Category Archives: 21st Century Breakdown World Tour 2009-2010

September 22, 2009

Coming Soon II

By Green Day Mind

A compilation of things past and future:

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of the release of the album American Idiot, on September 21, 2004 (GDC), and as I mentioned in Coming Soon I, the boys took a ‘working’ vacation for the month of September. While it seems that it’s been a tad slow without the band on tour, some big things have happened to them: a performance at the VMA’s, resting with the family, tweaking a possible Broadway-bound show, and putting out a new live EP. It sounds a bit daunting for ‘vacation’, if you asked me.

I’ve been a bit overwhelmed myself, as my rental management company cashed my rent check.. twice! Woot. bwahaha. Needless to say, this was the LAST thing that needed to have happened, particularly since I’m heading to Oakland this week to see some rock musical I hear is playing out there. Carrying on…

Last week, on September 17, 2009, the premiere of the musical, Green Day’s American Idiot occurred, after two weekends in previews. Green Day won a MTV Moonman for Best Rock Video (voted on by fans) this month and performed the shit out of “East Jesus Nowhere” on an exceptionally whacked-out night of VMA’s. (You know, a bleeding Lady Ga-Ga, and Kanye West’s disastrous, “I’m gonna let you finish, Taylor, but I just want to say, Beyoncé had the best video of all time.”)

It was also recently announced that Green Day has been nominated for three European MTV awards, being held this year on, as someone pointed out at the GDC, on “Guy Fawkes day” also know as the Gunpowder Rebellion or the Day of Bonfires, November 5, 2009. While the date is usually associated with England, the European awards are being held in Berlin this year. (Just remember that, “remember, remember, the 5th of November” came way before the movie…)

Let’s hope that in commemoration of the event, Green Day “will to burn the house down” as they are performing, along with Tokio Hotel, Leona Lewis, Beyoncé, and Shakira. According to Wikipedia, they are performing “21st Century Breakdown,” but I will believe that when I see it. And I hope I see it.

Whatever they play, it will be hard to top their 2005 performance in Lisbon at the awards. Someone posted this at the GDC and I almost spontaneously combusted:

Green Day Perform “Holiday” at the European MTV VMA’s, Lisbon, 2005

Green Day find themselves pitted against the Jonas Brothers in the category of Best Group. I swear if I see the Jonas frigging Brothers win, I’m going to go out and torture kittens, so… (ok, not really), so… vote early and vote often here!

This coming Thursday, I hop on a plane to Oakland! Northern California, here I come! In a three-fold trip, I will see old and newly made friends (two from college, one of whom teaches at the Berkeley Rep School, and one I know from political boards from the old days of Air America Radio, and hopefully some people from the IC and GDC boards), visit Northern California for the first time, and see Green Day’s American Idiot on Friday. I am super-psyched but I’m also a bit exhausted, too, even before I head out there.

Sometime this week, Green Day, along with opening band Prima Donna, will be flying to Europe to kick off the European leg of the 21st Century Breakdown tour. The first date occurs on Monday, September 28, in Lisbon, Portugal.

While I am in a holding pattern, as it were, waiting to head off to Berkeley, I was looking at a great set of  photographs posted by a friend on Facebook. They were taken by a company called Polite in Public at the premiere of American Idiot, including this beautiful shot of Adrienne and Billie:

Adrienne and Billie Joe Armstrong, Premiere, Green Day's American Idiot at the Berkeley Rep.

Adrienne and Billie Joe Armstrong, Premiere, Green Day's American Idiot at the Berkeley Rep.

Nothing Wrong with Me pointed out a few photographs of Tré with, I believe, cast members:

What the Fuck!?! Tré and Cast, Berkeley Rep

What the Fuck!?! Tré and Cast, Berkeley Rep

Levi Strauss is one of the sponsors of American Idiot, like Verizon was for the North American tour. Additional photos in this series, with audience, cast, and band members, is a must view here.

Coming up for me next month: London. Four days. Green Day. Prima Donna. 23 and 24, October.

Rock on.

