It started as a suggestion in a tweet from a 14-year-old fan in Ohio. Perhaps it was a joke, or maybe she was serious, but she politely asked Weezer to cover the song “Africa” by Toto. Weezer drummer Patrick Wilson responded to that tweet, and shortly afterward, a video emerged of the band granting her wish and playing the beloved 1982 hit. Before long, that video ignited the social media fronts and went viral, where it now stands at over 9.5 million views on YouTube, while the track reached #1 on the Billboard Alternative chart. A new wave of millennial fans on college campuses and in high school hallways fell in love with that tune, thanks to its resurrection by one of the most popular alternative-rock bands of the past three decades. So, being the intrepid musicians that they are, Weezer decided to put out a whole album of covers from the ’80s and ’90s, and thus sparked the band’s Teal Album. For Scott Shriner, this was nothing new — he grew up playing in cover bands his whole life and earned his chops from riffing along with John Entwistle, Chris Squire, and John Paul Jones. Shriner stepped up to the challenge and kicked out bass-heavy versions of “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath, and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears For Fears. But for the prolific Weezer, one album in 2019 wasn’t enough, so the band went back into the studio and released a full LP of originals only three months later, which they dubbed the Black Album. The record departs from the sounds of 2017’s Pacific Daydream with bigger, more pronounced tones, and even a heavy hand of synth bass provided by Shriner, along with some seriously fun 4-string lines in the songs “Living in L.A.,” “Too Many Thoughts in My Head,” and “The Prince Who Wanted Everything.” Spending hours on end kicking out bass ideas with producer Dave Sitek, Shriner made sure that every line on the album hit its mark, and the result is a mixed bag of styles that display his unique approach. To fuel that approach, Scott used a wide selection from his impressive collection of basses and amps that he’s been hunting down through his 18 years of being in Weezer and beyond. And when we say impressive, we mean it — we could write a whole feature on his vintage gear alone. Shriner was selective in his tone choices, for both albums even using multiple basses and amp configurations within individual songs. For a relentless tone junkie who has a competitive side in raising his own bar, this meticulous process paid off in the end. If you don’t believe us, catch Weezer on their current tour, where they’re kicking out classic hits, covers, and new tunes from their massive 300-song show catalog. And in case it’s not obvious, Scott will be the one clad in a slick outfit, belting harmonies and playing one of his gorgeous vintage basses in front of a towering stack of classic cabinets. What sparked Weezer’s jolt of productivity