That it's been ten years since Weezer last graced Manchester is a fact not lost on tonight's crowd; the anticipation that bristles through the venue as the house lights dim is palpable. That this is only one of two shows the band are playing in the UK is a further fact not lost, with people coming from afar afield as Hamburg to see them, something which not just adds to tonight's expectations, but is also a testament to the devotion Weezer fans harbour.

Understandably, tonight's set is back-boned by material from their most recent record, and though both 'Do You Wanna Get High?' and 'King of the World' are met with a response that would lead one to assume they're staples of the Weezer setlist, other tracks taken from it fall flat in comparison. Arguably this can be attributed to the fact the record was released only two days prior, and as such remains largely unfamiliar.

Fortunately, the same can't be said for the more established tracks. An early pairing of 'My Name is Jonas' and 'Hash Pipe' tease the crowd with the classic material many have come to hear live for the first time, whilst 'Back to the Shack' reminds us just how far Weezer have come since their neurotic 1990s.

While it certainly seems that it's the band's more recent forays in to power-pop that feature predominantly tonight, The Blue Album is represented fairly thoroughly too. 'Say It Aint So' sees a discordant crowd yelling the eponymous line, whilst the set proper is closed out with a rousing rendition of 'Come Undone'.

Taking barely twenty seconds to reappear for an encore, the band launch straight in to 'Beverly Hills' – their most commercially successful track to date and arguably the one which earned them a new generation of fans. It's 'Buddy Holly' with which the band close the night however, a track that both older fans (of which there's an abundance tonight) and the newer set can appreciate equally.

Having been around for over 20 years, it's obvious that Weezer, at least as far as their live shows go, are at the very top of their game and show no sign of slipping. And while the almost record-like quality of some tracks feel a little too polished for live iterations, there's no denying that they're also one of the strongest live bands around.

The Hot Five – My favourite new tracks of the week, usually rounded off with a classic, obscure or alternate track from my music collection.

Track of the week: VOLCANOES – ‘Up In Smoke’

VOLCANOES’ brand of indie folk is both refreshing and authentic, qualities that are summed up in their latest single, ‘Up In Smoke’. With two lead vocal lines whose harmonies naturally compliment each other, the track is a stimulating listen complete with chiming guitars and elegant bowed cello. Fans of Fleet Foxes need to take a listen to this, there’s plenty of vocal harmony and a combination of electric and acoustic guitar parts that work together only too well; all in all, a great track here.

Benjamin Booker – ‘Have You Seen My Son?’

New Orleans’ Benjamin Booker was recently hand picked to support Jack White in a series of shows, and it’s clear to see why. The energetic garage sound of this track is made more interesting by the evident blues influences in Booker’s songwriting. ‘Have You Seen My Son?’ is the second single from Benjamin Booker’s self-titled debut album, which will be released on August 18 via Rough Trade.

The Weeknd – ‘King of the Fall’

After a small break, The Weeknd has announced his musical return with two free download tracks. Recent release ‘Often’ has been followed by ‘King Of The Fall’, a darkly heavy piece of R'n'B with fantastic production and vocal hooks. ‘King of the Fall’ shares it’s name with The Weeknd’s latest US tour, which starts in September and will feature Jhene Aiko and Schoolboy-Q. This might not be the type of song I’d normally go for, but the vocal work of The Weeknd is definitely something to appreciate in amongst the track’s clever arrangement.

Weezer – ‘Back To The Shack’

When I think of Weezer, I think of early noughties tracks like ‘Beverly Hills’, or ‘Island In The Sun’, so it was a pleasant surprise to be impressed by the band’s comeback single ‘Back To The Shack’. Chosen as the lead single from new album Everything Will Be Alright In The End, ‘Back To The Shack’ is a classic bit of American rock music that encompasses the traditional crunching guitar and “nerdy swagger” that Weezer are known for. The track was premiered on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show on Monday, and Everything Will Be Alright In The End will be released on September 30.

Hidden track of the week: Queen – ‘Brighton Rock’

It’s been a bit of an eclectic mix this week, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with putting something completely different in this spot either. Having purchased Sheer Heart Attack on vinyl last weekend, an album regarded by many as the best album that Queen released, ‘Brighton Rock’ really was an obvious choice for hidden track. It’s a classic song, and there really is nothing quite like hearing Freddie Mercury sing “It’s so good to know there’s still a little magic in the air”.

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