Leave a comment | posted in 21st Century Breakdown World Tour 2009-2010, Green Day's American Idiot (Musical), Prima Donna

September 18, 2009

Jumping Jehoshaphat!: East Jesus Nowhere Live

By Green Day Mind

Greenday.com has put out the second (“American Eulogy” being the first, which was a shortened video of the song*) live clip from Green Day’s North American tour. This one is of my favorite song from 21st Century Breakdown, “East Jesus Nowhere” and it will make you want to JUMP! Turn the volume past 11 and DO IT!

update: There is some confusion on the Green Day fan clubs as to whether this video now constitutes an “official” release since greenday.com noted two weeks ago that “21st Century Breakdown” was going to be the next single. I am not really sure what is now going on in the Singles department, but if there are simultaneous releases of both songs, officially or unofficially, I am down with that. I love “East Jesus Nowhere”!

*hatthip to MassHysteria for pointing out the video from Greenday.com; post updated 9/19/09

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September 12, 2009

Lushie Church of Wishful Thinking Edition: Prima Donna = Foxboro Hot Tubs in the UK?

By Green Day Mind
Prima Donna Opens for Green Day in Europe

Prima Donna Opens for Green Day in Europe

I will admit that at times I am a card-carrying member of the Church of Wishful Thinking.* I can’t help it. I want to believe that all sorts of things are possible – world peace, the end of famine, a sane Republican Party, aliens – you know, stuff like that. Unfortunately, world peace is probably unattainable because people suck, the end of famine won’t happen because agribusiness is too strong, a sane Republican Party is currently an oxymoron, and aliens wouldn’t dare come to Planet Earth at the moment what with the shape that we’re in and all… though they would probably get a great exchange rate right now. The entire planet is half off!

However, some things can be inferred (right or wrong), and I would like to throw the rumor out there that somewhere in Europe (probably in England), the Foxboro Hot Tubs will play some secret shows.

How do I know? I don’t, but I present the following:
1. The Reverend Strychnine Twitch, lead singer of the Foxboro Hot Tubs and supposed lead singer and guitarist of Green Day, wrote in a May 30, 2008 FBHT blog post the following: “and with that said, thanks to all the Tub Heads for coming out for our first tour. Will there be more? I got you on my mind, england…STING!!!!! The Reverend Strychnine Twitch.”
2. Prima Donna, a great band from Los Angeles, will be opening for Green Day for the entire European tour.
3. Chinatown, one of the members of the Foxboro Hot Tubs, is rumored to be Kevin Preston, a member of Prima Donna.
4. Someone who will remain nameless and who saw FBHT on their tour last year, asked someone else who will also remain nameless and is a member of the Hot Tubs, if they were going to play in England at some point and the answer was in the affirmative.
5. Lastly, I just want it to happen something bad. If it happens on Green Day’s day off, Sunday, October 25th, this will be the icing on my wishful thinking cake. I’ll be in London that day after seeing Green Day the previous two nights at the 02. STINNG!!!

Like Mulder from the X-Files, I WANT TO BELIEVE.

We’ll see what happens.

The Lushie Gods be praised.

*See lyrics for East Jesus Nowhere

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in 21st Century Breakdown World Tour 2009-2010, Foxboro Hot Tubs, Green Day's Other Bands, Opening Bands, Prima Donna

September 11, 2009

Green Day STRIPPED (Live)

By Green Day Mind

A widget from greenday.com featuring Green Day live. I believe this may have been filmed in France back in May.

[clearspring_widget title=”Green Day STRIPPED (Live)” wid=”4a2456535a17dfa6″ pid=”4aaa76d606c9e383″ width=”300″ height=”250″ domain=”widgets.clearchannelmusic.com”]

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September 1, 2009

Tré

By Green Day Mind

Tré Cool’s drumming is magical. He beats out a rhythm like a possessed shaman calling daemons and spirits into the arena of play. He’s got a touch of madness, too, and let’s face it, every great drummer has a touch of the mad.

I really wanted to hear Tré sing and play the guitar on “Dominated Love Slave” at least once during the four times that I saw the band this summer. Alas and alack, I believe he graced the stage with DLS only twice, once in Hartford (as I’ve said before, I should have gone to Hartford as well as Albany), and Nashville. At San Antonio, I made a sign that I folded into my pocket with the phrase, “Who the Fuck is Tré Cool? Dominated Love Slave, That’s Who!” LOL. No opportunity afforded itself for me to pull the sign out, and San Antonio was the tamest of the four shows that I attended. While the show itself was great as usual, there where no signs and no real wild moments at this show, except for Sara’s “Longview” performance and stagedive, unlike the many crazy little moments that constantly happened at Albany and the two MSGs.

Since this was my last opportunity to see Tré do this song (unless something changes when I see them in England in October), I was a bit sad that I missed the opportunity to see him come from behind his drums and wow us in the audience with a song about the sexual joys of staples and beltsanders. Oh well.

