There’s an alternate reality where Songs From the Black Hole and its Star Wars-esque rock opera concept take us on a galaxy-wide mission, bridging the gap between Weezer’s first two vastly different albums: the Blue Album and 1996’s Pinkerton. However, that vision never came to fruition and has been somewhat forgotten in history—until Weezer’s stop at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday, where the whole tour’s shtick pays homage to what could have been, under the name ‘Voyage of the Blue Planet.’ The band opened with what could be theorized as the Betsy II taking off, revealing the esteemed rockers in all their glory.
Before the theatrics, Dinosaur Jr. took the stage with their straight-ahead noise rock, featuring J Mascis’s pentatonic runs and note bends and Lou Barlow’s dirty bass tones. “We are Dinosaur Jr., delighted to be the first act on this three-act bill… glad Weezer finally got their shit together!” Barlow quipped, breaking the comic ice for the night. The fact that they had to introduce themselves almost felt like the first joke. With some of their most popular songs, like “Feel the Pain” and “Start Choppin’, making an appearance midway through their set, they had the crowd hooked.
Dinosaur Jr. | photo by Ben Wong for WXPN
Following Dinosaur Jr. ‘s set, while the crew set up for the second opener, an ominous voice echoed over the loudspeakers. It was later revealed to be Flaming Lips lead singer Wayne Coyne. As cheers filled the almost-full arena, Coyne appeared on stage, saying, “You gotta keep going, yeah.” It’s crazy to think there was a time when Coyne and his band would open shows to crowds that hated their music. Humbled by the experience, he reflected: “It’s mind-blowing… we don’t usually play places like this… and we’ve been playing in Philly since 1984,” before rattling off a list of venues they’ve played here.
During crowd pleasers like “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Pts. 1 and 2)” and the end of “She Don’t Use Jelly,” the iconic pink robots came alive, and a hilarious “Fuck You, Philadelphia” balloon made its way from center stage into the crowd, getting tossed around for the rest of their set. “Do You Realize?” packed a punch of grandeur, with Coyne weaving through the extravagant light flashes, delivering verses over psychedelic riffs from lead guitarist Steven Drozd. It all sounded magical, and you could feel the love flowing through the air—a sentiment instilled by Coyne before the song: “We are going to have a built-in moment… tell the person you came with, or a random stranger beside you, how much you love them.” The crowd roared in response, and, of course, Coyne exclaimed, “I love you, Philadelphia!”—a step up from the earlier “fuck you” balloon.
The Flaming Lips | photo by Ben Wong for WXPN
For the main act, a satirical newscast and montage of Weezer walking dramatically like the Avengers introduced the ‘Voyage of the Blue Planet’ we’d been hearing about. A curtain lifted, revealing the rest of the stage—a massive spaceship embalzoned with Weezer’s iconic “W,” ready for blast-off. Rivers Cuomo, on lead vocals, kicked things off with “Anonymous” from the 2014 album Everything Will Be Alright in the End, wielding a double-neck guitar. The blunt lyrics of “Dope Nose” greeted fans next: “I’ll appear, slap you on the face and enjoy the show.” This launched a slew of other singles from Weezer’s various colored albums, including the Green Album’s “Hash Pipe” and Red’s “Pork and Beans,” ending with Make Believe’s chart-topping “Beverly Hills.”
From song to song, Cuomo laid down incredible riffs—an ode to his heavy metal roots as a skillful shredder. “Burndt Jamb,” stood out with its groovier edge, perfectly segueing into “Island in the Sun” and its power-pop, carefree essence. Brian Bell swapped his Gibson Explorer for the warmer Epiphone Hummingbird, delivering high-pitched harmonies on the line, “We’ll never feel bad anymore.” Bell then switched to a black Gibson Les Paul for the final song of the first set, “Run, Raven, Run.”
Weezer | photo by Ben Wong for WXPN
The next two sets focused on what many fans consider Weezer’s golden age. It’s often debated which album is their best, but for most, the Blue Album was the main attraction. Weezer played the album from front to back, with the crowd reveling in its cult-classic status. They also played standouts from Pinkerton, an album that takes them away from their well-known pop power and turns it on its head, much like the moody shift of adolescence with its darker undertones. The plot of the stage production deepened with mission after mission, each song guiding us to the next level—the “Pinkerton Asteroid Belt,” introduced by a robot in the shape of the “W”. The video close-ups became increasingly chaotic, jumping from scene to scene, and “Pink Triangle” was a surprising (and slightly controversial) choice with its live rendition of the line: “Everyone’s a little queer, why can’t she be a little straight?”
As “Across the Sea” ended, the lights dimmed, and Weezer left the stage, allowing the “Blue Voyage Landing” interlude to take full effect. A backdrop of a gray planet and sci-fi orchestra music played as Brian and Rivers delivered a monologue together, with Rivers’s standout line: “[The planet] is dying, but we need the Blue album to bring it back to life! One small step for Weezer, and one giant leap for Weezer-kind.” Now imagine standing on stage, surrounded by around 20,000 fans all flashing the signature W hand symbol. It must be surreal to have such a dedicated fanbase—people who cherish your work so deeply. You could hear snippets of conversation between fans who exchanged stories with their seat neighbors, some sharing how they traveled from as far as North Carolina for the show. For many, it was more than a concert; it was a bonding moment with family members who grew up listening to Weezer. Others came with good friends, who lead completely different lives, yet united by a love for Weezer’s music, screaming every lyric together.
Weezer | photo by Ben Wong for WXPN
This is the legacy of the Blue Album, the reason it remains Weezer’s most beloved work. It’s not about whether or not it showcases the band’s most authentic sound or their finest genre moment, but it’s the nostalgia within each track—the memories of hearing those songs for the first time—that resonates with listeners. Being in the Wells Fargo Center felt cathartic, as adults embraced their most authentic selves, reacting like starstruck teens meeting their idols. It was refreshing, a shared connection that culminated in the entire arena holding up the Weezer symbol together.
Before launching into their final track, “Only in Dreams,” Rivers took a moment to thank the fans for their unwavering support over the past three decades: “We made it, guys—30 light years. Thank you for coming with us all this way, all this time.” Thank you, Rivers, for taking us on this journey.