Videos: Weezer’s hootenanny, Coldplay’s supposed rip-off

Published 3:35 pm Friday, June 20, 2008

We’ve got everything from an inside look at Weezer’s exclusive tour to craziness with Conan O’Brien and My Morning Jacket. So let’s get to it:

Weezer – “Say It Ain’t So” – Live

Literally, a hootenanny is a gathering where folksingers entertain, often with the audience joining in. So for an exclusive promo tour, Weezer has asked fans to bring their own instruments and play along at some mini-concerts. Here we see one such hootenanny stop, as Weezer and a hundred or more fans play a classic off the Blue album. Incidentally, if somehow you get into the Seattle gig, which happens Saturday, let me know.

Coldplay/Creaky Boards – “Viva la Vida”/”The Songs I Didn’t Write” – Video, sort of

In case you missed this tempest in a teapot, Creaky Boards, a Brooklyn indie rock band, accused Coldplay of ripping them off. Basically, Creaky Boards say Chris Martin saw it play a show in New York, and stole the melody for Coldplay’s iPod-tastic hit, “Viva la Vida.” (For more info, see below.) According to several reports, Coldplay denied the allegation, saying its song was written and demoed in March 2007, before the Creaky Boards show. Also: Coldplay’s camp say Martin was in London the day of the show in question. What do you think? Me, I say the songs sound alike in parts, but don’t mirror one another.

My Morning Jacket – Skit and a song – Live on Conan

Conan O’Brien, always good at making with the funny, pulled a random audience member out of his crowd, giving this No. 1 fan a chance to meet My Morning Jacket. Hilarity ensued.

Oh, and the group also played a song. Good work guys: