Place:
Olympiahalle - 12.000 sold Tickets - sold out. That's what it looks like
tonight for the show of Billie Joe Armstrong and his collegues, better
known as Green Day. But let's face it: did you expect anything else? I
for my part are not very much surprised about these circumstances. I
mean, have a look what this threesome has already reached in the past
with their rather simple, but very clever arranged Punkrock songs. You
have to know, that all of their yet relased longplayers have reached
multi platin status - and this in the huge USA. I won't count all other
achievements and awards,as this would let the frame here explode.
With their older albums Green Day had been going for a straighter punk
line, but from the release of 'American Idiot' a onwards they found
themselves a more or less cross over way. This is music hitting straight
the hearing nerv in your ear, easy to sing along with it. However you
define the sound, it is a fact, that Green Day have helped to give punk
music a rebirth, a new definition in a more commercial way. And this has
been a really genius move, as the average american is going for a rather
simple line. Giving these songs a slight political well understandable
touch goes even better down. One thing is for sure, with 'American
Idiot' from 2004 and the latest CD '21st Century Breakdown from this
year, this group is better than ever before.
Green Day is most of all Billie Joe Armstrong, then Mike Dirnt (Michael
Ryan Pritchard) on Bass and Tre`Cool (Frank Edwing Wright III), who
plays the drums since 1990. And now these 3 guys including some tour
musicians are back again to Europe, selling the biggest venues out
within days. And there is one more thing. It is known, that a Green Day
Concert lasts easily 3 hours. So let's see if this is true. For me it's
the first time seeing Green Day live on Stage.
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But first of all ‚Prima Donna’
from Hollywood L.A. are up there to push up the genrell mood.
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And they are truly Prima Donnas
in the truest sense of the word and it's meaning. Glamrock meets Punk,
abd all this with such an arrogance, that you can almost feel it in the
air. Whereby these boys definately not older than aprox. in the middle
of their twenties, not seeming like old professionells. They are going
for 3 years now. And it's the singer in this band, listening to the name
Kevin Preston, who takes care for the most movement on stage.
Yeah well, it is actually never very easy, with a small part of the
stage and less energy to heat up a massive crowd in a huge venue. And
they can hardly manage, despite some efforts. Maybe it's also a bit
their, just mentioned arrogance, which doesn't go down to well at all
12.000 Green Day admirers. But on the other hand I could imagine to see
Prima Donna in a smaller club, where they probably would do much better.
They are not playing anything new, but at least it rocks. It's only the
generell vibe of this band, which desturbes me a little. But I would
definately go and see them again, if they ever played here again in a
club or so.
http://www.primadonnarocks.com/
About 30 minutes later a pink rabbit hits the stage, and it seems
completely drunk. Yes you heard right. Bugs Bunny wants to take part,
showing his backside and drinking 2 or even 3 bottles of Lage within
seconds up there. This little extra show lasts about 10 minutes and
takes care for some amusement within the audiance. Whoever is behind
this mask, we will never get to know. But who cares....
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Shortly after the Bunny
fun is finished and a - blonde again - Billie Joe storms the stage and
despite his rather small bodyshape, he invates the whole building
immidiately. Hallelua, this is amazing. To be honest, I didn't expect
that much, what I get served here for the next hours. The whole place is
standing on their heads. And the arena develops in one huge moshpit. No,
I definately haven't experienced this so far. Starting off with the
track 'Song Of A Century' leading straight into '21st Century Break
Down....
Audiance and band pushing
each other up into a high and even higher adrenalin exzess. Maybe it is
the long abstinence of Green Day in Europe, which gets the kids in such
an ecstacy.
The little catwalk
leading from the stage into the audiance takes care for even more
closeness to Billie Joe Armstrong, who uses it almost constantly. One
Green Days smasher hits the next one, interrupted by 2 jamsessions,
including Black Sabbath's 'Iron Man' or 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' from
the Scorpions, or within the second jam - the oldie 'Stand By Me', the
Stones classic tune 'Satisfaction' and some other's. Even Mr Dirnt does
some lead vocal singing on that, whereby we don't get too much to see of
drummer Tre`Cool.
The threesome is
accompanied by tour musicians Jeff Matika (since this year) - Rhythm Git/Background
Voc. - there is Jason Freese (since 2003) Keyboard, Sax, acoustic git.
- and Jason Whhite (since 1996) Lead/Rhythm Git/Background Voc.
It's not only the 2 jamsessions giving the hit bonfire an additional
touch, but also funny interpretation of Billy Joe, getting fans up on
stage and letting them play the instruments for one more jam, or just
getting girls up on the catwalk and make them very happy.
The Band is moving around getting down to the stage floor and continue
to play. And I don't have to mention all these video effects, explosions
and pyrotechniqs and a nice water shower for the fans and conffettis.
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You
can turn it however you want it. But a performance by Green Day is not
only a concert. It is more or less a musical theater play. Yeah well
some people are complaining, that they would rather luv to see the band
concentrating on the music only. But these are only very few voices.
Green Day have done very well here in Munich, winning yet another goal
in each way....
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And
there is one more thing, which I don't get to see very often in the
Olympiahalle. Its the fact, that this band plays more than 2 hours and
40 minutes, wasting their complete energy. And not one second is boring.
After the show, someone told me, that Billie's voice hasn't quite been
in shape, that's why he "only" did this time. Usually he
always plays 3 hours or even longer.
There is not much more left to say, exept the fact, that this here is
one of a string of great concerts in a row. Yet another highlight. And
Green Day - again are an icing on the big cake. And Billie Joe Armstrong
carries a 100% responsibillity. Let's hope he will continue for a long
time - Amen.
http://www.greenday.com
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