Weezer and Pixies Add Walmart AMP

Home
EVENTS
Weezer and Pixies Add Walmart AMP

EVENTS
Matt Miller
No Comments
November 2, 2017

Weezer and Pixies Add Walmart AMP

June 29th, 2018 – Gates open at 5:30pm. Music starts at 7:30pm. | Tickets start at $34.50

The Walmart AMP (Arkansas Music Pavilion, the AMP) – is known as Northwest Arkansas’ premiere outdoor concert venue. The AMP has been one of the top 100 amphitheaters in the nation and has produced headlining concerts for the past 10 years. It began offering seasonal music performances at the Northwest Arkansas Mall parking lot in 2005.

Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1992, consisting of Rivers Cuomo (lead vocals, guitar), Patrick Wilson (drums), Brian Bell (guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Scott Shriner (bass guitar, backing vocals). After signing to Geffen Records in 1993, Weezer released their debut self-titled album, also known as the Blue Album, in 1994. Backed by successful music videos for the singles “Buddy Holly“, “Undone – The Sweater Song” and “Say It Ain’t So“, the Blue Album became a triple-platinum success. Their second album, Pinkerton (1996), featuring a darker, more abrasive sound, was a commercial failure and initially received mixed reviews, but went on to achieve cult status and critical acclaim years later. Both the Blue Album and Pinkerton are now frequently cited among the best albums of the 1990s. Following the tour for Pinkerton, bassist Matt Sharp left the band and Weezer went on hiatus.

In 2001, Weezer returned with another self-titled album, also known as the Green Album, with new bassist Mikey Welsh. With a more pop sound, and promoted by singles “Hash Pipe” and “Island in the Sun“, the album was a commercial success and received mostly positive reviews. After the Green Album tour, Welsh left the band and was replaced by current bassist Scott Shriner. Weezer’s fourth album, Maladroit (2002), achieved mostly positive reviews but weaker sales. Make Believe (2005) received mixed reviews, but its single “Beverly Hills” became Weezer’s first single to top the US Modern Rock Tracks chart and the first to reach the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2008, Weezer released a third self-titled album, also known as the Red Album, featuring “TR-808s, synths, Southern rap, and baroque counterpoint,” to mixed reviews.^[1] Its lead single, “Pork and Beans“, became the band’s third song to top the Modern Rock Tracks chart, backed by a successful YouTube music video. Raditude (2009) and Hurley (2010) featured more “modern pop production”^[2] and songs co-written with other artists, achieved further mixed reviews and moderate sales. The band’s ninth and tenth albums, Everything Will Be Alright in the End (2014) and the band’s fourth self-titled album, also known as the White Album (2016), returned to a rock style and achieved more positive reviews. Their eleventh album, Pacific Daydream, which was released on October 27, 2017, signified a drastic departure from their long-time alternative rock style in favor of a mainstream pop sound.^[3] Weezer has sold 9.2 million albums in the US and over 17 million worldwide.

The Pixies are an American alternative rock band formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. Until 2013, the band comprised Black Francis (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Joey Santiago (lead guitar), Kim Deal (bass, backing vocals) and David Lovering (drums). The band disbanded acrimoniously in 1993, but reunited in 2004. After Deal left in 2013, the Pixies hired Kim Shattuck as a touring bassist; she was replaced the same year by Paz Lenchantin, who became a permanent member in 2016.

The Pixies’ music contains elements including psychedelia, noise pop, hard rock, and surf rock. Francis is the Pixies’ primary songwriter; his often surreal lyrics cover offbeat subjects such as extraterrestrials, incest, and biblical violence.

The Pixies achieved modest popularity in their home country, but were more successful in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and Israel. Their jarring pop sound influenced bands such as Nirvana, Radiohead, the Strokes, Bush, Blur and Weezer. Their popularity grew in the years following their break-up, leading to sold-out world tours following their reunion in 2004.

Rogers, AR 72758