Anyway, after one of the shows on the West Coast, Tré surprised a bunch of fans near the tour buses and serenaded them with “Like a Rat Does Cheese,” a song rarely performed in polite society. That’s why you must watch it many times. LOL. This has already been around the Internet at a number of sites, but it’s well worth seeing a few hundred times.

Tré Cools Sings “Like a Rat Does Cheese.”

Tré Cool Sings “Dominated Love Slave.” – Hartford, 2009

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September 1, 2009

Storytime with Billie

By Green Day Mind

This is a bit messy, but I culled all of the Storytimes with Billie from a thread that I started at the GDC. I used to be a professional storyteller as a children’s librarian and actor, and performed in a few one-woman shows that I created back in the day. So these stories from Billie were special to me and always made me laugh. Some of them are random snippets he told throughout the show, but for the most part, Storytime with Billie occurred prior to the start of “Before the Lobotomy.” Here’s a messy list in no particular order for your enjoyment. Now, he’ll have to come up with some new ones for Europe!

Storytime with Green Day – or More Specifically, Billie.
1. Sunset Boulevard Fight with Adrienne and Brando.
MSG1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up1Q4KfFYRA
Los Angeles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y624MvbBBjI

2. Twins Convention on Acid
Via Whatsername868: “Tampa he said that they were driving once somewhere down near Mexico, and Tre had some acid so they all took some. That night they went to a hotel and would see a person, then turn around and see their double someplace else. Later they found out it was a Twin’s Convention.”

3. Pissing – Closet and Hanger, Albany: This story is hilarious and I have to find some video on it.
Thanks to greenday801440 for the video and the link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Qg98xicHk

4. Pissing – Guinness and Suitcase – Ireland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCFvr9MccF8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve7LL4KSYS4…feature=related

5. Pissing – Sleepwalking and Naked (Nashville, via TeenageLush): “Nashville he told the story at the beginning of are we the waiting, and it was something about how whenever he gets drunk he sleepwalks. Apparently they were staying on the first floor of a hotel and he end[ed up] sleep walking to the fifth floor and woke up butt as naked, Jason White walked it on him and was like, “ew”” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yDAYspxOVw

6. Sleepy in Copenhagen (an old one, but who wants to sleep with a head in a bottle?) MSG2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DytzpQ9TtFQ

7. Tattoo and Anal Sex with Ricky. Orlando: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qYoHz1WDzk

8. Skinhead Fight (I don’t remember where this story took place.)

9. Playing in a Harrisburg living room. He mentioned that there are Youtube videos of the band playing in a living room back in the day. Told at Pittsburgh.

10. Hamilton: via .:Whatsername:. “It’s been a long time hasn’t it? It’s been like half a fucking decade. What the fuck’s up with that shit? How are you all doing?! This is like family now, shit! Everybody here’s my fucking cousin. I never knew this but I’m Canadian.” He also did some shoutout to bands that they had played with in Toronto in like 1993 before “Are We the Waiting” and said “It wasn’t that long ago, but we waited around and here we are. Are “We the Waiting!”

11: Scared in Detroit (just a snippet) Via Angie-Marie, “the first time we played Detroit, I think it was 1990, I was like 18 and we played with the Generals, and Detroit scared the fucking shit outta me”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLpI-uawG6E

12.: The moral of the story of “She,” MSG1): Via lilacdreamer: “You know, the moral of the story is, is that when you’re in the heat of a passionate moment, with someone that you fucking love, you will fucking do anything for them. Its not just the fight to prove that you’re right, but it’s a fight that you fucking do it together to make it right. You know what I’m saying?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqG0rRNKxn4

13. Boston: via XCourt: Billie talked their early days when they played a show in Providence, RI (I think he also said that was their first show in New England, correct me if I’m wrong) and they met a guy (forget the name) who has been really good friends with the the band ever since and he was in the audience that night. That was Billie’s only anecdote for the night.

14. Philly: Via MascaraTears: before Before the Lobotomy, he was just talking to a guy who brought binoculars, and saying stuff like, “it would be the guy from jersey who brings binoculars.”

