyle and I ended up taking Liam out for dinner, and then using an ice cream coupon he had at a local shop near us. We then headed home, and Kyle's brother Brian joined us for a fire in our new fire-pit in the back yard. Liam ended up just staying the night, and it ended up being a really nice night, even if I crashed early.

Sunday we got up early to drop Liam off and to get brunch with Kyle's family. My Mom had to work, so we dropped off her gifts after brunch. We then took Louie for a big walk, but it was really hot out, and we kind of wore ourselves out.

I somehow managed to get Kyle to install our new mailbox that took me waaaay too long to decorate, considering how simple it is (looks like the Gilmore Girls one, eh, Eh?!). Then cleaned out our cars, and took them to get washed, I finally put my new Weezer sticker on too! That's all we could manage because Game of Thrones came on and well, yeah.

All-in-all, a good weekend. The next one is pretty insane too, but I am still excited.

WEEZER.

9:55 AM
11 Comments

Memories, Make Me Want To Go Back There

Bahamas

So this one time, we met Weezer and this is what happened. No, those are not cardboard cut-outs, or photoshop. Everyone on the cruise got a photo with Weezer! They split us all up into two groups, and did our group the last day. They tried to make it quick, so we really only got to say "hi", before the camera guy told us to get ready. I asked if we could give them bunny ears, and they chuckled and Rivers said "Yeah! Thanks for asking!" MY FEELS. I really wanted to hug Pat and Scott again, and to tell Brian how much I love The Relationship, and to tell Rivers that he is my hero, but I can settle for getting a little laugh out of them, as well as an awesome photo.

I was really giddy after the photo, luckily we were in line with the two guys we met at the Weezer show, Bobby, and Joe (below). For being a very introverted, it was really easy to talk to a whole boat full of people who are there because they love the same thing that you do. It also helps when you have an extroverted husband who strikes up conversation with anyone.

Sunday was just a day at sea while we sailed back to Jacksonville, and we took advantage of it as much as possible. We tried to get picks with all of the friends we made, Ryen from Ozma (above in the blue hat, I am kinda bummed that I didn't run into his friend Becky again, she was really cool), Jesus (he picked me up, apparently, dude can lift). Oh and Rivers. !!! Yes! We saw Rivers in the cafeteria and he took a photo with us, such a sweetheart!

Then, we all decided that the waterslide was a must. I was immeasurably excited about the water slide, I did not know that water slides were basically standard for cruise ships, still. Well, we had to wait around for Kyle to go change, and in the meantime, Rivers and his family made their way up to the water slide as well. We all finally went on, and as Vera, Bobby, and I ran up the slide again, Rivers and his friend came up behind us. Because we had already went once, Vera told them they could go, and they were so excited! So basically, we were kinda on the waterslide with Rivers. Guys, I have no idea how I held my shit together for this, it is all honestly kind of a blur. SO MANY FEELS.

Later on there was a Weezer Q&A on deck with Adam Devine, it was really funny! Scott and Pat are so open and blunt, and Rivers and Brian are a little more shy, but they had some great answers. We made an attempt to do the coffee tasting with Brian after, but because of all of the crappy weather before the cruise, a lot of the coffee never made it to the boat. Then there was a really long line, so blah.

Sunday night was also Super Hero Night! We went as Batgirl and Robin, sidekicks FTW! There were some pretty amazing costumes, probably my favorite theme night. We got to catch up on a lot of the other acts on this night as well. Adam Devine and Doug Benson did a comedy show that was just so fucking hilarious I can't even. I was going to take a pic with Doug when I saw him later, but he was really, really, drunk. I probably still should have.

Sunday night was the second Weezer show, so while the other group got to go see them, we got a chance to see Diiv (pronounced 'Dive'), and they were really awesome! I loved the diversity of music each band brought with them, but also how they still managed to compliment Weezer.

We also saw Bleached again, and I think they had to be one of my favorites. As I mentioned, I did like all of the bands we saw, and was mostly excited about Ash, and The Relationship, but Bleached was a surprise. I had listened to all of the bands on Spotify before we left, and of course they are going to sound better live, but Bleached was really, really fun! They had a very energetic stage presence, and were also pretty funny.

Toro y Moi was another great surprise, I think because he brought the most diversity musically. The other bands were, well, bands, and his group was a mash-up of indie-pop and electronic style music. I am pretty sure there is a more accurate name for whatever genre that is, but I would like to call it "awesomesauce". I am not normally big on electronic-style music, but this was great!

