this was the 6th time we'd seen Weezer and the 2nd time at DTE (1st time was in 2002). first off: our meet & greet (including photo w/the band and a signed poster). the VIP entrance was a waaay farther drive into the parking lot than we had ever taken. once in the line, we were only 70% sure we were even IN the right line. spent a long time in the sun listening to girls talking higher at the end of their sentences and making references to Dexter's laboratory. once we were scanned and past the gates they sorted out the lines--Panic!s seemed much longer. i heard people say they may have had more VIP meet & greets for sale than weezer. before we met the band Weezer's tour manager reviewed the rules for us in a friendly way and led us to a tent behind the stage. while waiting in the sun SOME MORE i got to listen to how this girl just LOVES Target cause they carry her favorite tiger lip balm and i don't know how anyone could hate target if they hate it they can...whatever--and so forth. meeting the band was surreal. it went by so quickly, i just wanted to stand there and look at them for a moment to make sure this was really happening. i asked if i could do the rock sign for my picture with them and the band enthusiastically answered "yes"! i tried to do it as well as my friend Lori did with Lena Hadley but i think failed miserably. we'll know soon enough. the band's roadie/friend/photographer, Karl, took a couple of shots for good measure and sent me on my way.

i think it was about an hour before we could enter the pavillion and once inside it was 1.5 hours of hellish, horrible pop/rock songs paired with even worse music videos. and there only like 5 songs. and one was a Hole song. i think i got a pop and a pizza just so i could get out of the pavillion for a while and focus on something else.

that song mix was seriously bad. and i had a sinus headache to boot. i would've punched Sia if i knew what she looked like...

at least it never stormed like the weather apps said it would.

Andrew McMahon rescued us with some happy piano-laced rock/pop that while i wouldn't buy an album of but was still pleasant to listen to. highlights include the store-opening-wiggly-balloon men and Andrew himself dancing in the aisles and in the lawn area.

...then more of that awful mix...

Panic! exploded on the scene doing probably a 1 1/2 hour set. i don't know a lot of their songs but it was still cool and Brendon Urie was as energetic as last year at Chill on the Hill. They covered Bohimeian rapsody once again. during "Hallelujah" the background showed bad-VHS clips of TV preachers from the last few decades-most of whom looked ridiculous and/or turned out to be crooked. when Brendon's shirt came off i thought the ladies were all going to collectively pass out. Brendon got in a couple of backflips toward the end of the set admiting it wasn't as easy as it used to be.

...more...horrible...mix...(i'd describe it further but i don't wanna remember it)

Weezer opened with 'Califorina kid's from the white album and did a nice mix of older hits but featuring the new album most. their stage resembled the lifeguard station from the cover of the new album. there was a screen behind the stage whose graphics nearly outshined the band at times--one of the best video presentations i'd seen since the Janet concert last year. they even showed an old Cinnamon Toast Crunch cartoon just for Darrius! the band kicked beach balls back and forth to the audience at the show went on. "thank god for girls" was backed by a montage of famous women starting with rosie the riveter and ending with oprah, caitlin jenner, and beyonce. it was probably the best Weezer show i'd ever been to. it really looked like they worked hard on producing that and we had a super-great time watching them work.

in summary. VIP experience was worth it.