Weezer CD Signing Report by Mike Sametz It’s a brisk night here in sunny Cali, and I am dragging my pasty Canadian butt down to the Hollywood and Highland Hot Topic for a CD signing with Weezer. As any regular reader knows I ran into half of the band not too long ago when they were doing a television taping (you can read about that here: http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/694/Weezer-Echo-and-the-Bunnymen-Catherine-Keener-Si.aspx). I am bringing along that poster and a few other goodies I have picked up over the years. So, on with the show!
6:12 p.m. - I just arrived at the Hollywood and Highland, I expected there to be more people honestly, but I wasn’t sure how many people would be in line. There are about 45-50 people here now. The signing starts at 7:00 p.m. so I have a little time to wait.
6:21 p.m. – Erica just called. She is waiting at AFI and trying to get Colin Firth from Shakespeare in Love. LOL, she is going to join me afterwards. AFI has sucked this year, and that’s all I am saying! Harumph! 6:34 p.m. – I brought my "Beverly Hills" picture disc with me to get signed. I couldn’t find it the first time I met them… sigh… I also have the unfinished posters from the first time I met them, and Erica is going to bring her Raditude CD. You know the one that has “Cool stuff with dogs on it.” I love that line. I should put it on a T-shirt. 6:41 p.m. – They are moving the line now. We are going up to the bridge that overlooks the Hollywood sign. Not that you can see the Hollywood sign at night, but still, that’s the point of this bridge. Everyone thinks that the sign lights up at night, but it doesn’t.
6:42 p.m. – Did I mention standing on a bridge when it’s chilly is not a pleasant experience? 6:45 p.m. – Oh, Erica’s here now. She did not get Colin Firth. Sad times. 6:48 p.m. – I just signed up for the Hot Topic rewards card… cause I look like the typical Hot Topic psyudo-goth… I mean, I’m so white I’m practically transparent! Oh wait… with the vampire craze maybe I do fit in now… hmmmmmmmmm… 6:51 p.m. – This is a wrist banded signing and you had to buy the CD on the day of release to get a wristband to go in today. I got one and so did Erica. I think they still have wristbands left though. 6:54 p.m. – Security just told us that the band is running late but will sign any one item which is cool cause usually at controlled signings like this they make you get whatever they are selling signed. I’m going for the picture disc… I love picture discs! 6:59 p.m. – There is a mini roadmap all along the main courtyard here at the Hollywood and Highland. It says “The Road to Hollywood.” Then they have a large couch. LOL….
7:11 p.m. – They really are running late. It’s quite usual. I’m using Erica as a shield to stay warm. I’m 6’3 and she’s only four apples high so it’s hard to use her effectively but I’m trying. 7:14 p.m. – There is a guy selling "I love L.A." shirts and he does not look like he really loves L.A. right now. Come on dude, you gotta sell those shirts! You gotta smile and really love L.A. - consumers can smell insincerity. I tell ya!
7:23 p.m. – Oh, the line is moving now. Whoo hoo! 7:31 p.m. – We are almost at the front now. I’m not sure if they are going to let us take pictures. I don’t think the security guards even know if we can take pictures. 7:41 p.m. – Alright we are in the door and defrosting. For some reason all the Hot Topic employees know Erica. Is she a Goth in disguise? If she starts busting out the Avril Lavigne punk princess look, we are all going to have to start an intervention.
7:42 p.m. – Erica just told me it’s because she went to the Jennifer’s Body signing at this Hot Topic a couple months ago. Still... I have to wonder… 7:45 p.m. – Oh, and there’s Weezer. They all look nice and relaxed and are quite friendly. I got my picture disc out and everyone is really cool. Each band member takes his time and really looks at it before signing it, which is cool. Patrick said something like, “this a real piece of memorabilia right here.”
7:46 p.m. – Erica got her CD signed and asked the band to personalize it, which apparently they were not doing. Rivers did so anyway, which was cool of him. 7:48 p.m. – So, now that we went through the line once... I still have these two unfinished posters with me... hmmmm… I’m convincing Erica to do a little reconnaissance and we ask one of the women working the sale if there are still more wristbands for our “friends”… our “twin friends who happen to be dressed just like us!” 7:51 p.m. – Okay, we just found out there are more wristbands available, and we decide to buy two more CD’s and run back to Hollywood Blvd to get back in line. LOL… 8:05 p.m. – We’re back in the cold! I have Erica hold up the Canadian tour poster to get it ready. Whoo Hoo! LOL… There are about 3 people behind us in line.
8:10 p.m. – Back to the wind tunnel… you know when the sun goes down… It gets really cold! The bridge is like a wind tunnel! 8:15 p.m. – Okay we are back to the front now… There are about uh… maybe 20 people behind us. They are now out of wristbands….
8:22 p.m. – Erica’s friends at the Hot Topic are happy to see her once again… hmmmm… If she starts singing "Sk8er Boi" I’ll know she is a closet Goth for sure! 8:23 p.m. – Nope, no "Sk8er Boi"… Still the jury is still deliberating… any day now Erica will arrive in LA with pink streaks in her hair... I can see it! 8:26 p.m. – We’re meeting Weezer again! Erica has the tour poster, and Scott says to her, “nice to see you again.” I think Brian said, “I remember you!” which is funny cause he never met her, I think he probably remembers the poster! LOL… I got my Raditude poster signed. They are all very cool, and this was such a nice chill signing. I’m very impressed with the band as they all seem quite personable! Check out their new cd Raditude cause it rocks, and has cool artwork "with dogs on it!”
Check out the full set of photos from the signing. Video coming soon!