Written by James Gatsche and Photos by Bang Ho
On October 18, 2026, Weezer took over a packed Moody Center in Austin for The Gathering Tour. From the first notes, you could tell it was going to be an exceptional night. The band covered the spectrum of its 20+ year catalog, performing both the hits and the deep cuts.
It seemed the crowd knew every lyric, as deafening voices filled the venue. Fans danced and screamed along the entire set. Weezer created a unique sense of community by embracing their outsider status and making fans feel like they belonged to the club.
The pyrotechnics during “Hash Pipe” really suited the performance. Silversun Pickups’ Nikki Monninger joined Weezer for several songs, her pristine vocals adding to the set. Rivers Cuomo changing the lyrics of “Beverly Hills” to highlight Austin was a huge hit with the Austinites.
The band also showed off its musical chops through a series of instrument swaps. During the acoustic set, drummer Patrick Wilson, who co-founded the band, picked up the guitar while Rivers Cuomo took over the keys, changing up the usual stage arrangement. Later, Cuomo moved behind a special delivery drum set himself and even brought out the harmonica for “In the Garage.”
It was an unforgettable night for everyone. If you ever get a chance to see Weezer live, take it!
