Scream & Yell Interview: Brian Bell - December 10, 2005

The following interview has been translated from Portuguese.
Original article: http://screamyell.com.br/site/2005/10/12/entrevista-brian-bell-weezer/
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"Interview: Brian Bell"
Brian Bell wasn't exageratting when he said that, via phone, about two weeks before Weezer played their - one and only - show in Brazil. The fact is, when the band started the set playing "My Name Is Jonas" (the first song from their first album) I couldn't really hear Brian's guitar playing. The screaming of the audience of the Curitiba Rock Festival welcomed Rivers Cuomo (guitar and vocals), Pat Wilson (drums), Scott Shriner (bass) and Brian (guitar and keyboards), screaming that buried the first chords of the song. And on that freezing Saturday night, that kind of reaction was the rule.
It is clear that the quartet, admittedly a band that has toured a lot (just check the tour dates on www.weezer.com) had an idea of how the reception of the people of Brazil would be.
Weezer's visit to Brazil is done to promote "Make Believe", the group's fifth studio album. Four months after the album's release, the band seems satisfied with the result.
Detail: the Moog that Bell played in Curitiba was loaned from one of the people from Bidê Ou Balde.
Regartding the shows that the band has been doing in recent months, the show at Curitiba Master Hall had some changes in the setlist. Out, for example was "Pardon Me", and enter "This Is Such a Pity". Moreover, cherishing the uniqueness of their visit, Weezer put on a show that went through (almost) every phase of the band's career. The people didn't seem to believe it. Was it real? Maybe the title of the album "make-believe", is what went through the minds of the almost four thousand people present at the first night of the CRF. For Bell, the expression that gives the name to the album is more like an enigma for the fans.
But there are some clues. Such as, sincerity, a characteristic very much associated with Cuomo's verses (something young emo girls love so much)
Was it just another contradiction or oddity that Cuomo is known for? The singer, songwriter and guitarist who has already influenced more than a generation of rockers and indies has the reputation of being a madman. Bell begins to define his relationship with Cuomo, a little hesitantly.
Due to Rivers and his brash lyrics about youthful passions and social inadequacy, plus his public image, Weezer carries the stain - maybe uncomfortable - of being called the kings of "nerd rock". Does this make sense?
Blessing or no blessing, it's true that Weezer has a special place in history. No band that emerged from the vacuum of post-grunge has made such a peculiar bridge between alternative rock and the mainstream. The catchy and unforgettable melodies, tentacular guitars and lyrics full of "confessions" (personal or not) didn't simply conquer millions of fans, in fact, they formed a legion of adorers, to the point that the group could be recognized as one of the most influential in alternative rock in the last 10 years. Our compatriots from Los Hermanos, Leela and the aforementioned Bidê ou Balde (who recored a portuguese version of Buddy Holly) can attest to that.
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