Also, holy cute guy alert! I mean what.

I think towards the end of the night Kyle and I started to feel a little down as the trip was coming to an end. I am normally one who loves winter, but I was teased by such amazing summer weather while on this trip! Not to mention we finally traveled out of the country! I mean, we've been to Canada, but when Windsor is basically 'South Detroit', it is kinda old news for us Michiganders. However, on the last night Weezer announced that there would be a Weezer Cruise 3.0, so everyone start saving up their money so we can go!

10:18 AM
17 Comments

Island In The Sun

Bahamas

It is hard to pick a favorite day from our trip, but if I HAD to, it would probably have been Saturday. We left Freeport Friday night, and arrived in Nassau Saturday morning. I actually don't know what Nassau is like, because we got off of the ship, and then boarded a smaller boat that took us to Blue Lagoon Island, a private island.

We immediately decided to go swimming, so we piled all of our crap on a bench and jumped in the water. It was around 80 degrees, and the water was SO CLEAR. A few guys were making a sad attempt at volley ball with a beach ball and an inflatable net, so of course we joined in and made it even worse. It was hilarious! Kyle kept saying "It's February! And we are swimming!". I am not normally a beach person (or cruise person for that matter), but it was just so beautiful.

Of course there was music. Cat Power was set to open for Weezer, and she did...only two hours late. A few people were pissing and moaning about it, but our friend Kim mentioned that Cat is notorious for being late. We were also on "island time" and whatnot, so we all just plopped down in the sand and enjoyed the warm air.

When Cat Power finally made her appearance, it was well worth the wait. Her voice is so serene and melodic, a perfect choice for a beach concert. Even when she was talking, I just loved her voice. I wanted her to read random things to me, or narrate my life. That'd be awesome.

Then, there was Weezer. The Weezer beach concert was awesome, well, because Weezer, but also because outdoor shows are always my favorite. This time instead of being split into groups, everyone from the ship was out and it was SO much fun! They made sure to play their favorite Weezer songs, as well as a bunch of their hits and B-sides. Kyle took SO MANY awesome photos! We were on the right side of the stage, and so very close. I was jumping up and down so much, my pedometer on my phone thought that I was running. This also about the time where I lost my voice completely.

I think one of my favorite aspects of the cruise was that although it is seemingly a "party cruise", and it is for the most part, there were still quite a few kids around. All of the band member's kids were nearby, and River's daughter even helped out during "Perfect Situation" on the keyboard. It was so cute! She just walked right up with her giant headphones on, played her song, and then walked back down. Later all of the kids came up on stage to help throw beach balls into the audience.

Behold: Captain Sass-Pants and his Magistical Mane, aka Brian. Rivers stole my heart years ago, but what the hell happened to Brian?! It is like he thought to himself "Well I have already been ridiculously attractive my entire adult life, but you know, I think I am just going to go ahead and achieve sex-god status now. It's going to be great watching all the ladies ovaries explode at the sight of me."

Seriously you gangly-hipster, quit being so disgusting *heavy breathing*.

After the show, we got back on the boat to head back to the ship for dinner. The theme was "Death to False Metal Night", which is the name of one of Weezer's rarity albums. The idea was to dress metal, so Kyle made his hair all crazy. The theme nights were so awesome because everyone got really into them! The ship was pretty much half hipsters, and half dorks, so basically Tumblr on a boat.

We saw Ash play, and they were awesome and SO hilarious! I love Ash, they are such a 90's throwback, and had just as much energy as they did back then. We also finally got in the hot tub after several failed attempts, because when else are you going to be in a hot tub on a cruise? It was so cool because the hot tub was located right in front of the deck stage, so we saw Palma Violets play while we were relaxing.

Then we saw Pat (from Weezer) and all jumped out of the tub to get a pic with him (I also took another one with him and Kyle later after we all got dressed again, obvs). Pat is SO chill, and nice! He remembered me from the first night, and just hung out on the deck with everyone while the Palma Violets played.

After the show, most of our group headed to bed, but Kyle, Jason, and I wanted to check out another band, Bleached, so we headed to the casino. That's where I saw Brian! Brian is probably the least approachable, because he is really sassy, but also really shy, and skittish. I managed to say "hi" to him, he said "hi" back, and that was it. Still.

AMAZEBALLS.

11:04 AM
8 Comments

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The Green Album

The Story Of Us

Back To The Shack

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Memories, Make Me Want To Go Back There

Island In The Sun

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