15: Fargo: via Taylor_k2008: “Billie explained that it was Green Day’s first official time playing in Fargo because they had to cancel the show there 10 years ago due to Tre’ having a foot fungus. Then after a bit – Billie was still talking and was like, “Hold on…something is sticking in my ass…” Then he tried to fix his mic box thing I think… then continued “…and that’s not the first time I had something sticking in my ass…actually, I think that it might have been Tre’s foot in my ass before.” Lol saying that’s probably why he got a foot fungus. That’s not word for word obviously – but that’s the best I can explain it. Haha. Close enough.”

16: Houston via Teenage Kicks!: “Houston was like…him talking about coming to Texas as Foxboro (which I was lucky enough to see! ) and how he “rode a bull named Lisa….and how she had nice….” then he said “uh nevermind” and started laughing. XD”

17: St. Louis: St. Louis’ story was about him drinking his brother’s urine when he was kid, and that’s he’s done it a few times in other situations since.

18: Family in Nashville introduction. Additional Nashville: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7CaxJ9jFCg

19. Billie with his Mom in Salt Lake City:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm0rAQvakrM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whf27IJ3Ur4

20. Kansas City, “Beautiful Girl”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k3iNKmTpYA

21. San Jose introducing Family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebZcjYiE4H4

22: Minneapolis, Mankato and Adrienne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wQojAb1Zx0

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in 21st Century Breakdown World Tour 2009-2010, Billie Joe Armstrong

August 28, 2009

Las Vegas in Black, White and Pink

By Green Day Mind

Ah, Las Vegas. What happens there of course stays there, and this is one of the shows that I most wanted to go to. I’ve never been to Vegas, and what better way to be introduced to the city of lust and money than to see Green Day? I can’t think of any other reason to go to Vegas, actually. Alas, it was not meant to be. My current adventures ended in San Antonio, sadly.

While I wasn’t able to attend, I did read about the show a bit on the IC and GDC Boards. I won’t go into details, except for one. From what I gather, this show had a very lively soundcheck with some hardcore fans who flew in from around the country, including a girl named Lauren, who had already been to a few GD shows on the East Coast. I was happy to learn that Lauren, with her ever-present “Nimrod” cone hat and her Ernie hand puppets, was successful in her quest to get Billie to sing a few verses of the lost classic from Warning, “Misery.” They rarely do this song at shows; it’s long and Cabaret-like, but worthy of performance every once in awhile. Embrace your inner Broadway, boys, I mean, aren’t you doing a musical or something, I hear? LOL. Maybe the AI cast can prank you or something and forced you to do it live one day? Hmmm…

This was the second attempt at a soundcheck, if I am correct, where fans persuaded Billie to sing a bit of “Misery.” Problem is, Billie doesn’t remember the words, I mean, who does? 🙂 I don’t know if the first group provided lyrics, but Lauren smartly wrote them on a sign, with Billie finally relenting to sing a verse or two. With Lauren, I really don’t think he had any other choice, she was on a valiant mission and did not fail us. Bwahaha. She was also mentioned in a review as a “grown woman” spotted in the crowd with an Ernie doll. Lauren isn’t even out of her teens yet. You go girl!

On a side note, I’m trying not to think about ROCKTOBER, big time, but London is calling.

Back to Las Vegas, though. Ryan O. from a site newly created by fans at Flickr (Green Day Flickr Group), posted some lovely black and white images of the band taken at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. See some highlights below while the entire set can be viewed here. Be sure to check out his other band photographs from Mandalay Bay while your at it.

Billie in motion, as usual:

Billie in Motion - Green Day, Las Vegas. Photo by Ryan O. from the Green Day Fan Flickr Group

Billie in Motion - Green Day - Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. Photo by Ryan O. from the Green Day Fan Flickr Group

Tré always keeps the beat:

Tré Cool Rules - Green Day - Las Vegas, 2009. Photo by Ryan O. from Green Day Flickr Group

Tré Cool Rules - Green Day - Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, 2009. Photo by Ryan O. from Green Day Flickr Group

Mike with my favorite of his basses, the black star on white with three hand-drawn XXX’s. They remind me of the city symbol of Amsterdam, one of my favorite places:

Mike and the Bass - Mike Dirnt, Green Day, Las Vegas. Photo by Ryan O. from the Green Day Fan Flickr Group

Mike and the Bass - Green Day - Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. Photo by Ryan O. from the Green Day Fan Flickr Group

There’s your black and white, and now to the pink: Billie and his boa. I posted a while ago about a red hot boa brought to Billie by Teenage Lush. It was a rich, deep red and well, Billie looks good in red.

