Green Day, Simple Plan @ RodLaver Arena, 10/03/05

Sun 13th Mar, 2005 in Gig Reviews

It’s been five years since Green Day last hit our shores. That was a fun yet simple affair: the band at Festival Hall playing all of the crowd favorites and a small assortment of their then current release Warning.
 
A lot of things happened since those five years: Warning was a commercial failure and the band went through a reflective phase that resulted in the release of a Best Of and B-sides compilations. Other than that Green Day maintained a very low profile only to unleash the monster that is known as American Idiot. Described and even marketed as a Punk Rock Opera, American Idiot shot through the charts like a heat seeking missile and till now commands a place high on the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Reason for that is the sheer urgency and passion that this Berkley trio injected into their latest tunes. Not even the most faithful of fans expected an album filled with intelligent lyrics, killer hooks and a fire in the belly that has not been witnessed since the Dookie days. Alas, when Green Day returned to Melbourne there was a sense of gratitude in the air: gratitude by the fans to the band for releasing such a wonderful album and gratitude by the band to all the fans who patiently stuck with them through out the years.

Joining Green Day in their victory lap of Australia was Simple Plan who in spite of my indifference to their saccharine, cliché-strewn brand of punk managed to do what a supporting band should, get the crowd ready for the main feast. The Canadians played a solid set that naturally ended with their biggest hit, the whine-fest that is Perfect. Simple Plan left the stage with a promise that to return in September.

But the night was all about Green Day and didn’t the band know it! Billie Joe, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool hit the stage with all the fan fair and production that a number one selling album brings. There was blinding lights, televisions screens, a disco ball and more fire works than a Metallica concert. With out exchanging pleasantries the band said hello to the crowd by immediately launching into the first three tracks of the album: American Idiot, Jesus of Suburbia and Holiday. The sound was huge and with the addition of an extra guitarist, vocalist and organist the band was able to recapture the richness of their latest recording. Are We The Waiting was next and to the shrieking approval of the audience Billie Joe wrapped himself around an Australian flag in a Bono-esque fashion while he successfully urged the crowd to sing along. The blistering St. Jimmy immediately followed showcasing Tre Cool’s powerful yet demented drumming style. Then the hits started arriving, the stadium erupted upon hearing Mike Dirnt’s classic bass line to Long View. For a band that has been together for fifteen years and toured the world numerous times, Green Day possess that rare ability to play their old material with as much zest as their latest offerings. Hitching A Ride, Numb, Jaded, She and countless other hits were all played with as much enthusiasm as when they were first released and the crowd loved every minute of it.

With the exception of the fire works, there are certain staples to a Green Day show. One of which is to invite three members of the crowd to get on stage and start their very own punk band. The three youngsters who took the stage were impressive and one lucky punk got to keep Billie’s guitar! The band then returned to their latest release by dedicating the most poignant track of the album Wake Me Up When September Ends to the late, great Johnny Ramone. The band finished their 90-minute set with Minority and stalked off stage only to quickly return and play their latest hit Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Upon first listen that song was always destined to be a Green Day classic and the crowd raised their mobile phone while they sang along to the soaring chorus. The band completed their performance with When I Come Around and Billie Joe was left to finish the affair with the life affirming Time of Your Life in solo electric mode.There is something so heartening about Green Day’s success. The music world can be so cruel sometimes in rewarding mediocre talent while overlooking other more deserving bands. Green Day’s success is the exception to the rule and as with their latest album they can now also add their live show to the list of ones to beat this year.