Review: Green Day Rocks A Revival At Tower Theater
UPPER DARBY, Pa. (CBS) -- "I think parts of the ceilings are coming down" Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong announced to the Tower Theater crowd on Thursday night. "Welcome to a Green Day concert."
The legendary venue was pushed to extremes for a soaked, super sold out set from the Rock And Roll Hall of Famers on this rainy evening.
After three years away, fans snaked down 69th street waiting for will call through bad weather to catch a revitalized Green Day, ageless and enthused in the lead-up to their new album Revolution Radio which is due out next week.
The floor shook, the speakers blared, and it appears something did fall from the ceiling in front of bassist Mike Dirnt.
The packed Tower Theater hosted a wide range – from fans old enough to remember how important Dookie was when it dropped in 1994, to those who graduated something, anything, everything with "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)" as the soundtrack, to those born well after the "Longview" and "Basket Case" videos dominated MTV. The CD copy of Dookie for sale alongside their t-shirts in the lobby served as a reminder of age to all and a testament to Green Day's generation-spanning importance.
The band exploded on to stage at about 9:15pm with a set of new songs off Revolution Radio, with Billie Joe marching from edge to edge of the stage. Before the crowd could catch their collective breath, Green Day began their revival in earnest with the shout-a-long fist-pumping of "Know Your Enemy".
As he would continued through the night, Armstrong played preacher with the gospel according to Green Day. With the call and response and a constant connection, the crowd was never without an electric cheerleader for this punk rock pep rally.
It was during "Know Your Enemy" too that Billie Joe would pluck his first fan from the crowd to help him sing along.
Wearing a "Welcome To Paradise" Green Day shirt, the most ecstatic young man was pulled from the pit to sing beside Armstrong. Ecstatic doesn't even do justice to the level of excitement coloring this kid's face. Think screaming Beatles fan footage multiplied by a Price Is Right Showcase Showdown winner, and you're almost there.
Another fan would be brought up to help along with "Longview" later in the set, both crowd-surfed back to their spots after having the story of a lifetime.
Green Day would never let up as the night wore on in Upper Darby. What followed was a mix of American Idiot and Dookie favorites with a few other career-spanning touchstone tunes as well. The night would also feature the second ever live performance of their latest song "Still Breathing".
Through it all, Armstrong rocked the Tower with theatrical excellence. The gestures were big and the chants were loud. These California kids still have more energy than half the bands near their beginnings. There's no speed off the fastball as songs like "When I Come Around" and "Jesus Of Suburbia" still cut right through a crowd. It makes you wish every band you loved in 1994 was still having as much fun as Green Day is today.
"Never stop being a ****ing weirdo" Billie Joe advised the crowd, which agreed thunderously.
By the time they reached their second encore, the acoustic "Ordinary World" and "(Time Of Your Life)" was all they could do slow the senses – but the statement had already been made. Green Day is back and stronger than ever. Ceilings be damned.