I was hoping that someone would give him a giant Vegas showgirl tiara with swooping feathers, LOL, but there was something better. Billie brought his own hot pink and fluffy boa, according to eyewitnesses. He done did good. From a Youtube video, however, he didn’t wear it for too long into the song. It may have been just a bit too fluffly!

I swear, he reminds me of Marlene Dietrich sometimes:

Hot Pink and Fluffy - Billie Joe Armstrong - Green Day - Las Vegas, 2009. Photo by Cheryl McCloskey.

Hot Pink and Fluffy - Boa by Billie Joe Armstrong - Green Day - Las Vegas, 2009. Photo by Cheryl McCloskey.

Here’s a slightly “X-rated,” if you will, bit of “King for a Day.” I feel naughty just posting it. eek… it was LAS VEGAS, after all.

Ah, Vegas.

5 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in 21st Century Breakdown World Tour 2009-2010, Green Day Fans, Green Day Photographs

August 27, 2009

Highlights from the Breakdown: Los Angeles

By Green Day Mind

The pit in Los Angeles seems to have been the most crowded of the pits during Green Day’s North American tour leg. The crowd was fabulous, the band, well, you know.

Here’s a few videos:

She:

Brainstew:

21 Guns (Pyrotechnic favorite, the waterfall effect included):

Van Halen; Tight Wad Hill; When I Come Around (TWH Special thanks to DJ Rossstar for reminding Billie of the words):

Storytime with Billie and We Are the Waiting/St. Jimmy:

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in 21st Century Breakdown World Tour 2009-2010, Highlights from the Breakdown

August 26, 2009

It’s Bagpipes for the Scots

By Green Day Mind

Bagpipes and toilet paper. A perfect combination to send the Scots off the right way. No video yet, but here’s hoping! I love the bagpipes, one of the most annoyingly beautiful instruments out there. Absolutely adore them.

From what I hear, last night’s final Green Day show of the first leg of their 18-month World Tour was phenomenal – a sight and spectacle to behold. I wish I had been there, but there are a few fabulous videos (sorry, guys, I know this irks you a bit), so stay tuned for some highlights–though of course, the entire show was one spectacular time, I’m sure.

Really, I expect nothing less from this trio and their band of merry henchpeople. They are the best thing out there right now and for an agnostic, I feel quite blessed to be a fan of such a great band.

On another note, Billie got a bit too excited last night and plopped off the stage. There’s video somewhere, but I’m too lazy to find it again tonight. It was a bit shocking to see (but maybe not as shocking at the strange tufts of semi-orange hair that appeared on his head last night in Sacramento), that after all of the shows where he throws himself around like a ragdoll, he gets so excited that he just slips off the stage. Luckily, since he’s currently a mechanical man, he got right back up and continued on as if nothing happened, but I have to say: DON’T DO THAT AGAIN! LOL.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in 21st Century Breakdown World Tour 2009-2010, Opening Bands

August 26, 2009

This Is The End…

By Green Day Mind

I’m so glad we had this time together,
Just to have a laugh, and sing a song.
Seems we just got started and before we knew it
Came the time we had to say, ‘So long.’

It seems like eight short weeks ago that Green Day sprang back onto the concert circuit with their 2009 U.S. Tour. And you know what, it was only eight short weeks ago that they started out in Seattle, WA, through to Canada, a bit of the Midwest and back up to the Great North, through Yankee territory, down on to Philly and conquering D.C., to the South and Texas, Middle America, and the West Coast and the Sun Belt, and finally, ending it all last night in LA LA Land.

Do not fret as they make their North American goodbyes, for in a short month, they will begin the breakdown of Europe and all will be well!

In the meantime, there’s MTV’s Video Music Awards coming up, where Green Day will perform (9/13), and Green Day’s American Idiot also begins soon. It’s going to be a busy but laid back month and every one probably needs a break, you know, to sit down with the kids, take a long bath, say hi to the missus, stuff like that. And yes, the end of September brings them traveling out of the country at least through to January. Yes, they will be gone from America for such a long time, but the world needs them, too. LOL. At any rate, rumor has it that there will be a second U.S. tour leg sometime next year. So, Lord willing and the crick don’t rise, we’ll have them back again next year. Can’t wait.

Three Friends

Three Friends

Rest up, boys! Europe, Australia and Japan are waiting for you!

Green Day on television music show in Japan, June 2009

Japan Loves Green Day

*Photograph by unknown photographer. Green Day Authority Picture Vault. Video via Current TV and Green Day Authority.

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