Green Day provides good time and more
TD Garden, Boston, July 20, 2009
Reviewed by Jeffrey B. Remz
Green Day is a band with a message about control, religion and life in the modern world. But they sure know how to ease the tension that could create in concert with a fun, entertaining, definitely crowd pleasing and involving, and sonically on target show packed with worthy songs.
Lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong is quite the strong front man. He may be smallish in stature, but he had no trouble making up for it in the arena. He's a bit over the top and humorous, but all the while into it musically and bonding with the crowd.
Almost at the start, he saw the pit in front of the stage wasn't all that crowded and told people to come down from the stands "slowly slowly" to increase the intimacy, but guarding against unorganized mayhem. "Everybody stand up. This is not TV. This is a fucken rock and roll concert." Yes sir!
That was not the only time the very energetic Armstrong told the crowd what to do, and they quickly listened. Then he told the crowd to wave, they did so from the pit to the furthest row from the stage.
But in a true case of togetherness, Armstrong welcomed three different fans on stage to sing different choruses of Longview. Only one of them sang with some authority but it was the interaction that mattered. In every case, Armstrong received a hug from a friend.
During the encore of Jesus of Suburbia, he asked if anyone knew how to play guitar on the song, admonishing that it was not a straight-ahead three-chord song. Up stepped Travis Stimson, a very very cool, calm and collected 14-year-old guitarist from Swansea, Mass., who did the song a lot of justice (though he did receive some help from Armstrong).
Green Day may revolve around Armstrong, but he was not the only part that mattered. Drummer Tre Cool looked a bit goofy with his spiked blond hair, but he was one great drummer. He set an extremely fast pace throughout, keeping such a steady beat without needing to resort to overkill. Bassist Mike Dirnt, a friend of Armstrong since they were kids, occupied his rhythm role just fine. A touring guitarist, who took most of the leads, another guitarist and a keyboard/sax/accordion player spiced up the material.
The sounded alternated between brash, fast punky songs and slower ballads. Green Day mixed both up so well, avoiding any drag. The song focused on the new CD, the very very fine "21st Century Breakdown" (they played about half of it) and "American Idiot," (six songs) both rock operas. Basket Case, Brain Stew and Welcome to Paradise continued to stand up well.
They are filled with a slew of catchy songs that pack even more punch live ranging from the current single 21 Guns, which ended with sparklers coming down from the ceiling to the fast and furious opening encore song, American Idiot.
About the only off moment was the Shout medley, where they did very very short snippets of songs, including I'll Be There and Stand By Me.. All save Tre Cool were on their backs on the stage, but it wasn't clear what the point of all of this was.
Armstrong took his acoustic guitar in hand for the end, ending on the walkway with Good Riddance (Time of Your Life). Oft played at high school graduations, the song cold easily come off as cliche at this point. But in a way, it was a fitting close to the concert. As Armstrong sang, "So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind/Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time." That Green Day provided and much more.
New York City band The Bravery opened with a good, albeit short 6-song, 30-minute set that grew stronger as the quintet went along. It took a song or two for The Bravery to get it going, and once they did, they scored well.
Give The Bravery credit as well for unveiling two songs slated to appear on their next CD out this fall, Hey Fuck andRed Hands and White Knuckles Both sounded fine.
Long and lanky lead singer Sam Endicott could use a few pointers from Armstrong when it comes to the charisma department. He exuded a bit more of that as it went along, but at least he could deliver vocally with the band receiving a good hand.
