I like all these bands but it never occurred to me to go to a show with any of them. Mostly for me just what I call “radio bands” and I don’t go much deeper than that. But the boy (a massive Green Day fan) had a spare ticket as a friend of his got COVID. So, off we went.
The show started at the ridiculous hour of 4:30 pm with a band called the Linda Lindas. I didn’t even try to make that time. I managed to find parking at a meter, congratulating myself for only having to pay 2 bucks.
The scene outside Fenway on any given night can reasonably be compared to a zoo. There are several clubs along the street including a House of Blues that almost literally never has a blues band.
I made a beeline for the sausage, peppers and onions (18 bucks!) only to find out some other guy was selling them further down the street for thirteen. I forget what I paid for the beer but by now I think I’m out a good 30 bucks (not to mention the ticket which I do not yet know about.)
But I gotta say this show totally killed. I did not expect that I’d go to see this lineup and see one of the best shows I’ve seen in many a year. But it was great. All the bands sounded great and the energy level was off the charts.
Rancid was on when I came in and met up with the boy. We had grandstand seats somewhere around first base and the stage is out by the wall, the Green Monster. I’ve always tried to get tix up close but really, with big screens, this didn’t entirely suck. The Rancid singer managed to get the word ‘fuck’ in on just about every other word in his ‘we’re honored to be at Fenway’ talk. Right back at ya, pal.
Here’s some Rancidity for you. Great energy but I can’t help but think they would be more compelling in a small club:
I’ve always liked just about everything I’ve ever heard from Smashing Pumpkins. I like that “wall of guitar drone” sound they get. This version of the band included three of the originals – Billy Corgan (of course), guitarist James Iha and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Setlist:
The Everlasting Gaze
Doomsday Clock
Zoo Station(U2 cover)
Today
That Which Animates the Spirit
Tonight, Tonight
Ava Adore
Disarm
Bullet With Butterfly Wings
Beguiled(with wrestlers fighting onstage)
1979
Jellybelly
Cherub Rock
Zero
Yes, wrestlers fighting onstage. Kinda pointless but then I remembered that Corgan is a heavy-duty wrestling fan and, in fact, owner of something called the National Wrestling Alliance. Always struck me as kind of a weird guy.
These guys are kinda doom-y but I dig it.
Lastly, Green Day. Interestingly, they started the show by playing a recording of Queen doing “Bohemian Rhapsody” which I guess works ‘coz everybody sang every word and kinda got in the mood. Then a guy in a bunny outfit came out and ran around to “Blitzkrieg Bop.” I guess this is all maybe just some leftover 60s weirdness.
it’s 30 years since Green Day released Dookie so they did that in its entirety. It’s been 20 years since Green Day released American Idiot so they did that in its entirety. I own Dookie on vinyl and that’s about it. This was a Green Day crowd. Everybody in the audience knew (and sang) every single word. I even sang along with a few including “Basket Case,” “American Idiot,” and “Brain Stew,” some of my favorites.
Green Day puts on a hell of show which you can watch as much or as little of as you’re inclined to. How the hell Billie Joe would maintain his voice after this amazed me. He didn’t. He lost it a couple of nights later in Pennsylvania.
Afterwards the boy and I made our way to a local watering hole and pondered what we’d seen. And then we walked back to the car only to find that after 6 pm it’s permit parking only and I had nice 100 hundred dollar ticket. So while the guy didn’t want money for the concert ticket, I was out a C-note anyway. Life in the big city.