Oakland Gig Reviewed by Rolling Stone

Posted by Julian in Shows on 04 16th, 2009 | no responses

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David Frickle from Rolling Stone magazine reviewed Green Day’s latest full-blown concert last night in Oakland CA. Basically, the show rocked, even though the first 70 minutes were all new material from 21st Century Breakdown and no one knew the songs or lyrics, the songs were punchy and filled with hooks. The 2nd half felt like a mini-American Idiot tour concert, but they did play Jesus of Suburbia and Homecoming (their longest songs in American Idiot, over 8 minutes long).

The band’s two club shows last week were, by all reports, raw, thrilling test runs of the material under combat conditions. The Fox gig — with theatrical lighting and arena-pow sound — brought out the 3D dynamics in the songs and gave singer-guitarist-songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong a stage big enough for him to indulge his inner Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey combined.

At this point I really can’t wait for their album to come out and assisting to as many concerts as I can. I went to one in Bakersfield (about a 1.5 hour drive from L.A. where I live) for their pre-tour, then to the Home Depot Center in LA for their full blown concert. Love it everytime. If anything, Billie Joe has a great stage presence and is a hell of an entertainer. Can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait.