Rivers Cuomo

The Weezer frontman on rock at the Grammys, covering Toto’s ‘Africa,’ learning to code, and that ‘SNL’ sketch.

- Simon Vozick-levinson

Weezer’s career has seen more than a few surprise twists over the years, but the pop­cultural renaissance they’ve enjoyed lately — a chart­topping cover of Toto’s “Africa,” a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album for 2017’s Pacific Daydream, December’s bizarrely hilarious Saturday Night Live sketch about Weezer superfans — is unprecedented even for them. “For whatever reason, the last few months have brought a lot of really good luck,” says Rivers Cuomo, 48. “It’s like, ‘Wow, what’s going on?’” The frontman called from his L.A. home studio to talk about the band’s remarkable hot streak, plus its upcoming Black Album, due out in March.

That Weezer sketch was SNL’s most talked-about moment in months. What did you make of it?

They really nailed it, right? I still can’t believe it. It can’t be that big of an audience that would appreciate such a specific little niche as the Weezer fandom.

At one point in the scene, Leslie Jones says, “Weezer died when [original bassist] Matt Sharp left.” Then Matt Damon retorts, “Weezer didn’t start until [current bassist] Scott Shriner got there.” Care to comment?

[Laughs] It’s so deep, man! Who even knows what they’re talking about? I’m totally honored, but I hope people weren’t changing the channel.

The sketch did capture something about the intense loyalty that some fans have to specific parts of your band’s history. Why do you think that is?