SweetVendetta at the GDA recently saw this MTV special on the backstage antics at the MTV Video Music Awards last September. Green Day held an impromptu performance after their rehearsal for the tired MTV crew. During the live performance, Billie and Mike dragged a bunch of people onstage without telling anyone that they were going to do it… and while all those people were engulfing the “about 5″8″‘ Billie, Tre couldn’t see him to end the song. The MTV crew had to “kill the pyro” before anyone from the audience was set on fire. The clip also includes the pyro that was supposed to happen in the song. I’m not quite sure why they had to kill the pyro since it was behind Tre… but… it was probably for the best!
It’s a funny clip, and also has a backstage view of Pink’s amazing high-trapeze performance as well.
You can see the clip of Green Day’s full performance here. You can read about my heading up to Radio City Music Hall since I was in the neighborhood and seeing GD leave rehearsal here. (And yes, I WAS JUST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD that day…no. Seriously. I was!)
NOTE: I drafted this a while ago but never published it.
Blasphemy - A Ticket to Hell Has Never Been Funnier
I will mince no words: I like to curse and I have little respect for organized religion. In this video from Green Day’s show in Sacramento earlier this year, Green Day managed to provide me with cursing and remind me just how little respect I have for organized religion. Once again, Green Day has the courage to call hypocrisy when they see it.
Billie Throwing a Guy Out and East Jesus Nowhere – “Fuck me? Nononononono, fuck YOU mother fucker.” – Green Day, Sacramento, August 24, 2009
With that said, I want to take a moment to put the title of the posting into context… and then hopefully say something. We’ll see if any of the above happens.
During the American tour (which can provide a basic roadmap for those of you looking forward to the European, Australian, New Zealand and Asian tours), “East Jesus Nowhere,” was usually the fourth song of the show, preceded by “Song of the Century,” “21st Century Breakdown,” and “Know Your Enemy.” Billie may say some crazy stuff about pot-smoking and fornicating at the beginning, (haha, one only hopes he does!), and then the band launches into the song. At the record’s bridge, Billie asks the audience to provide a child, any child about 10 years or so of age, which parents in the house readily do. Billie then ‘saves’ this sweet and innocent youngster. I’m never sure what he’s saving the kid from, but I know that I would have much rather been saved by a Billie Joe than by a preacher.
Here comes the requisite disclaimer in this day and age: I do not dislike religion itself. My philosophy is worship anything you want but do not force me to worship the same way that you do. Don’t try to save me and I won’t try to save you, unless I see you about to get hit by a car on the street. Don’t preach purity when your bathroom is filthy. Or something like that.*
“East Jesus Nowhere” is a powerful and problematic song. It’s destined to be on the radio. It’s also destined to cause some religious circles to go ballistic if it makes it there.
There’s been some buzz about whether the lyrics will be changed when it gets more airplay. I really hope the band doesn’t change a bit of it. We’ll see what the future brings. In fact, I heard it on the radio when driving in my rental car a while back and some words had been obliterated. Needless to say, I screamed a little bit.
East Jesus Nowhere lyrics
Raise your hands now to testify
Your confession will be crucified
You’re a sacrificial suicide
Like a dog that’s been sodomized
Stand up! – All the white boys
Sit down! – All the black girls
You’re the soldiers of the new world
Put your faith in a miracle
And it’s non-denominational
Join the choir we will be singing
In the church of wishful thinking
A fire burns today
Of blasphemy and genocide
The sirens of decay
Will infiltrate the faith fanatics
Oh bless me lord for I have sinned
It’s been a lifetime since I last confessed
I threw my crutches in “The river
Of a shadow of doubt”
And I’ll be dressed in my Sunday best
Say a prayer for the family
Drop a coin for humanity
Ain’t this uniform so flattering?
I never asked you a God damned thing
A fire burns today
Of blasphemy and genocide
The sirens of decay
Will infiltrate the faith fanatics
Don’t test me
Second guess me
Protest me
You will disappear
I want to know who’s allowed to breed
All the dogs who never learned to read
Missionary politicians
And the cops of a new religion
A fire burns today
Of blasphemy and genocide
The sirens of decay
Will infiltrate the inside
-also, these are my opinions alone and do not reflect anything that anyone else might think or say. There, I think that covers it.
