Chase Field threw open its gates for an offseason extravaganza with the inaugural November Nights. The diverse lineup featured Rebelution (for the vibes), Third Eye Blind (for the rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia), Weezer (for the best show you could ask for) and more. Fans filled the emptied baseball diamond for a full day of music and camaraderie- and a brand new event that will hopefully reappear next year.
Atlas’ day began with Rebelution, the kings of reggae and having a good time. The band frequently stops in Arizona on their tours and is always welcomed with open arms. Each act had enough time for their own headlining sets, so Rebelution ran through nearly 20 songs, including fan favorites like “Green to Black” and “Feeling Alright”. Fans spent over an hour swaying and enjoying the laidback energy of a band that always brings a huge splash of sunshine and positivity.
Third Eye Blind served a healthy dose of 90’s nostalgia and their timeless sound drew latecomers out of their seats and rocking out to “Never Let You Go” and “Graduate”. The stage was flooded with intense,colorful spotlights that mesmerized the audience. No set would be complete without “Jumper” and “Semi-Charmed Life”- a reminder of music that has never left our cultural zeitgeist and lives on in permanence with every passing year.
Closing out the first year of this amazing event was the almighty Weezer, who boarded their space shuttle to take the crowd away to their blue planet. As Rivers Cuomo planted the Weezer flag on the surface of a new world, the audience roared their approval at the success of the mission and celebrated with a stadium-wide sing-a-long to “Buddy Holly”.
Before we reached the Blue Planet, we took a journey to an “Island in the Sun” with a detour through the Pinkerton Asteroid Belt. Weezer initially emerged in flight suits and quick-changed into Star Trek-esque outfits as they got closer to their destination and the back half of the set.
The audience was showered in blue and silver confetti upon “landing” and sang loudly to classics like “Undone (The Sweater Song)” and “Surf Wax America”. It’s impossible to have a bad time at a Weezer show as they find new ways with every tour to keep the audience laughing and always singing along.
After a long day under Chase Field’s roof, Weezer took us back to earth with “Say It Ain’t So” and “Only In Dreams” before one final bow and a mass exodus from an incredible first year event. With its obvious success, we hope to see November Nights light up downtown Phoenix for years to come.
