Finally, after a long and tiresome wait, one of, if not the greatest rock bands in the world, Green Day, the boys from Oakland, California were finally back in Melbourne for the “21st Century Breakdown” album world tour. With many diehard punters camping overnight for a front row floor spot, the anticipation for Green Day’s first Melbourne appearance in over four years was clearly immense. And rightly so, nothing was going to be held back. And I really do mean nothing

As the gates opened, the early bird crowd flowed in thick and fast to catch the support act, and buy overly priced merchandise. Melbourne’s very own international success story Jet opened the night to a slowly growing crowd. Judging from my eavesdropping while waiting in line, some attendees were a bit surprised that Jet were added as Green Day’s support slot, but the overall audience reaction was a very positive one. Jet opened their set with Nic Cester walking onto the arena stage, taking to the mic and declaring – œWe are Jet, let’s rip it up!’ instantly jumping into Rip It Up.

Thankfully, rather than play obscure songs from their catalogue, Jet had arranged a setlist full of their most popular hits. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is continued the night, which was followed by She’s a Genius the first single from recent album, Shaka Rock. By this point, those who were Jet fans were absolutely loving the atmosphere, and those who weren’t could not help but get into the mood. The highlight of Jet’s set came in Are You Gonna Be My Girl? At this point, they had well and truly settled in on stage for the night. Slowing things down, the mood calmed during Look What You’ve Done. The arena was deadly quiet, so Nic proclaimed – œIt’s so quiet here, you’d think we were at the tennis, sing along if you know the words.’

Get Me Outta Here and new single Black Hearts (On Fire) lead the conclusion of Jet’s surprisingly enjoyable set. They closed the support proceedings with Nic Cester taking to the front of the catwalk, thanking Melbourne for coming down early, as guitar riffs played melodically in the background before screeching the opening cry of the final song, Cold Hard Bitch. You’ve got to give it to Jet, they provided a very enjoyable set and proved they clearly have what it takes to warm the crowd up for one of the biggest bands in the world.

A thirty minute series of songs played over the speaker system, and the audience was treated to the stage antics of an alcoholic pink bunny rabbit. Sculling down two beers and dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, it was hilarious pre-show entertainment. But when Rock & Roll Radio began blasting over the speakers, hands clapped in rhythm, and the moment we had all been waiting over four years had finally arrived.

The lights dropped, and a pre-recorded Song of the Century began, and with this, Green Day burst onto Rod Laver Arena’s stage, running amok, announcing themselves to the crowd. It was such an unbelievable sight, one of many to come for the night. Vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong grabbed the microphone, screaming out, fist raised; – œMelbouuuuurrrrne! Make some fucking noise!’ before opening the night with 21st Century Breakdown.

Green Day are not a band to shy away from crowd participation. Early in the show during Know Your Enemy, a lucky audience member was handpicked by Billie Joe Armstrong to sing with him at the end of the stage catwalk, before being chanted into a stage dive. East Jesus Nowhere saw Billie Joe yet again bringing a lucky audience member on stage. A ten year old boy was chosen from the seated area to be – œsaved’. – œHave you ever had sex?’ Billie Joe asked him jokingly, the boy shook his head and Billie Joe laughed, before saving him during the crescendo of the song, fireworks exploding at the back of the stage set, the boy – œfalling’ to the floor, saved by Green Day. The song concludes, and Billie Joe remarks, – œOk get off my stage before you start smoking marijuana or some shit.’

Barely a second later, and Billie Joe shouts out; – œHoliday!’ with its wicked guitar riff beginning the track, and the insanely brilliant Tré Cool backing the song with his light speed drumming. Midway through the song, Billie Joe shouts – œLIGHTS OUT!’ and with a giant flashlight in hand, he scans the arena, declaring – œWe cannot give out the Nobel Peace prize to a man who hasn’t eared it yet,’ followed by chant of – œAussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi.’ Singing the line – œThe representative Australia now has the floor,’ Billie Joe continued the song from the catwalk, as fireworks and crackers exploded in the set piece behind Tré Cool.

Next up, was another song from 21st Century Breakdown, – The Static Age. Heralding back to the days of 2004’s American Idiot, Give Me Novocaine was performed with hand’s swaying, phones and lighters held up for a candlelight vigil effect. Next up, the audience was treated to the combined brilliance of Are We The Waiting and St. Jimmy, complete with pyrotechnics, and the faces of the crowd members being displayed on the large cinema size screen behind the band.

After the lyric, – œIt’s St. Jimmy…’ a long hiatus was held that saw Billie Joe stand dead still, jerking like a marionette puppet every now and then to point at the crowd before concluding with the line, – œAnd don’t you fucking wear it out!’ set explosions abounding.

Continuing the trend of American Idiot, an early set surprise saw Billie Joe walking across the stage proclaiming; – œAh I don’t know where I’m going, I don’t know where I’ve been. I know where I am at right now though, I’m in Melbourne, Australia right now!’ before breaking into a performance of Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

Another surprising inclusion to the set saw Billie Joe Armstrong and Tré Cool swapping instruments for a special performance of Dominated Love Slave. It was wacky, it was in your face, it was Green Day. As the song concluded, Billie Joe remarked that it was slightly creepier than a John Mayer concert.

