MTV.com article - June 6, 2001

Weezer Play Two New Songs In Times Square
06.06.2001

Weezer's Rivers Cuomo performs Wednesday the
Virgin Megastore in New York's Times Square
Photo: Jason Campbell

NEW YORK — Though Weezer began Wednesday's brief, nine-song set at the Times Square Virgin Megastore about 40 minutes late, the group rewarded its hundreds of patient fans by playing a pair of new songs.

Greeting the crowd with a cordial "What's up?," frontman Rivers Cuomo launched into "Photograph," off the band's latest self-titled album, often referred to as The Green Album. Cuomo, accompanied by demurely dressed guitarist Brian Bell, bassist Mikey Welsh and drummer Pat Wilson, proceeded with a setlist that drew from the group's new LP, the band's previous two — 1996's Pinkerton and 1994's Weezer, a.k.a. The Blue Album — and recent demo sessions in Washington, D.C. (see "Weezer Breeze Through 12 Demos For Next LP").

The new instrumental "Burnt Jamb" sounded more like a loose improv than anything the band — heralded for its succinct pop songcraft — has ever recorded, and the bass-driven march of "Keep Fishin'" eased up midway to allow for a smarmy guitar solo.

The new material was received with a rapt lull, as the crowd reserved its biggest displays of appreciation for "Tired of Sex," the sole Pinkerton track; "Buddy Holly" and "Undone — The Sweater Song," the first two singles off the debut; and the latest single, "Hash Pipe," which closed the set. Other songs played Wednesday included "Knock-Down Drag-Out" and "Island in the Sun."

An autograph session, intended for diehard fans, followed the performance. Passes were distributed to the first 250 people who bought The Green Album at the store when the LP was released May 15.

—Joe D'Angelo