As you may have heard, Green Day was on fire during their recent tour of Great Britain and the Emerald Isle, playing to massively sold out crowds, creating music and mania, and coming out to England as the Foxboro Hot Tubs.
Billie, who’s been wearing a vest with the name “Jesus” on it lately (maybe he’s Spanish, who knows?), has regularly been ‘saving’ young children and the ocassional adult on the tour. I saw him save two kids in San Antonio and I thought that was a lot!
Well, at Wembley on November 1st, the band brought up ten to be saved, including a great fellow by the name of Tony Anastasi (in the cowboy hat) whom I met while I was in England.
The two videos below are of this hallowed event, the first one being the song itself. The second video is very unique. One of the ten who were saved actually had his camera on, taping the moment from a salvation point of view. While the final “boom” of salvation isn’t taped, it’s great to see the actual saving huddle.
And Tony is very happy to have been saved by Billie, as one can well imagine!
(Since my computer is still down, I’m on my iPhone and can’t properly link at the moment.)
Green Day was on the Jonathan Ross show last night from the UK and performed a smoking hot version of the smoking hot song, “East Jesus Nowhere.” They played a game, “Monster or Celebrity” and additional guest, actor Christopher Walken, read Lady Gaga’s “Pokerface” as spoken word poetry. The video link below doesn’t have the game or Walken, but you can view that on the BBC repeat on November 1st at 2:10 AM or on BBC America next Friday. I’ll have to check the time for the latter. In the meanwhile, 21st Century Drum Player uploaded the clip below.
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
======================================== New York, Madison Square Garden, July 27, 2009
I knew from the moment I exited the Times Union Center that I would not experience the full impact of Green Day’s music at this concert. You see, I had seats… high into the dead zone of MSG. So very sad. Nonetheless, the crowd around me (except for the three people next to me who kept getting out of their seats) were pretty great. There were four young men in crazy hats (Kings for a Day?) who very politely let us know that if their giant sombrero hats got in the way of viewing to say something. And I did. But, my friend who went with me is a only a nominal Green Day fan and while I love her, I don’t think she enjoyed the show very much. I have sworn never to again attend a Green Day show with someone who is a nominal fan. It’s all or nothing for a Green Day show.
Green Day concert seats - MSG1
I’ve seen a few concerts at Madison Square Garden and for most of them, I’ve been in the 300 sections, high up under the skyboxes. I hate sitting there. U2 sounded like they were underwater when I saw them there years ago. I noticed the sound difference most specifically during this show when I went down toward the front of the stadium after Billie Joe frightened the MSG security guards by urging fans to (slowly) come down and fill out the pit. Looking from up above, I had a feeling he would do this since the pit on stage right had a slight void of bodies in it. Of course, as usual, I didn’t get down there in time (yes, I left my friend in the dust), and of course, as usual, I chose the wrong aisle to go down because Billie came up to the stadium on the aisle next to me. I’m pretty sure they were clearing that area anyway so that he wouldn’t trip and fall. And he didn’t! Yay! I marched back up to my seat and longed for that pit. My goodness.
High Five
Other highlights of this show for me where Billie telling the story of fighting with Adrienne over the phone when he was out with friends, while some guy drove by and said, “Fuck you Billie Joe! Green Day sucks!” Billie Joe then went on to relate how he beat the crap out of the guy, goes back into the bar, does some shots and forgets that Adrienne is still on the phone. Apparently this all took place during the tough final record-mixing time. Those days are over now, it’s all good.
I think the thing that I missed most in this show was the chance to dance, play and interact more directly with the band. Billie, Tré and Mike work the crowd like you wouldn’t believe. They draw you into playtime, even if seeing them at great distances. Take it from me, the closer the better. Even if it’s only been three times so far (tomorrow’s MSG fill will make four, all this year) seeing them, I completely regret not taking the opportunity a long time ago. Oh. Well. After only a few shows, I kinda feel addicted now. Is this how all those old Deadheads felt, too? Hmm.
Liz and me at the Green Day show, MSG1
From an audience participation point of view, this show had some great moments. I can’t remember exactly when but at one point a construction hat pops out of the pit, and Billie puts it on. He throws it back to the pit a few seconds later. The construction hat will be back.
