A mate of mine went to see Weezer within the last year and extolled the virtues of their live performance and indeed the overall quality of their back catalogue. I nodded and said ‘OK -- I’ll check it out’ but I never did. When you collect music like I do it’s easy to miss things and how wide can you cast your net in truth? Well the video below makes me feel I now owe Weezer a bit more time.

It’s a good cover, the pace is right the energy is good and best of all perhaps is the crowd reaction. I also liked the Strummer/Spanglish lines being given the proper treatment. Cover versions are always a bit like asking your partner to try something a bit different (I mean like for dinner) as you never know what your audience reaction will be. Sometimes its indulgent as an Icicle Works b- side gets rebuilt on stage but if you hit the right song with the right audience then why bloody not. The Clash get covered more and more often these days it would seem and that’s no bad thing. (Except when Pearl Jam try). It keeps the coals hot, it nods respect and maybe best of all someone will then go out and discover the Clash for the first time ever. I actually envy a 17 year old at a Weezer concert who this week might purchase 2 or 3 Clash albums, imagine the thrill of being exposed to that all at once?

So -- Weezer covering the Clash? This took place at the VFest which was in Baltimore or Washington..(correction video was from New Jersey, they are playing it nightly) they’re very close so perhaps in between and by all accounts (and the video) the fans lapped it up. Better still it was during the encore. I’ve not traced any articles that explain the fondness for the Clash so if you’re aware of it get in touch. Better still if you can recommend where we get started if we wanted more Weezer then let us know. Also enjoyed the running on the spot which must be a tribute to this. OK -- off to bed, the weekend is over and this indecions bugging me.