I Have A Fever

If I ever make my life's fortunes, they're going to play my birthday and everyone is invited for free. I'm thinking December 21st, 2012.


I've always liked their music & message especially since the release of American Idiot. Experiencing them live has infected my blood, turning it green. Have no fear though, it's not harmful or anything. Not contagious either. I do highly recommend it as I personally enjoy the affliction and the temporary cure is to put on Green Day and crank it up. It's been wonderful for my mental well being. I also discovered someting else;


I am an American Idiot!


Certain music has that affect on me. When life makes me rattled and stressed, it takes me to a place away far away from the everyday grind of reality with some good ol rock n roll blasting in my head; clearing my mind. A kind of mental eraser with the power of a jackhammer. Green Day has taken that to another level for me after seeing their live show.

Described in three words AH-MAY-ZING!! Their energy could have powered all of Seattle for the rest of the 21st Century.

They are a powerful mix of sound combing voice, instrument & visual affect with a message. Their music not only soothes my soul but strengthens it. It has grown up from their earlier albums and it speaks to me in a way very few things do, providing an edge and voice in this complicated and stressful world. It's only music? No no, it's much more than that. This is where I find some peace of mind. A trapdoor of escape when feeling confined within my head, trying to find my way out when all exits appear blocked. It's as if I've been given another sense to deal with the pain.

I'd like to take a few minutes to review their show, from the Pickard Perspective;

As soon as I found out Green Day was playing Seattle, I got tickets the first day they went on sale. Adelle definitely wanted to go but Eve couldn't because she had pup's visiting. My brother Jeff came to mind, so I bought three tickets then called to tell him he was going. It was the best 25 bucks I have ever spent. These memories will last a lifetime. Sharing them with Adelle was the best part of our night rocking out.


The tour is in support of their new album/CD; 21st Century Breakdown. At first, I liked it okay and every time I listened I liked it more. This album is one of those that gets better to me with each time played. Very few I notice do that for me. Either I like it or I don't and it doesn't change. This is one of the few that is a journey of discovery with each song. At first I thought it was an ample follow up to American Idiot. Especially considering how tough it is to match that kind of output again. Much like the Eagles after Hotel California. There's pressure to improve upon your greatest work. It's not easy to do. Green Day has done it with 21st Century Breakdown. They've produced another fantastic album and I think it matches Idiot more than it betters it. It's like riding a wave;

They're still on the crest.


It's not only the music that turns me on to Green Day. It's the message and what they do with their fame that I've also noticed. I've been severely pissed off over the last 8 years of George Bush and quite obviously, so have they. Thier music expresses that frustration and I feel gives me voice. Not only in the political realm but they also advocate for the environment. To me, there are few other things that are so important as protecting God's creation. Off of their website I found that they are very involved with such radical groups as the NRDC (Natural Resource Defense Council) & Habitat For Humanity. They helped HFH build homes after hurricane Katrina.

Here's the linke to the NRDC.

http://www.nrdc.org/


I don't expect everyone to feel the same way as I do. You may not agree with me or find Green Day distasteful, I'd like to say sorry but I wont apologize. I find plenty of things in everyday life offensive. Most of it done placed between very clean, white sheets making it hard to distinguish the underlying message. Like 'em or not. You know where Green Day stands, no question. I stand with them on many of these issues.

How do you express the feelings in your heart when your American Dream has been pissed on and flushed into a nightmare? All I want is a small slice of pie, I don't need the whole thing, leaving plenty for the next guy. Our ruined economy wasn't done in by two men who wished to marry, but by upstanding married men (to women) who have stolen our future and risked the collapse of our very way of life. I wish we could vote to outlaw greed. Instead, I am a commie for even thinking of such things. That's a real fear to me right here at home.

Okay, now I'm drifting away from my original intent here. Back to the concert!

