It was a two-hour rock ‘n’ roll slugfest Monday night as Green Day came out swinging to a
frenzied and frozen crowd at the Blue Cross arena. Some kids wrapped in
blankets had camped out overnight and looked like frostbitten refugees as they
stumbled about.

The place warmed up and filled up slowly to a meandering set
from Los Angeles-based show opener Best
Coast. The band wasn’t bad, but sort of forgettable, hitting its
plateau early and sticking there for the remainder of its brief set.

But no amount of energy could have adequately warmed the
boards for Green Day. Following salutations from a drunken Easter Bunny, the
band tore out on stage to the theme from “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”
(just like The Ramones) and then ripped into “99 Revolutions.” After that a set
cross-cut the band’s incredible catalogue with generous cuts from the new trilogy
of discs “Uno!” Dos!” “Tre!”
as well as hits off “Kerplunk” and “Dookie.”

Green Day is a well-oiled machine and has perfected the
extrapolated audience-band call and response, which the band did constantly
Monday night. Look, I know it’s cool to have the crowd sing the words they all
know — it’s kind of like being in church without all the guilt — but I came to
hear the band sing, not a bunch of maniacs juiced on $10 Blue Cross brew, waving
their cell phones.

But hey, it was all in loud, fast fun, and the band’s ironic
demeanor earns forgiveness and points. I mean, how about that LynyrdSkynyrd, Black Sabbath,
AC/DC, medley from one of the best live bands in the world today?

Prior to the Green Day majesty, I prowled the local scene
Friday night to see Rock ‘N’ Roll Social Club split Tala Vera in two, like the jaws of life,
as it loudly and proudly opened for Amanda
Lee Peers and The Driftwood Sailors.
Peers’ voice is simply incredible, hanging above the shag carpet of a band
well-versed in the blue and classic rock. Nothing short of awesome, and it was
a packed house, too.

Saturday night at Skylark Lounge I got to hear Greg “Stackhouse” Prevost play a set
of hellacious, salacious, monstrous, and primitive blues, sandwiched between
sets by St. Phillip’s Escalator and the
recently reunited Moviees.
Prevost’s new album, “Mississippi Murderer,” rocks and is currently at the top
of my play list. But this particular set was too loud to make out the
subtleties and nuances included in his original stabs at the form, as well as
on classics like “John the Revelator.”

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This article appears in Mar 27 – Apr 2, 2013.

6 replies on “Concert Review: Green Day at Blue Cross Arena”

  1. I came hear to read a review of a Green Day concert, not about a bunch of irrelevant garage bands you peruse on the weekend cause you have nothing else to do but hey, it’s all in good fun, right?

  2. poor review…. the concert rocked and was well orchestrated. The audience loved to be involved and it is nice to see a band who is NOT all about themselves but acknowledge that they are there because of their fan base. I came to see Green Day and I was not disappointing. Green Day is one of those band that you love or hate. Clearly you stated where you stand……

  3. At least Frank actually attended the concert. Unlike the so-called entertainment critic from the D&C.

  4. I’ve seen many wanting to NOT like Green Day, but then converted at one of their concerts. I know I’m biased (because I’ve always liked their music), but a better live show you will not see.

  5. Lol, “irrelevant garage band” you clearly have no idea who The Driftwood Sailors are. Maybe you should do some research before calling names, @summatime.

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