Green Day
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday, March 1st
According to Green Day, their latest record, 2024’s Saviors – after which this tour is named – is the final instalment in a trilogy that began with their breakout album Dookie (1994) and 2004’s zeitgeist-grabbing American Idiot, which conquered the mainstream and even inspired a jukebox musical.
At the first show of their Australian tour, the East Bay punks treat us to the latter two albums, played in full, plus a smattering of hits plucked from their vast back catalogue.
Marvel Stadium’s roof is open and we’re ready to rock.
As soon as Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” pumps over the venue sound system, people hasten their toilet breaks and booze runs and race back to their seats. Who doesn’t love singing along with that, “Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?” part? Then Drunk Bunny – who is that sporting a rabbit costume? – takes the stage, geeing everyone up and nailing The Worm dance move as “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones plays out.
Finally, we clap eyes on the actual punk-rock band we’ve come to worship as they take the stage to the tune of a banging remix of “The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme)”.
Billie Joe Armstrong raises both arms in a crucifix pose, head tilted back and fingers beckoning, before launching a spitball in the air. The crowd roars their approval. Green Day are on fire and Armstrong doesn’t need to ask us twice to be upstanding.
After just one song – Saviors opener “The American Dream Is Killing Me”, a protest against the first Trump presidency that originated during sessions for their previous album, 2020’s Father of All… – it’s Dookie time.
We’re immediately pummelled by Tré Cool’s drumming, his cool opening drum pattern in “Longview” greeted by enthusiastic “WOO!”s from the crowd. Aqua eyeshadow covers Cool’s entire eyelids – a statement as bold as his drumming style – and later Armstrong reveals their drummer spent last night drinking with Slipknot (who were in town for Knotfest).
@thataussiemusicguy American Idiot – Green Day, Live In Melbourne #greenday #americanidiotgreenday #billiejoeamstrong #throwbacksongs #2000s
On the giant screens, Armstrong is always ready for his closeup. Wide-eyed, he moves his eyeballs – enhanced by guyliner, of course – from left to right before “Basket Case” goes off. “When I Come Around” then emerges as another clear crowd favourite.
Giant inflatables – including the Dookie plane which floats above the crowd like Pink Floyd’s pig, detonating inflatable bombs – raise production values.
At every show on this tour, Armstrong has plucked a willing punter from the crowd to join the band on stage to belt out “Know Your Enemy” (from 2009’s 21st Century Breakdown) and generally thrash about. Tonight, a fan named Honey does the honours – totally committing to their five seconds of fame, much to Armstrong’s amusement.
“Do you know what’s worth fightin’ for / When it’s not worth dyin’ for?” – the guitar-strummed “21 Guns” provides a brief respite from the organised chaos. Then “Minority” is greeted with pogoing gusto as we all chant along come the chorus: “‘Cause I wanna be the mino-ri-ty / I don’t need your author-it-y!”
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Hands in the air, mass clapping, right-versus-left hollering contests – Armstrong conducts us from the stage.
“American Idiot” has never been more relevant than it is right this minute, so it was always going to go down a treat. “Don’t you just wanna be happy?” Armstrong asks the congregation at one point. “Don’t you want politicians to shut the fuck up? Don’t you want Elon Musk to shut the fuck up? Don’t you want Donald Trump to shut the fuck up?”
“Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, during which Armstrong requests for the house lights to be dimmed to enhance the galaxy of smartphone torches, delivers another poignant moment within the mayhem. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” inspires yet another lively mass singalong.
This entire evening’s only ick is the Armstrong-initiated “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”/ ”Oi, Oi, Oi!” call and response – can international acts please stop with that already? It’s lame!
For two-and-a-half hours, Green Day simply do not let up – not even for a millisecond. This enduring band’s stamina is beyond and their gig fitness is matchless. It’s fun for the whole family. Green Day, we salute you.
More information about Green Day’s Australian tour can be found here.