For the old school Green Day fans, the inclusion of fan favourites Hitchin’ a Ride and Welcome to Paradise had the mosh pit thrashing. Crowd surfers were being pulled from the pit, as everybody pushed forward to get closer to Billie Joe. The catwalk looked like an incredibly rough area to be, especially When I Come Around began.

Only halfway through the 160 minute performance, Green Day began a series of mini intro covers, rather than play full songs. Combining each intro into a small melody, Black Sabbath’s Iron Man lead the charge, followed by Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven, a brilliant opening rendition of Metallica’s Master of Puppets and finally concluding with AC/DC’s Highway to Hell.

Billie Joe even took the time to grab a t-shirt gun and fire ten to so shirts into the audience, only managing to hit the scaffolding once. Like I said, nothing was held back, but more on that later.

Once again reaching into the back catalogue, another fan favourite in the form of Brain Stew was blasted, and things looked to get incredibly heated down on the floor, even Jaded got a play and the crowd sung along to every word, with Billie Joe keeping quiet every now and then to listen to the audience. But during Longview, the chance to be on stage with their idols was once again given to the crowd. Billie Joe handpicked the singers, but not after asking, – œDo you know the words? Do you swear to God? OK get your ass up here!’ he said, pulling a girl up to sing. She performed well, but Billie Joe decided to try one better, pulling a guy up who had more than a bit of stage fright, understandably so. With a bit of encouragement from Billie Joe, he was on his way and belting through the final chorus of Longview with much confidence.

What made the set so fantastic was that Green Day was clearly playing this concert for all the old school fans, trying to include as many classic songs as possible, such as Basket Case and She from Dookie. Water pistols, followed by a toilet paper gun sprayed, drenched and probably paper machéd those in the front row.

As these songs died down, the arena darkened. As the lights came up, the band had dressed up in crazy costumes, Tré complete with a red bra and sun hat (being referred to by Billie Joe as Katy Perry) Mike with his big rimmed glasses and cat ears, and of course Billie Joe, feather scarf, and police hat. It could only mean one thing, grabbing the mic, Billie Joe shouts, – œKING! FOR! A! DAY!’ and the insane antics begin, complete with deliberate flashes of Billie Joe’s butt. The lighting blared a different colour each second, and much like earlier in the night, becomes a melody. As King For A Day ends, each band member drops to the ground, as Billie begins to once again cover different songs, beginning Johnny O’Keefe’s Shout! Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones, Ben E. King’s Stand By Me and a wonderful rendition of Hey Jude with Jet attempting to sabotage the song by bringing a group of male strippers on stage.

As Green Day’s main set began to drew to a close, the lights dimmed and 21 Guns began, the mood incredibly sombre. Phones, lighters and hands waved from left to right, as the backing screen showed guns firing, and the finale saw sparks of – œfire’ rain from the roof. At long last, we were treated to a ten minute long Minority, which included everything from band introductions, to a snowstorm of shredded blue and white Green Day confetti which filled the floor area, and ending the set with an explosion of fireworks.

Some would say that the best was saved until last, the first encore comprised of American Idiot where red, white and blue lights filled the stage. Unlike the second Melbourne show, Monday night’s crowd were lucky to get the epic masterpiece that is Jesus of Suburbia. At over nine minutes long when performed live, the song pretty much summed up such a brilliant night. Epic guitar solos, and Tré Cool demolishing his drum set, Mike throwing guitar picks left, right and centre into the crowd, fireworks, pyrotechnics – what was not to love? As the first encore came to an end, Green Day departed the stage for a short time, before Billie Joe returned acoustic guitar in hand.

For the final three songs of the night, Billie Joe played a final song from 21st Century Breakdown in the form of Last Night On Earth. The obligatory performance of Wake Me Up When September Ends, brought the house to applause, every word sung along like a choir. Truly a highlight of the show. But it turned to a hollow realisation that the night must draw to a close when Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) began to play. Tré Cool and Mike Dirnt visited the front of the stage and handed out guitar picks and drumsticks to those lucky enough to be at the front of the mosh pit, a fantastic memento of a great rock show. Here’s hoping that the rumours of a return to Australia next September are true, because I know I had the time of my life.

CHECK OUT OUT THE ACTION FROM THE SHOW HERE

Setlist
Song of the Century (Pre-recorded)
21st Century Breakdown
Know Your Enemy
East Jesus Nowhere
Holiday
The Static Age
Give Me Novocaine
Are We The Waiting?
St. Jimmy
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Dominated Love Slave (Sung by Tré Cool)
Hitchin’ A Ride
Welcome To Paradise
When I Come Around
Melody: Iron Man/Stairway to Heaven/Master of Puppets/Highway to Hell
Brain Stew
Jaded
Longview
Basket Case
She
King For A Day/Shout/Satisfaction/Stand by Me/Hey Jude
21 Guns
Minority

1st Encore
American Idiot
Jesus of Suburbia

2nd Encore
Last Night On Earth
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Good Riddance (Time of your Life)