Beyond and Back: Rivers Cuomo Wears Patagonia
Rivers Cuomo - Blast Off!
I said in my initial entry that I would occasionally talk about or mention product. This is only because I am very passionate about technical product. I love it when a piece of gear works exactly how it was intended when used in the conditions it was designed for. For instance: when I’m making an anchor on the last pitch of the day and the sun drops below the horizon, a stiff breeze whips up the face and I unclip my Houdini jacket from my harness, unravel it from its perfectly compact ball and throw it on. All cozy and warm with a big smile on my face I sit on the ledge and belay my partner up to me. Or out on the town during a cold winter night in San Francisco I’m wearing my Das Parka and my friends are making fun of me saying, “Look at the Michelin Man … what a kook!” Then it’s three in the morning and we’re wasted, we don’t have a ride, we can’t get a taxi, and we’re lost in Golden Gate Park. I just lay down in the wet grass all cozy and warm, a big smile on my face. “Who’s the kook now,” I say as I curl up in my Das Parka. These are the precious moments you remember and they are the reasons why you buy quality products you can trust.
Recently, I stumbled upon a video that conveys perfectly what I am talking about. Rivers Cuomo, the lead singer/songwriter of the band Weezer, is shown surviving the most adverse conditions in Japan. Because of the rough circumstances and shaky, real-time video it’s difficult to discern exactly what he is wearing. But it looks as if he has applied an elaborate Patagonia layering system. As a mid layer I am guessing he is wearing an R1 fleece. And when the shit hits the fan he is wearing a hooded Micro Puff jacket. It’s so rare to be able to view the documentation of such unbelievable efforts as Rivers pulls off the impossible. I knew he was somewhat of an outdoor enthusiast but this blew my mind. Hats off to you Rivers Cuomo! Way to carry the torch! And you gotta love Weezer.
[Ed’s note: For more Beyond and Back, take a gander at Jeff’s previous posts: SAVAGE, Your Backyard, Camp 4 and Stuff, Beyond and Back, Emilie Lee. For more from Rivers Cuomo, meander over to his YouTube channel, Rivers Cuomo. It’s not too late to help him write a sawng. ]
