Weezer brought The Gathering tour to Austin’s Moody Center on Sunday, October 18, with Silversun Pickups and The Shins making a strong case for getting to your seat early.

Three bands, a Sunday night and plenty of songs that have been keeping us company for years. I brought my camera along for a closer look.

Silversun Pickups

Silversun Pickups had the first shift Sunday night at Moody Center, opening an October 18 bill that rewarded showing up early. With The Shins following and Weezer headlining, there was enough alternative rock history on the schedule to make the opening acts a substantial part of the attraction.

The Los Angeles quartet brought the lineup’s rougher edges: Brian Aubert’s distinctive vocals and guitar, Nikki Monninger on bass, Christopher Guanlao on drums and Joe Lester on keyboards.

Their mix of melody and distortion made sense as the starting point for a night shared by three bands with very different approaches to writing a memorable hook.

The Shins

The Shins took the second slot, and frontman James Mercer offered the evening’s most endearing observation. Looking out across the arena, he acknowledged that this was unfamiliar territory.

“We have never done a stadium tour and it looks like there are a billion people out there…which is rad.”

That last bit said plenty. Even after years of making records and touring, Mercer could still appreciate the slightly absurd experience of playing his songs in a room this size. It was a welcome little moment from a singer whose music often feels suited to a much more private setting.

Opening with “Simple Song,” The Shins worked through a set that included “Australia,” “Kissing the Lipless” and “Phantom Limb.” “New Slang” arrived toward the end, followed by “Sleeping Lessons” and a closing cover of R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” For an indie band openly acknowledging its unfamiliarity with arena touring, that was a pretty good way to finish the assignment.

Weezer

Then came Weezer, with a catalog that makes choosing what to leave out its own problem. Rivers Cuomo and company opened with “Shine Again” before moving into “Surf Wax America,” “Keep Fishin’” and “Hash Pipe.” The early stretch made room for both familiar singles and songs that rewarded fans who had spent time beyond the hits. “The Good Life,” “No Other One” and “Slob” all found places in the set.

There were smaller touches worth remembering, too. “Beverly Hills” received an Austin lyrical adjustment, while an acoustic “In the Garage” offered a change of pace. Monninger returned to join Weezer for “We Might as Well Be Strangers,” “Go Away” and “I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams,” giving the opening act another role in the evening.

The later stretch of Weezer’s set included “Undone – The Sweater Song,” “El Scorcho,” “Say It Ain’t So” and “Buddy Holly.” I was introduced to Weezer back when MTV still played music videos, when the band showed up at Arnold’s diner from “Happy Days” in the “Buddy Holly” video.

That was my introduction to Rivers Cuomo and company, and more than three decades later, here I was photographing them in Austin.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cover Photo Brian Maass

Brian Maass is a native Austinite, writer and photographer covering live music, travel, and culture, with a passion for storytelling through the lens of his camera. He lives in Round Rock with his wife, Dr. Dana Kent Maass, and their rescue dog, Chester. Instagram @brian_maass_adventures.