Karl's Corner - 01/08/2011

2011/01/08 Chicago: Aragon Ballroom: Memories Tour - Pinkerton

Wow, night 1 was pretty darn spectacular, and the Aragon was utterly packed to the gills with ravenous weez army members. The School Of Rock kids did a great job with their intermission mini-set of weezer covers, and we're expecting another such set tonight, with different songs. The Limousines rocked hard and warmed us up (literally!) as the interior Aragon temperature climbed from near freezing in places to hotter than hell. Tonight should be more, more, more!

(later...) And indeed, tonight's show was intense! The audience were amazing both nights, singing along loudly and freaking out constantly. I met so many cool fans both nights, from the I Love All Access VIPers to people from all over the place who had to come see the Memories Tour, and I've got to say it once again, weezer fans are the best fans!

Tonight the School Of Rock kids did "Say It Aint So" and "Surf Wax America" during the intermission, which actually got some crowdsurfing going! They did a fantastic job again. Also tonight the winners of the State Farm Grantin' Wishes With Weezer contest were granted their wishes, and Scott from Magic Hugs (AKA "Chazz" from How To Be Tight) was on hand to help film and interview the goings on for upcoming segments on the State Farm website (we'll link it up when its up). The winners were: One guy got to play drums with the band during soundcheck, he played "the Good life" with them. A girl named Nicole got to meet the band and have Jeremy her garden gnome signed. Then Scott suggested the gnome hang out on the drum kit for the show, and so it came to pass. Another guy got to come up on stage and do his magic trick routine for the crowd while the band played Hash Pipe. And finally a school teacher from Kansas got to sit with the band while they answered questions from the guys classroom kids back in Kansas via iChat. That class also got some new guitars. And also a bunch of fans questions were answered on video which will be a part of the stuff that will go on the State Farm site soon. http://twitpic.com/3nyviq

Big ups to Jam Productions, Paul Natkin, ILAA, The ILAA VIPers, Anuj Behal (RWA OG webmaster 1995-1999, Spice Girls doll owner), Brian's mom, and the many many awesome Boardies of every stripe we met over these 2 nights!

Are you going? Did you go? Comment here and/or in our message boards, tell your tale! Post your show pix on our photo page!

To see these pix individually and larger, click here.