KROQ to Host Final Weenie Roast at Irvine Meadows

Matt Matasci

The 2016 reprisal of the KROQ Weenie Roast returns to the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, which has been home to 23 previous installations of the day-long music extravaganza. With the exception of a single year, the Weenie Roast has been held at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre for its entire existence. Unfortunately, 2016 marks the final chance for modern rock fans to witness the Weenie Roast at the classic Orange County venue; its land lease will expire in 2017 and KROQ will have to find a new home for their alternative rock event.

Hosted by the region’s most iconic modern rock radio station, the Weenie Roast got its start in 1993. That year featured a lineup with highlights like Stone Temple Pilots, Rocket From the Crypt and The Lemonheads. While that is a strong roster, it pales in comparison to subsequent years as the cache of the event grew along with its host radio station. The 2016 concert boasts Los Angeles’ own Red Hot Chili Peppers and Weezer as well as Australian electro-pop duo Empire of the Sun. The rest of the lineup is peppered with several big names like Miike Snow, The Lumineers, Garbage, Cold War Kids, Fitz & The Tantrums and Panic! At The Disco.

Weezer recently delivered their fourth self-titled LP. Like the “Red Album,” “Green Album” and “Blue Album” before it, this release is being referred to as the “White Album.” It is a solid block of chunky guitar riffs and Rivers Cuomo’s unforgettable pop melodies, a strong follow-up to “Everything Will Be Alright in the End.” Red Hot Chili Peppers dropped a new song called “Dark Necessities” on May 5, so keep an ear out for that and other new songs from the band to make a debut during their headlining set. Empire of the Sun adds a different wrinkle to the registry with their electronic-based synth-pop sticking out of the rock-heavy Weenie Roast lineup.

Garbage is gearing up for the release of their sixth studio album, “Strange Little Birds,” and will feature their long-running roster of Shirley Manson, Duke Erikson, Steve Marker and Butch Vig. It may be nearly 10 years since Cold War Kids made their mark on contemporary rock radio with their hit “Hang Me Out To Dry” but the band has been hard at work unleashing four more albums between 2008 and 2014. Meanwhile, The Lumineers just released their sophomore record “Cleopatra,” which saw the band mature the sound that scored them a big hit with “Ho Hey.”

Catch the final KROQ Weenie Roast at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on May 14. Tickets are sold out but a limited number can be found here.