Think of the most on-brand thing that Weezer could do. Was your answer to surprise-drop a Beach-Boys-inspired album in the middle of a pandemic while everyone was still waiting a previously announced metal-inspired LP? If not, don’t feel bad. Even lifelong fans of the band couldn’t have seen this one…

The Avalanches have been together almost a quarter century and We Will Always Love You is only the Australian duo’s third album. The pair works at its own pace, obviously, and the result of this slow evolution is a star-studded album of mellow beats and deft knob twiddling. We…

AJR Before breaking out with their single “Weak,” brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met of AJR had their fair share of bad days. With many failed label meetings and empty bars under their belts, the band now looks back on those days as wonderful fuel for the future. BottleRock…

Weezer performs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on April 10, 2019. Photos: Joaquin Cabello. OAKLAND — As the four members of Weezer stood at a microphone in front of the stage at Oracle Arena—dressed in striped jackets and boater hats—and performed a barbershop quartet version of “Beverly Hills,” it…

Rivers Cuomo of Weezer performs at August Hall in San Francisco on Sept. 12, 2018. Photos: Steve Carlson. SAN FRANCISCO — It wasn’t foggy enough in San Francisco for Rivers Cuomo.  Midway through his 27-song acoustic tour-de-force at August Hall Wednesday night, the Weezer frontman needed a little something…

Weezer performs at Slim’s in San Francisco on Nov. 2, 2014. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. Would you believe this was my first time seeing Weezer live? Considering how long they’ve been around, I really shouldn’t have stayed away this long. “The last time we played here was in 1994; we opened…