Reviewed by:
unregistered, on march 05, 2005 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: In terms of typical Green Day energy and performance the sound was as good as ever. Technologically I remember the sound failed for a few seconds during a couple of the early songs, these were soon fixed however and things were smooth from there onwards. Dirnt on bass was majestic somehow managing to make what some people would unjustifiably catagorise a "dull background instrument." It's the sound of Dirnt's bass guitar that gaves green day their goofy, bratty distinctive pop punk sound, a sound that sets them apart from everyone else. At one stage during the performance Billie Joe proclaimed that Dirnt was the "best bass player in punk rock" I would be inclined to agree!
Tre Cool on drums was efficient and exceptionally professional, you get the distinct impression he was born with a drum stick in his hand. At the end of every song he wud toss his sticks in the air much to the delight of fans. Billie Joe on guitar was as god like as ever (I know its a punk show and the use of god is "illegal" but hey if they can be pseudo punk sellouts then I can say god right?) coming out on stage and striking up the opening cords to American Idiot made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end! only armstrong can do that.
Jason White from Pinhead Gunpowder is becoming a much bigger part of the Green Day family now, with the Warning and American Idiot albums instigating new extra guitar sounds his presence as the second guitar player adds extra sound and energy to the performance, however it makes the concert seem like a rock show rather than a punk rock shows with the absence of the three cord raw punk sound absent for much of the performance.
One thing I have noticed about Green Day concerts in recent years is that Billie Joe is now happy to drop his guitar more often to sing and leave the guitar duties to white. He did this for are we the waiting, jaded, and a few other songs I think. Other instruments instigated in the performace were the harmonica for "Minority," trumpets for "King For A Day" and keyboard for some of the American Idiot songs, all adding extra character to the show. In terms of overall sound it was good but I have heard louder from Green Day, perhaps it's because I was standing further back than usual, or I'm getting a trifle deaf which my girlfriend keeps telling me, women! // 8
Perfomance: Being a Green Day fanatic for many years its hard for me to be critical, I love every Green Day show, however I feel that the "American Idiot Tour" is aimed more at new fans and trying to impress them, rather than their older fans who they have already won over. The new stuff being so good knocked old classics off the playlist. The only song played from the lookout years was Knowledge an Op Ivy cover. Classics such as "Going To Pascalaqua," "Disapperaing Boy," "At The Library," "Paper Lanterns," "Only Of You," "One For The Razor Backs," "Who Wrote Holden Caufield," to name but few were consigned to the sidelines for now at least. I think green day are growing in a new U2 in many respects.
They have such a vast catelogue of excellent songs that they just can't play them all! Warning, Macys Day Parade, Church On Sunday, Castaway, Platypus, Take Back, Reject, Scattered Pictures, The Panic Song, Westbound Sign, 86, Geek Stink Breath, Fod, Chump, Jar to name but few were all unheard of on this tour! Pity! Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining, but perhaps Green Day could do a Pearl Jam and vary their set every nite, cos they have the songs to do it! Not that Billie Joe will listen to me, its like he said "whats the difference between me and you?, I do what I want and you do what your told!" and Green Day do just want they want on this tour, and so they should. And they do it bloody well may I add.
Besides they are promo their new album so of course the old stuff has to be sidelined for a while! Sorry I got sidetracked there the set if I can remember, American Idiot, Jesus Of Suburbia, Holiday, Are We The Waiting, St Jimmy, Long View, Hitchin A Ride, Brainstew/Jaded, Knowledge, Basket Case, Wake Me Up When September Ends, Shout (cover), Boulevard Of Broken Dreams, We Are The Champions (cover), Good Riddance, what am I forgetting? Oh yeah, Minority, King For A Day, think thats it. All songs were played with the typical high octane energy and gusto associated with a green day show.
During American idiot interlude Armstrong wound up the crowd by screamin "I want you to sing this next part so loud that every f--kin redneck in America can hear you" the crowd didn't let him down as they responded "it's goin out to idiot America!" Other special features included the usual band from the crowd thing always a pleaser! And usual Green Day stage antics such as water gun on the crowd. The thing I love most about g day shows is that they play Blitzreg Bop just before they come out on stage, when that song comes on the Loudspeaker you know they are coming out after that song. Sure nuff they lights died, the crowd screamed uncontrollably and the band took the stage to background of "2001 A Space Odyssey." There was also a confetti shower near the end of the gig, brilliant. Green Day love to please their audience, there is certainly no Axl Rose "screw everone" attitude with them. // 10
Impression: Dublin, growing vibrant cosmopolitan european city. Point Thetare great arena. Almost 9000 people, the large audotorium is dark and gothic, full of character with seated individuals surrounding the standing floor area in high balconies, nice setting I love the point theatre. Opener was "New Found Glory" they were ok for a few songs, but grew a little monotenous, they have that typical poppy sound that many bands are manufactured on right now, they are like a poor mans NOFX, but I have heard worse! Tickets were reasonable, about 25 pounds. Most unforgettable moments? It's always gotta be the anticipation for me! That gap between lights out and the band taking the stage, nothing can top that for me! What do I hate about the show? 14 year old kids who are there just to hear Boulevard Of Broken Dreams 'cause it's on the radio, trying not to trample on them is a hard task! Am I going to their next gig? Just got my tickets for oxegen festival this morn. Change the setlist boys lets get some of the old stuff out there too! Think Queens Of The Stone Age are playing that day too so shud be fun! // 10
Reviewed by:
eoiniscool, on february 03, 2005 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: The guys sounded great. Good bass, good vocals, good guitar and good drums. New Found Glory supported and sounded terrible. Green Day saved the day. Forgetting New Found Glory, sound had to be a 5. // 10
Perfomance: It was perfect. They walked on with the "2001: A Space Odysey" theme blaring from the speakers and embraced the crowd. Then they let rip into.
