Written by: Alyssa Valladares
Edited by: Anna LePetri
On September 3, 2017, Green Day's Revolution Radio Tour rocked the Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida. Their opening band, British rock band, Catfish and the Bottlemen, energized the crowd and built the hype for what was to come. And lo-and-behold, when each member of Green Day walked on stage, a jolt of energy burst through me and the rest of the crowd. At that moment, the unanimous love for the band was undeniable.
The show itself was incredibly fan-oriented. Green Day’s setlist was made up of a mixture of old hits and songs from their new album, appealing to fans both old and new. They were only a song in when lead singer and guitarist Billie Joe brought up a 14-year-old fan to help him sing the lyrics to "Know Your Enemy". The crowd went wild with excitement and caught the little boy as he dove off the stage and into the crowd. They had also brought a fan on stage to sing with them during one of their older songs, "Longview", from their Dookie album. They also played multiple covers, including "Shout" (Otis Day and the Knights), "Satisfaction" (The Rolling Stones), "Hey Jude" (The Beatles), and "Knowledge" (Operation Ivy). During their "Knowledge" cover, Billie Joe brought up a 16-year-old girl to play guitar with him and gave her the guitar afterward. Their entire show was extremely focused on making their fans feel loved and appreciated.
Billie Joe also wasn't once afraid of voicing his beliefs on today's societal and political climate. He assured the crowd that their show was a safe space for all and that they did not tolerate racism, sexism, or hate in any form. Further into the show, Billie Joe laid on the ground with an unlit joint thrown on stage by a fan and said:
“When I think of a joint, it makes me want to punch a Nazi. Get the f*** out of here. F*** racism, it’s the 21st Century. That sh** is f***ing stupid. If the president isn’t going to f***ing say something, then I’ll f***ing say something.”
Every time Billie Joe made these comments, it earned a roar of applause and shouts of agreement from the crowd. I’ve been to many concerts, but I’ve never seen a crowd as responsive as this one. Apart from Billie Joe's speeches, there wasn't a single moment during the show that the crowd wasn’t dancing, singing, or cheering. The band had two encores for the show, the first including one of their most beloved songs, "American Idiot". They ended the concert with their song "Good Riddance" (Time of Your Life), a performance so emotional that the crowd, including myself, couldn’t help but let a few tears fall as we sang along and said goodnight to the band as the show came to an end.
The Revolution Radio Tour moves on to South America in November.
Set List:
Know Your Enemy
Bang Bang
Revolution Radio
Holiday
Letterbomb
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Longview
Youngblood
2000 Light Years Away
Hitchin' a Ride
When I Come Around
Welcome to Paradise
Minority
Are We the Waiting
St. Jimmy
Knowledge (Operation Ivy cover)
Basket Case
She
King for a Day (with a snippet of Careless Whisper)
Shout / Always Look on the Bright Side of Life / (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction / Hey Jude
Still Breathing
Forever Now
Encore:
American Idiot
Jesus of Suburbia
Encore 2:
21 Guns (Acoustic)
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
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