Finally, the day of the show arrived; July 3rd 2009. We were ready to go after Adelle did my feauxhawk hair and eye liner for me. My brother picked us up around 5:30 (to raised eyebrows when he caught our get ups!). We ate at the Center House in the Seattle center before making our way to the Key. We were pleasantly surprised to see the Green Day tour bus parked outside next to the big fountain. Of course we had to snap a few pics of it and us posing. After milling around a bit we made for the line that was getting longer and longer to get into Key Arena.


While waiting in line, Adelle decided that I needed "IDIOT" pasted across my forehead. She whipped out her red lipstick and went to work. We found we were in the will call line and had to make for the other, longer line to get in. What idiots!!


Although, my only concern was that it was spelled correctly.


Once inside and seats located, followed by a couple of trips out for water and facilities we waited for the show to start. On the big screen they were taking and showing texts from the audience. I sent a few but they didn't show. Adelle's did, but I didn't see it as I was fetching water. Everyone was buying beer. The lady behind the counter look shocked that I only got one bottle of water, which had to be emptied into a cup. Apparently there's a new version of water bombs?

A band called "The Bravery" opened the show; *YAWN* After they finished and before Green Day came on stage, they turned up the house lights and played some various music. A Michael Jackson tune came on, followed by someone staggering on stage in a pink bunny costume carrying a bottle. He led the crowd with cheers, on side then the other. He staggered out to the edge of the stage and attempted some MJ moves, grabbed his crotch and downed the bottle before crawling back to the main stage and humping the step as he climbed. Finally someone from security came out and escorted him off stage. What a riot! The crowd was laughing as the bunny slid down the railing instead of going down the steps off stage.

The Show;

We got our money's worth right from the get go. They blasted off with songs off their new album; Song of the Century & 21st Century Breakdown injecting the Key with their enormous energy;





They followed with "Know Your Enemy". Then came "East Jesus Nowhere" with Billie starting off with "We'll see how Godless a nation we have become". The music filled the arena, pounding in my chest. The light show moved right in tune with the melody creating an overall affecting awe, completing the performance. He found a kid in the audience and called the "little shit" up on stage to "freak out and dance" while Green Day rocked out. Poor little guy, he was so nervous up there. Billie had him wave his arms in the air (the crowd followed right along). Instead of waving his arms, he rocked his whole body as if rigid.

Billie put his hand on the kids head to hold it still while he waved his arms. By the end of the song he was waving his arms madly and jumping up and down. Later Billie invited fans up to sing, finally bringing up a 16 year old kid on stage to play with the band during "Jesus of Suburbia". After Billie confirmed that he could play it, he handed his guitar to him and told him to get ready. The song rocked on and so did the young man jamming away for about the next 10 minutes.

Besides their music and energy that comes with it. I really enjoyed how Green Day involved the crowd in their show, taking a big venue and thousands of fans and making it feel small and intimate while still capturing the spectacle of a live arena show. That's not easily done and they pulled it off nicely. I would go see Green Day again in a heartbeat and plan on it when they come back to Seattle. They not only carried the torch for rocking live shows, they burned it down! Peter Frampton would be proud. The changing back drops, pryo's and booms added punch to an already knockout show.

Speaking of Seattle. Billie inserted the city reference and the state of Washington into their show many times, as any good band on tour does. A nice personal touch was Billie starting the Wave, a definite Seattle trait! The crowd jumped right up. What made this special was that it was the kickoff show on their five month tour that will take them across North America and Europe before it's over. Billie proclaimed; "We are now Green Day from Seattle". That got a raucus reply from the audience. I think mostly because he made us feel that way. They became a part of the audience by including them into their show, like it's their priviledge as much as ours.

After an hour and a half of driving rock and roll, with occasional side trips to ballads and slower numbers, Green Day left the stage only to be called back by loud chants of "Green - Day!" for their encore, lasting another 30 minutes wrapping it up with the ballad "Good Riddance/The Time of your Life". Perfectly stated. We did have the time of our lives. I will always remember this show. Filed away in a place where I can go to escape the stress of everyday life.


BILLIE JOE, MIKE AND TRE,

Thank you for sharing your talents with the rest of us. I am forever grateful. Have a great tour!