Live Reviews.

Green Day, 15th July, Newcastle Telewest Arena.

Who says punk bands can't play arenas? 

After going down early and drinking since 2pm (getting a bit of a habit by now!), we were let up the stairs of the arena at 6pm. This was pretty shite, because when we got up the stairs, they spread us out on either side, so the lazy gits who'd just turned up, were equal with us, on the other side, which is a bit disheartening when you've been there 4 hours. But anyway, I looked at my ticket, realized where I was and was smiling again :) Stood right at the front, against the barrier for the second time in a week, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the support act - Pinhole, although the singer was a bit far up his own arse. Seems as if Billie liked them too - when spotted stood at the side of the stage with a bottle of Budweiser, a big cheer went up, after acknowledging us, he motioned in the direction of the band, encouraging us to support them, what a professional! However, this was only the third biggest cheer of the night, the second being when 'YMCA' was played over the sound system, and the first when Billie Joe's famed Old Blue guitar was picked up from its stand to be tuned, and was seen by the crowd, ahh, the beauty! After a short wait for Pinholes equipment to be dismantled, the curtain went back, to reveal a huge backdrop of the logo from the Pop Disaster Tour. Then out came the Bunny! What a guy! Some bloke in a pink Bunny costume with a bottle of Bud, getting the crowd up. After the roadie insisted that the Bud be swapped for the local delicacy of Newcastle Brown Ale, he was encouraged to drink it in one go, which he did, every last drop! Then, the lights went dark, red lights on the stage flashed and spun, and a siren sounded. Out ran 4 young Americans, acting like three year olds, running and skipping onto the stage. Then, Green Day, accompanied by Jason White, a second guitarist from Billie Joe's side project, Pinhead Gunpowder, blasted into a note perfect, and absolutely thrilling Maria, with fireworks going off, and  with Jason taking lead solo duties (stood right in front of me, so I can see that I play it completely differently!) Throughout a set of fantastic, emotionally charged, high-energy punk songs, Billie would very regularly stop. This would be maybe to talk to the crowd, to get them chanting along, to spray them with a water gun, or even to start a band! During one song, which I think was the Operation Ivy cover, he invited "The best fucking guitarist, bassist and drummer in fucking Newcastle" to come onto the stage. After the initial embarrassment of one bloke who couldn't play three chords, they got another guitarist, who was very confident, showing off a lot (well, as much as you can whilst playing three power chords!), and getting wrong off Billie! He didn't mind after, when the dude was playing above his head and jumping off the monitors, in fact, he was pissing himself laughing! Then, and get this, Billie GAVE HIM HIS GUITAR! Ok, so it was only a black strat, and not a blue one with stickers on, but still, Billie's guitar!, on the condition that he stage-dived, which, surprisingly enough, he did! The young bass player also got Mike's bass, and the drummer, who was very impressive, adding little fills here and there and impressing Tre, was also led backstage, so I imagine he got something too. (read below)

 After a long-ish set, including highlights of Basket Case, She, 2000 Light Years Away, King For a Day and the last song - a dragged out but fantastic Minority, the band took a short break, before Billie came on, armed with a tobacco coloured Les Paul Junior, and, looking absolutely brilliant, alone, centre stage in a cloud of smoke, went into the familiar opening sequence of Good Riddance, with every word sung straight back to him with glee. After the band re-joining him for a great version of Waiting, and possibly something else (sorry, I can't remember everything!) Mike decided to throw his bass on the floor and kick it a bit, while Tre just dived onto his kit, raised on a platform, then fell off the platform, with his kit landing on top of him! (unfortunately, he didn't set it on fire) During this Billie was stood at the side of the stage, with some weird but cool echoing effect on his guitar, which he was playing while pissing about de-tuning his guitar. After a quick assembly of a makeshift kit for Tre, on the main part of the stage, the band went into, what is being highly regarded as the night's highlight, Macy's Day Parade. Then after thanking the crowd, and Tre Throwing countless amount of drumsticks out, and roadies throwing out hundreds of yellow, signature Billie and Mike plectrums, Green Day left.

I had done it, seen my favourite band of all time. I actually almost got to play on stage, where I said read below earlier, is because when Billie asked who could play guitar, and I was shouting, he nodded at me, and started walking over, unfortunately, Mike had decided which bloke he wanted, and told Billie to get him, which he did, unfortunately :( Another highlight has to be during Longview, with Mike standing in front of me, and shouting to me "Your hair's fucking mint!" Thanks Mike, you rule!!!

Best Song - 2000 Light Years Away

Best Moment - Mike complimenting me, and the look of Billie, before Good Riddance

Worst Moment - Losing my mate before they even started (but I soon got over it!)

Memento / Memorabilia - Wristband, and a cardboard firework ccap, thrown out by the roadie

Now, I live to see them another day, hopefully somewhere else, possibly an open-air venue, but if I don't so be it. I have seen my two favourite bands ever, am now 17, have a wonderful girlfriend, and have a year of school left, what more could a young lad from the North East of England want?

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