I got so many decent pictures, I’m going to split this into two posts. Here’s part 1. Stay tuned for more pictures in part 2.
Green Day finished off their “Saviors” tour in San Diego on this night. Such a big production. And it has to be if you’re playing in front of 40,000 people in a baseball stadium. They’ve come a long way from playing the Whiskey and the Che Cafe.
It’s kind of shocking that 1) 1994’s “Dookie” has sold over 20 million copies, 2) that it’s actually a GOOD album, and 3) it still holds up. Also shocking is that 2004’s “American Idiot” sold almost as many copies, is a GOOD album, and still holds up. There are not too many albums I like in the mainstream that have sold these kinds of figures. Though it’s been years since I heard either album (when I want to hear Green Day I put on a live album from those tours, or the newer albums or more obscure tracks. They’re great albums, but I’ve just them millions of times) and they played both albums in full on this night. I actually like “American Idiot” more, probably because it has more epic “metalish” songs with many parts to them. But let’s face it, their latest album “Saviors” is right up there too, in my opinion. And they played a few songs from that one. Which makes perfect sense as this is the actual tour for that album.
I was a little shocked they didn’t play anything earlier from 1994, but I guess it makes sense. When you’re playing in front of 40,000 people, you absolutely have to cater to the masses. And like I said, “Dookie”, “American Idiot”, and “Saviors” are three of their best albums, so I didn’t really have any complaints about the song selection.
Live they were great. It was a spectacle, but not completely choreographed. With all the flames and this and that going on (Bad Year Blimp, streamers, etc…), you need to be on some sort of a timetable and know where to be when the explosions go off. But there were moments of spontaneity. Billie Joe pulled up someone onstage to sing along. He also stopped a fight in the 2nd song. And of course some preaching along the way (yes, telling people how you should be is “preaching”), but it wasn’t anything obnoxious. Overall a very fun show! I hope the kids in the audience get inspired to not only dig deeper into their catalog, but deeper into their influences and peers. Of which there are many.
Very special thanks to Mitchell for taking care of me for this show!
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