Green Day - Bellahouston Park, Glasgow 25 June 2024

‘The Saviours Tour’, in support of their latest album, is also celebrating 30 years of ‘Dookie’ and 20 years of ‘American Idiot’ - their two landmark and best-selling albums, with both being played in their entirety. What a treat!

The crowds’ vocal cords were warmed up ready for the band by an enthusiastic singalong to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, followed by the odd sight of someone in a rabbit suit (the band’s mascot Drunk Bunny) encouraging the crowds’ participation along to ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’.

The show began with pyros and the band powering into the excellent ‘The American Dream Is Killing Me’ from ‘Saviours’, before Billy Joe announced “Welcome to the 30th anniversary of Dookie”.

A backdrop of the explosion from the iconic album cover was quickly unfurled and the band wasted no time in launching into ‘Burnout’, to the crowd’s delight. The album, a masterpiece in melodic punk rock, was played in chronological order - mostly sub-three minute bangers, with Billy Joe Armstrong keeping the crowd energy levels up with regular calls for sing-alongs, bouncing, fist pumps, etc.

‘Basket Case’ of course sent the audience into a frenzy. Other highlights were ‘She’ and ‘Welcome to Paradise’. The Dookie set closed with Tre Cool coming out from behind the drums – surely a welcome break from some high energy drumming – resplendent in a leopard print smoking jacking to perform ‘All By Myself’ in true vaudeville style!

“30 years goes by just like that. But we’re going to live forever – right?!” asks Billy Joe, to a massive cheer. I don’t know about forever, but he comfortably looks like a man half his age. He’s the Peter Pan of Pop Punk.

Splitting the anniversary sets, we were then treated to some more new songs (‘Look Ma, No Brains!’ was a standout) and a few from other albums, plus a bit of Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’.

‘Know Your Enemy’ saw a fan invited onstage for a bit of singing. Of course, she took the opportunity to grab a selfie and a hug too! Why wouldn’t you? More fan involvement came a few songs later when another fan asked if he could join them on guitar for ‘Dilemma’. The lad did himself proud and left the stage with tears in his eyes. “Oh my god! He’s in the band now.” remarked Billy Joe. “Glasgow, this is a night to remember for sure!” He wasn’t wrong….and we were barely halfway through.

A giant inflatable fist holding a bleeding heart grenade signalled the start of the ‘American Idiot’ set. This was a much more musically adventurous record for the band - lots of variety, lyrical themes still very valid today and extended songs with multiple time changes. It’s almost prog punk. 

The title track was always going to be a crowd pleaser and the Glasgow punters sang it word-for-word. At around 9 minutes long, the multi-sectioned ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ was nothing short of brilliant. ‘Holiday’, ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ and ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’ were all standout crowd pleasers too.

Darkness had arrived long before ‘Whatsername’ closed the American Idiot set, but there was still time for a bit more. ‘Bobby Sox’ was first up, before the 37-song set aptly ended on the acoustic ’Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)’.

Lots of big shows this summer, but this one will take some beating. Absolutely outstanding!

Len.