Weezer Venice Beach Rooftop Show: Rivers Cuomo News

Rivers Cuomo Calls New Music a "Calling" at Weezer’s Venice Beach Rooftop Set

The band kicked off "The Gathering – Initiation Week" in Venice Beach with hits like "Buddy Holly" and a new single announcement.

Marcus J. Delany

Mar 29, 2026, 7:24 PM PT · 2 min read

Rivers Cuomo Weezer performing live — Photo: Birgit Fostervold / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

THE RUNDOWN

Weezer performed a surprise rooftop set in Venice Beach for Initiation Week.
The setlist included fan favorites Buddy Holly and Undone – The Sweater Song.
Rivers Cuomo described his passion for songwriting as a calling to No Intervals.
Initiation Week events featured a celebrity pickleball tournament for fans.
The band is preparing for The Gathering Tour and new single Shine Again.

Weezer took over Venice Beach this week for a surprise rooftop concert that stopped traffic and thrilled fans. The pop-up set served as the centerpiece for "Weezer: The Gathering – Initiation Week," a fan-focused celebration leading into the band’s next major chapter. Rivers Cuomo, Brian Bell, Patrick Wilson, and Scott Shriner performed a high-energy set featuring 1994’s "Undone – The Sweater Song" and "Buddy Holly" for the crowd gathered on the boardwalk below.

In a recent conversation with No Intervals, frontman Rivers Cuomo reflected on the band’s enduring career and his drive to keep creating. Cuomo described his need to write music as a "calling," explaining that the connection with fans during live performances remains his primary inspiration. This creative spark has led to the band’s latest single, "Shine Again," which serves as the centerpiece for their new era of music.

The "Initiation Week" festivities also showcased the band's quirky side with a dedicated pickleball tournament, bringing fans together for some friendly competition alongside the music. These events act as a launchpad for the upcoming "The Gathering Tour," which will see the band return to major venues. With a new single and a massive tour on the horizon, the rock veterans show no signs of slowing down three decades after their debut.