If you can take only mini-doses of road-tripping, outdoor concerts, and lines for beer and bathrooms, then a short trip to Elizabeth, Indiana's Horseshoe Casino is your alternative to Bonnaroo next weekend. Weezer will be stopping in on their way to the big festival on Friday, June 11, as part of Horseshoe's Summer Outdoor Concert Series. Most shows are 21 and over, but the Weezer show is an exception -- it's 18 and up.
Weezer's latest release is Raditude, which came out last year not long before a scary tour bus crash in December that left lead singer Rivers Cuomo with three broken ribs. They've always been known for their geeky brand of rock and power pop, angsty but humorous lyrics, and a sort of anti-rock star posturing. They've had platinum-selling albums, a Grammy Award-Winning video (for "Pork and Beans" from the Red Album), and radio hits, including "Buddy Holly," "Undone - The Sweater song," "Beverly Hills," and "Hash Pipe." Visit their Youtube channel to reacquaint yourself with the songs and videos. And here's one bit of trivia: their first gig was opening for Keanu Reeves's band, Dogstar. Whoa.
I've been to a June concert at Horseshoe. Unless you're standing room only, there are bleacher seats and folding chairs on the "floor" (it's pretty much a paved lot, but there are trees and green things in view). Expect to be hot and sticky, but remember, the Casino is nearby with AC, roulette, and food. Dress accordingly. Tickets for the 8:00 p.m. show are available from Ticketmaster for $30 (chairs) and $25 (SRO).