01. American Idiot - amazing. Obviously they had to start with this song, and the crowd jumped and headbanged for every second.
02. Jesus Of Suburbia - without a pause they flew straight into this song. A sure favourite, this was a very intense 9 minutes.
03. Holiday - the breakdown was great; they stopped everything and made everyone yell "Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!" to the beat before finishing the song.
04. Are We The Waitng - first 'lighter song' of the night. The crowd really helped out on this one.
05. St. Jimmy - what can be said? A cool, cool song.
06. Hitchin' A Ride - cool. Everybody was yellin "1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4!" at the top of their voices.
About now they made a band from the crowd. BillieJoe pointed to a bassist and said "Dude have you ever been laid? Well you're gonna get laid tonight! Get up here!" The makeshift band played Knowledge from 1039/Smoothed out Slappy Hours. It was real good.
07. Longview - fantastic. Bass was great, crowd loved it.
08. She - now one of my favourite Green Day tracks. Enough said.
09. Basketcase - couldn't wait for this. It was welcomed by the crowed and it kicked ass.
10. Wake Me Up When September Ends - this song was cool cos he dedicated it to Johnny Ramone. The lighters came out and everyone held each other.
11. Brain Stew - awesome! When the first few chords came on the crowd was wild.
12. Jaded - good craic (in Ireland 'craic' means fun. Not that good but it was fast.
13. King For A Day - Billie Joe ran around with a crown on his head. Now thats funny.
14. Minority - I loved this song already, I love it more now. Good contender for the best song of the night. Everyone had chilled out but when the intro to this started, the place erupted. Jumping, Moshing, Yelling and Singing like there was no tomorrow. Then they left the stage.
15. When I Come Around - to qoute BillieJoe as he reappeared "You know, I think there might be time for one last cigarette." This song was really cool. Way better than the recorded version. Sheer Perfection
16. We Are The Champions - I was delighted when this song started. Full respect to Queen but it was a hell of a lot better than the original.
17. Good Riddance - Tre and Mike ran off the stage and left BillieJoe all alone to sing a classic. The song began, the lighters came out and everybody sang their hearts out.
Mike and Tre came back to finish with a cracker. Man, what a legendary song. Headbanging, singing, everything. At the end confetti flew everywhere and to huge flame came out of the stage. // 10
Impression: Green Day played the Point Depot in Dublin, Ireland on January 31st 2005. New Found Glory opened and sucked really bad. Thank God for Green Day. I loved it all. A giant rabbit came on stage and got drunk before the concert and came back during King For A Day. I hated New Found Glory. The tickets cost 35 Euro and would have been worth it at twice the price. I will never miss a Green Day concert in Ireland. Ever! // 10
Reviewed by:
knifey, on february 02, 2005 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: The sound was perfect, well as perfect as concert sound quality goes. Little trebley but you could hear everything being played. They had the usual, Tre on drums, Mike on bass, Billie Joe on guitar and vocals, the trumpet and trombone player, the piano player and the back-up guitarist and for We Are The Champions they brought on an extra guitarist so there was three for the end of that song. To see them live really is why Green Day are so huge. I went with a few friends Who weren't the biggest Green Day fans but on the way home was refering to it as the best show they'd ever seen. Every single song they played was perfect to the recorded versions. // 10
Perfomance: What can be said about a Green Day performance? They easily put on one of the best shows in the world. They are amazing. Not one person that I could see could just sit there during any part of the show. It's just on of those things you got to see to understand. Just the amount of energy exploding from the band and back of the crowd. I cant remember exactly what there playlist was:
01. American Idiot - was perfect to the recording as usual. Was a massive crowd booster aswell.
02. Jesus Of Suburbia - was excellent not a singl flawed note the whole way through.
03. Holiday - he dedicated this to george bush and everyone booed it was so good.
04. Are We The Waiting - was perfect for calming the crowd down. Every one had there lighters out and singing back to them. Nice and slow untill they exploded into.
05. St. Jimmy - again everyone was jumping, head banging and going fairely nuts in general. Everyone trying to keep up with the lyrics.
Can't really remember what order the songs in the middle went in but they played Basketcase, She, When I Come Around, Longview, Hitchin A Ride, Brainstew and Jaded, Knowledge, We Are The Champions, Blvd Of Broken Dreaams second last and after Tre smashed up his drums, they left Billi Joe to do Good Riddance. It was so awesmoe because just as he was finishing the song two huge cannons started blowing red, white and green pieces of confetti everywhere. Covering everyone.
During Knowledge they did the usual getting three people up to lay the intruments. They got a girl up for the guitar but she couldn't play it so they had to get someone else and they ended up getting a guy Who's in a band I know and he got to keep the gutar and two of Tre's sticks. And before that Billie Joe pulled up a random kid to help HIM spray the crowd with super soakers. It was just a brilliant show all round. // 10
Impression: It was in Dublin, Ireland. In the point theatre on 31st of January 2005. The openers were New Found Glory Who were actually better than I expected them to be. They were pretty good at getting the crowd worked up. The tickets where only 36.50 Euro which was deffinately worth it! The only thing I didnt enjoy was waiting for 6 hours outside before hand and still not getting in the pit but I did get up to the barrier so I was happy 'cause I was afraid ild get stuck behind some tree and not be able to see anything so I was happy. I recomend anyone Who can to go to see Green Day live. It's the best part about them. I think it was Billie Joe Who once said that they only release there albums to support their live shows. // 10
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