It’s the summer of 2016. Weezer and Panic! At the Disco decide to tour together and hit Charlotte, NC on June 20.
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness started the show with several piano-driven songs that showcased major talent. One thing that struck me about McMahon was how he made crowd interaction the most important aspect of his set. He spent an entire song walking through the pit all the way back to the lawn.Before "Synethesia," McMahon passed an elementary school parachute to the crowd to hold up and asked them to feel like a kid again and to pretend like there was nothing wrong with the world. He spoke earlier in the set about his 10-year battle with cancer and this is one way he proves how he has overcome it.
Brendon Urie, Panic's only full-time member, hit the stage through a trapdoor in the middle of the stage wearing a massive pride flag and began the set with their newest single, "Don't Threaten Me With a Good Time," which immediately gave the crowd energy. After the next couple songs, Brendon created a more solemn vibe with "Hallelujah." He was inspired to write this song because of his religious upbringing and how he learned the importance of taking responsibility of your actions and how to appreciate the world.As you probably could tell from the first picture, Brendon is a huge supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. Since this show was in North Carolina, I wondered if this concert would be cancelled due to the HB2 law. Before "Girls/Girls/Boys," which is a huge LGBTQ+ anthem, Brendon spoke about how important it is for everyone to be themselves and how no one should put people down for who they identify as. He also mentioned that all of the proceeds from the rainbow "Girls/Girls/Boys" shirts at the merch table will go to the Pulse Victims Fund.Towards the end of the set, Brendon dedicated "This is Gospel" to former member of the band Spencer Smith. Spencer had to leave the band due to his struggles with addiction, which he eventually overcame. Brendon spoke about how he wrote the song for Spencer and how there is always light at the end of the tunnel.Weezer has been a band for about 25 years, so seeing them live was incredible. Their stage presence was remarkable and every person watching could tell how close-knit they have become through the years.The set was intricate with wooden beach-themed furniture, surfboards, brightly colored graphics, and beach balls being tossed to the crowd. The atmosphere made the show feel exactly like a summer tour, which was appropriate since the show happened on Summer Solstice."Thank God For Girls" kept the recurring theme of LGBTQ+ love going. The screen honored famous women of different ages, races, and sexualities, and it showed the rainbow pride flag at the end of the song.The crowd went especially crazy during "Say it Ain't So." The band's frontman, Rivers Cuomo, wrote this legendary anthem about how his family was hurt by his father's alcohol abuse. Then, they closed with "Buddy Holly" and a confetti explosion during the encore. Although these three bands' music styles are all completely different, their stage presence and camaraderie made the show come together and created a night that every person there will always remember.