I’ve written before about how Weezer has been busting out some old b-sides as part of their Memories tour (here and here).
Well, last night, they did something even more awesome than play an old b-side. At a show in Austin, they played an unreleased (well, on the original album version) Pinkerton song, Longtime Sunshine.
The song was originally intended as the closer of Weezer’s abandoned rock opera, Songs from the Black Hole. For a short time, Longtime Sunshine was going to be the final track on Pinkerton, but it got shelved in favor of Butterfly. In 2002, Rivers Cuomo distributed an MP3 of his original demo to fans, and the track was later included on Cuomo’s first Alone album. A different, experimental full band arrangement was featured on the Deluxe reissue of Pinkerton, and while the track has been a fan favorite since the days of the MP3, no one expected to ever hear a live version of the song.
Now, I have a feeling if the band doesn’t play this at a show, fans will riot. And I wouldn’t blame them. The performance is much different from the stripped-down acoustic versions we’ve heard. Watch for yourself.
That dueling guitar solo just kills. And the fans singing along toward the end is great to hear.
I’ve been to a few Weezer shows (well, actually 11), and the setlist for last night’s show could be one of the best I’ve ever seen (the exclusion of Undone or Buddy Holly makes it a tough call):
Memories
The Greatest Man that Ever Lived
Perfect Situation
Dope Nose
Hash Pipe
You Gave Your Love to Me Softly
Susanne
Longtime Sunshine
Jamie
Only in Dreams
All of Pinkerton
No Beverly Hills or Island in the Sun, but Longtime Sunshine, Jamie, Susanne and Only in Dreams? I need to invent a time machine and travel back in time to see this show.