Modern News

Green Day at the Bowery. I couldn’t have imagined them playing at a venue this small the first time I saw them as a kid 15 years ago at the Nassau Coliseum. And after missing its surprise set after a Bellevue gig at CBGB years back, it didn’t disappoint in the least. Still nursing a broken leg, I was in it for the long haul, showing up early for a spot at the front. Billie Joe, Tre and Mike launched straight into material from the newly released 21^st Century Breakdown. Unlike the majority of the crowd, I’d held out to hear the new songs for the first time live and it really was rewarding to experience the frenzy of the tracks in person. The band played 11 of the albums’ 18 tracks such as “Murder City”, “The Static Age”, “East Jesus Nowhere”, the single “Know Your Enemy” and the title track of the new disc.

Then came the encore. Excited Billie Joe, snarling Dirnt and classically hilarious Tre dove into “American Idiot” and “Jesus of Suburbia” from the bands last album. Now when the set list says in bold letters BE READY FOR AUDIBLES! you really have no idea what to expect. After bringing a very well deserving fan up to sing “Longview”, the very old school “Who Wrote Holden Caufield?” and “Going To Pasalacqua” were played, and Tre got his turn center stage singing Kerplunk’s “Dominated Love Slave” while Billie Joe moved to the kit. The night ended with “She”, an incredibly too long but audience inclusive “King For A Day” (complete with the Isley Brothers “Shout” cover) and concluding with Warning’s “Minority”. Despite the lack of Insomniac material, everyone on Delancey Street could have easily stayed around another few hours, but we were all thankful for the show we were given. Green Day really cares about its fans and hasn’t lost a step at all.