Review: Weezer put on an out-of-this-world show in Orlando with Flaming Lips and Dinosaur Jr.

“That’s one small step for Weezer, one giant leap for Weezer-kind.” That was the declaration made by Rivers Cuomo, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for Weezer, after planting the band's flag on stage during their 90-minute sold-out spectacular in Orlando Friday night. The “Voyage to the Blue Planet” tour, marking 30 years since the release of the band's debut Blue Album, was a trip.

The touring lineup also featured the Flaming Lips and Dinosaur Jr., two bands who helped shape alternative rock as we know it. “Weezer has made a really nice night for you tonight. We are the beginning. We are Dinosaur Jr.” said bassist Lou Barlow by way of introduction. The trio duly launched into ragged hit "Little Fury Things" off their seminal 1987 record You're Living All Over Me. The band's primary songwriter J Mascis reminded us all why he’s one of the greatest guitarists of all time, breaking our ears with epic distortion and wah-wah.

The Flaming Lips didn’t hold back either, with an hourlong set of storied indie-psych tracks, and even a cover of Madonna's “Borderline.” Frontman Wayne Coyne informed the assembled faithful that the Weezer show would be “the most insane show you will ever see.” What he didn’t mention was the Lips' array of giant inflatable props joining him on stage, including giant (yes) lips, eyeballs with legs, and killer pink robots. A huge balloon-letter banner that read “FUCK YEAH ORLANDO,” was (re)released and mostly torn apart in the pit. Although when the house lights came on, it appeared some fans had managed to salvage a few letters as a memento.

By the end of the Flaming Lips' set, it was surreal to think there was still a headliner ahead. And then we began the voyage to the blue planet. This was not just a show, this was a production, featuring stagecraft, videos, props, costumes, an actual script and rolling credits. Following a launch countdown, the band came out of a space shuttle launching into the rafters, with plumes of fog and pyrotechnics for added sci-fi emphasis. There was also a plot – an entire storyline accompanying the band's 90-minute set. We were all space cadets, on a very important, very dangerous galactic mission to the blue planet.

This show was campy, nerdy, and for the entire 20,000-person arena, euphoric. Fans shot their Flying =W=’s in the air with unabashed enthusiasm (shout out to Weezerpedia for defining that hand gesture for us). Dads who were teens in the 1990s with their teen kids dressed like it is still the 1990s were all equally having the time of their goddamn lives. The band played the Blue Album in full, along with a generous list of hits. Weezer also made sure to give plenty of Orlando shoutouts, including a mention of Orange Avenue and the Courtesy Bar in “Undone (The Sweater Song).”

Weezer understood the assignment. Twenty-thousand fans were forced to pay exorbitant fees to a ticketing monopoly to see a favorite band. So the band stuck to the script and committed to the musical mission, exceeding all expectations – we are on a voyage, people! We got 30 years of Weezer's music! Adding to the jubilation of the fans was the joy in the band – throughout the show bandmates exchanged smiles. All the decades of playing these songs, and they still loved it.

At the end of the show, Cuomo made a confession: He was an alien, known as one of the Weezer kids. “Welcome to our planet” he said to a rapturous applause. There was no turning back from this core memory. The band closed the night with the final track on the Blue Album, “Only in Dreams,” before taking a bow, their space mission completed.

“Thanks for sticking with us all this time. What a voyage it’s been.”