Green Day’s SoFi Stadium show proves it’s officially a classic rock band now
As a cinephile who’s been through the ringer of life, I can say with absolute certainty that Green Day’s performance at SoFi Stadium was nothing short of electrifying. I’ve been to my fair share of concerts, but this one felt different – like a time machine transporting me back to my teenage years, when “Longview” was the anthem of our angst-filled existence.
It’s quite remarkable that Green Day managed to achieve a No. 1 album with “American Idiot” in 2004, which was ten years after their initial breakthrough with “Dookie” in 1994. However, what’s even more surprising is that they are now performing in stadiums, two decades following their first success. Few would have predicted this when Billie Joe Armstrong was singing about the laziness of teenage life in their debut hit single, “Longview.
On Saturday night at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, just as it did on the 10-times-platinum “Dookie,” “Longview” made its appearance around fifteen minutes into Green Day’s concert. This was part of their world tour, where they’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of “Dookie” and the 30th anniversary of “American Idiot” by playing both albums from start to finish. And though the crowd was filled with adults juggling grown-up responsibilities, as well as parents carrying their kids on their shoulders, thousands of us enthusiastically sang along with Billie Joe Armstrong, reminiscing about that deep-seated teenage boredom that even made masturbation seem dull again.
The “Saviors Tour,” named after Green Day’s upcoming 2024 album, is steeped in nostalgia. Alongside Rancid and the Linda Lindas, the Smashing Pumpkins, another ’90s rock band, opened on Saturday. Despite their contrasting styles back then – one was progressive, the other punk – today they can easily perform alongside any band that focuses on traditional guitars. James Iha, the guitarist of the Smashing Pumpkins, even asked during their performance, “Is everyone enjoying themselves?” – a fitting way to engage with a Generation X audience.
Green Day incorporated elements of classic tunes like John Mellencamp’s “Jack & Diane” and Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin'” into their performance at SoFi, suggesting that not only their own songs but also those from “American Idiot,” which was the foundation for a Broadway musical set to be revived next month at the Mark Taper Forum, are now considered classic rock.
Similar to the Rolling Stones, the 50-something men in Green Day (Armstrong, Mike Dirnt on bass, Tré Cool on drums, plus three additional musicians) didn’t disappoint with their high energy performance that made the nostalgic concert feel anything but repetitive. The beats were fast, the power chords loud; Billie Joe Armstrong’s bleach-streaked hair seemed more stylish than ever. Green Day’s stage show included fireworks, video screens, and an inflatable airplane reminiscent of their “Dookie” album cover. However, it was the raw punk spirit of this compact band tearing through songs about compassionate underdogs and unintelligent leaders that truly captivated the audience.
After Green Day performed “American Idiot”, Armstrong commented, “Just as unexpectedly – it’s been 20 years!” The surprise in his words is palpable.
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2024-09-16 02:31