Billie in the epic-failed stage dive guy's construction hat - GDA
“East Jesus Nowhere.” What can I say about this song except for ‘thank you.’ From the very moment when the screeching, metallic quality of the chords start, a powerful moment begins which does not disappoint. The band finds a young, preferably innocent, child upon which to perform a ritual known as “saving the soul.” Sometimes the kids are scared shitless, and sometimes you get a kid like Elijah… with a Biblical name no less… at Madison Square Garden. Good times. Elijah played his part perfectly and deserved the chant that his name got. Billie was pretty good, too. 🙂
“Longview” was surreal. I don’t remember the first verse singer, but for the second verse singer, we come back to the construction hat. From what I understand, some kids from Oakland traveled from California to see the band. The guy with the construction hat being one of them. Well, he got on stage and in a heavy metal sorta Gwar-like voice started the lyrics. Which was kinda cool for a word or two. And then he stopped in the middle of the verse and made Billie sing the song. A bit of a bummer, I’d say, particularly since the second verse is the best verse in “Longview.” In recompense, Billie had him stage dive, which he gladly did. He ran down the cat walk at high speed down and…. he jumps and… nobody catches him. Oops. This clip has the scene, which ends around the 3:37 mark. LOL funny. Luckily, the last dude totally redeems the moment with a great performance and a even better stage dive. As a bonus, the clip also has Basket Case, always a winner. (Hurry before it’s too late!)
Green Day at Madison Square Garden, July 27, 2009
I think this night was the first time that they played “When I Come Around,” which may have been a request from the floor. Lots of fun signs pop up with requests, but alas, I can’t think of any right now. I was made happy by it being played. Yay! Disappearing Boy made its second appearance on the concert tour (it was also played in Albany), but on this night it was dedicated to Billie’s oldest son, Joey.
Besides the fact that Green Day played, which is the greatest thing in the world, an even greater thing happened during the 40-hour song, “Jesus of Suburbia.” On this tour the song, or portions of it, have been given over to aspiring musicians from the audience in a sort of crap-shoot way (see Construction Hat Guy). Usually it works out well. Occasionally, it works out really fabulously.
Billie began to ask the audience if they could play “Jesus of Suburbia” and was about to settle on a guy with a sign when the guy said two words he never should have uttered, “What song?” Billie looked at him said, “What song? What did I just say, dumbass?” and moved on to a girl with a sign standing next to him. What happened next was magical, and it was a good thing a professional bootlegger… uh… caught it on tape.
Picking Stephanie
Stephanie debuts with Green Day, Madison Square Garden, July 27, 2009
Elijah needs salvation from his good ways - Green Day - Madison Square Garden1*
Setlist: MSG1
1. Song of the Century
2. 21st Century Breakdown
3. Know Your Enemy
4. East Jesus Nowhere
5. Holiday
6. Static Age
7. Before the Lobotomy
8. Are We the Waiting
9. St. Jimmy
10. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
11. 2000 Light Years Away
12. Welcome to Paradise
13. Castaway
14. When I Come Around
15. Disappearing Boy
16. Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
17. Thank You (Led Zeppelin)/ Sweet Child O’ Mine (Guns N’ Roses)/ Take Me
Out to the Ball Game/ 99 Bottles of Beer/ Iron Man (Riff)
18. Brain Stew
19. Jaded
20. Longview
21. Basket Case
22. She
23. King For a Day
24. Shout/ Earth Angel (The Penguins)/ Swanee/ I’ll Be There
25. 21 Guns
26. American Eulogy
27. American Idiot
28. Jesus of Suburbia
29. Minority
30. Drama Queen
31. Last Night On Earth (acoustic)
32. Good Riddance
The show traditionally ends with Good Riddance performed by Billie on guitar, and some surprise acoustic numbers have come before it lately. Tonight’s show held a beautiful “Drama Queen” (my first time hearing it live), and a soulful “Last Night on Earth.”
Goodbye until next time. Like tomorrow??
I think the saddest part… and mind you, I had a super time… was not being in the pit and missing the chance to meet Adrienne Armstrong. Apparently she was asking folks in the pit to help with the natural resources project that the band is involved with, the Natural Resources Defense Council or NRDC. You know, some nature crackpots that keep talking about saving the planet or something like that. Good people. It would have been nice to say hello.
Nonetheless, I still had one more show to go. The second night of two shows is always better.*
Green Day Mind 