Review by : Sean Stevens
Photo’s By : Kieran Frost
For many, Green Day have lost credibility after their album “American Idiot” but gained a younger generation of fans and that was easy to see at last nights outdoor show in Marley Park. On arrival, what was obvious to see was the mix in crowd from their oldest loyal fans to what can really only be described as families with young kids dressed up just like the main man on stage Billie Joe Armstrong. It was a far cry from the bands early days in underground punk clubs playing to adoring audiences and more importantly doing what made them interesting in the first place. But with a mighty stage and the Dublin mountains as their backdrop it was surely going to be a great show.
The show started off with a bang, literally, that would give Paul McCartney a run for his money in terms of pyrotechnics with tunes from their 21st Century Breakdown album – “Song of the Century” and “Know your Enemy”. As the crowd went wild up front it was going to have to be something special to keep the audience going but Billie Joe and Co. failed to keep them enthused for a short time as they began to drag out what had the potential to be a non-stop brilliant show.
It had become boring in the middle of their set when they spent more time dressing up in Irish hats, women’s clothes and humming and hawing into the microphone so much so that it was difficult to remember what song they had begun performing. Where they really lost it was their prolonged editions of “Shout” and “Hey Jude” that lost the flame which they had sparked up previous whilst playing “Holiday“ and “The Saints are Coming“. What eventually became a three hour long set could really have been condensed into two and a half hours of excitement and kept the audience interested.
After the messing around which really seemed to go on way too long it was back to business with “21 Guns” and “Minority” which caught the fans attention once again and there was an atmosphere being created that had been vacant or lost earlier on in the show. It was coming to the final hurdle and after claiming Dublin had a better audience than London and Glasgow put together it was time to lap it all up as they crashed into “American Idiot” to the delight of
all those more younger fans. One thing was certain, young or old, Green Day eventually had everyone where they wanted them and they were all soaking it up. The enthusiasm and energy on stage began to reflect on the audience and it started to become a show well worth coming to see. With a long setlist fans certainly didn’t seem disappointed by the bands choices.
In what must of cost a fortune almost every song had a fireworks display to the delight of all, even when least expected. They gave each song that little bit more visually and kept all band members giving it 100% throughout on stage. Where Green Day really put on a show is their interaction with the crowd even to the extreme of bringing fans on stage to perform their songs in what will more than likely be a highlight of those fans lives. And they did a good job at that. At one stage out of nowhere a fun gun arrived on stage with Billie Joe taking aim and firing out free t-shirts to the lucky ones who were able to jump highest.
Before jumping into “Jesus of Suburbia” it was time to say goodbye while the band waved an Irish flag but we all had an inkling that they would be back after their second encore. The lead man arrived back on stage with a guitar minus a few band members to perform what ended as a highlight with “Wake me up when September Ends” as the heavens opened on us all but nobody seemed to mind as at this stage everyone was enthralled in the show which they had put on.
Finishing with fan favourite “Good Riddance” band members Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt rejoined Billie Joe Armstrong in finishing what had been an overall entertaining, pyro banging, crowd pleasing performance. As fireworks lit up the Dublin Mountains it was time for the mixed audience to head home after three hours of entertainment which was worth every penny. The only downfall was their drag queen-esque segment of the show but maybe some of their fans are into that. I was personally a sucker for the fireworks and pyrotechnics but even without, Green Day can still put on a show and perform their music perfectly. It was good to see the original three members soaking it all up as the show came to an end.
Greenday Setlist (thats to swearimnotpaul)
Setlist:
Song of the Century
21st Century Breakdown
Know Your Enemy
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Static Age
Holiday
East Jesus Nowhere
Give me Novocaine
Are We The Waiting
St. Jimmy
Nice Guys Finish Last
Burnout
2000 Light Years Away
Geek Stink Breath
Iron Man/Sweet Child of Mine/Highway to Hell
The Saints Are Coming
When I Come Around
Hitchin’ A Ride
Welcome To Paradise
Longview
Brain Stew
Jaded
Basket Case
She
King For A Day
Shout (Johnny O’Keefe cover)
Teenage Kicks/Beautiful Day/Hey Jude/(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
21 Guns
Minority
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American Idiot
Jesus of Suburbia
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When It’s Time
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)
