Photo of Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day by Erica Vining
“One small step for man, one great leap for mankind” – Neil Armstrong, speaking about his long lost cousin (twice removed) Billie Joe Armstrong
I may have completely made that up, but the truth here is Green Day is the answer to uniting the world again, and you won’t convince me otherwise.
Playing through two full albums, live, in the middle of a lightning storm. Does it get more punk rock? That is what concertgoers in St. Louis were treated to on Thursday night as the legendary Green Day brought The Saviors Tour to Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre for a night packed full of nostalgia. I think I can speak for many when I say the day leading up to the show was spent with baited breath and The Weather Channel on constant refresh, hoping for the forecast to clear up. Manifestation paid off, because the weather held out and the show went off with barely a hitch, ending just a few minutes early as the storms rolled in.
The night started strong after a desperate sprint across a packed parking lot, arriving just in time to catch the opener of the night, The Linda Lindas. I was unfamiliar with the band, but comments on the Amphitheatre’s social media shouted praises and excitement for the foursome, so I was looking forward to seeing the set. The all-female quartet had a charming aesthetic as they took the stage, and drummer Mila de la Garza chose to spend her 14th birthday with us, drumming enthusiastically as a “Happy Birthday” banner hung from her set. Having never seen the band before, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I felt the musicality of the Linda Lindas fit well with Green Day’s pop punk vibe. What impressed me the most about this band is the range of talent for such a young group, with the oldest member being guitarist Bela Salazar at 19. The girls opened the night with “Too Many Things” off their upcoming album No Obligation (out October 11 on Epitaph). The set was short and sweet at 7 songs, including Happy Birthday for Garza, ending with “Racist, Sexist Boy,” a song about an experience that Garza had with a racist individual during the COVID-19 pandemic. I found the set a bit lackluster in energy, but impressive in instrumental and vocal range, and I think with time and experience performing live the band will find their groove together and be a powerhouse on the pop punk circuit.
Rancid followed The Linda Lindas with a stark contrast in appearance. Where the former is a fresh-faced new band, Rancid has put in their time on the scene. Forming in 1991, Rancid’s sound is nearly as nostalgic as Green Day, played on Walkmans and boom boxes in stuffy bedrooms everywhere. Continuing to tour thirty years later is a testament to their timeless sound, and they were a joy to watch live on Thursday night as they opened for Green Day. The band took the stage with a confidence only thirty years of performing can bring, commanding attention from a rowdy crowd. Tim Armstrong immediately stood out with his grizzly appearance matching his gravelly voice, the look completed by his left-handed playing of an upside down right- handed hollowbody guitar. Rancid opened with “Maxwell Murder” off their album …And Out Comes the Wolves, which celebrates its thirty-year anniversary in 2025. Playing through several hits including “Fall Back Down” and “Radio,” it was apparent they were having as much fun as the crowd, beaming at each other, high fiving, and generally just enjoying themselves on stage. They gave a heartfelt thanks to fans for 33 years of unwavering support after “Time Bomb” before closing their set with “Ruby Soho.”
With impending storms on the radar, Green Day opted to start a few minutes ahead of time to get as much show in as possible before the inevitable weather delay. This allowed time for their ten-minute intro before they took the stage, which featured a boisterous crowd singing along to “Bohemian Rhapsody” and a life sized bunny resembling Donnie Darko performing acrobatics and getting the crowd ready for the night’s headliner. One thing about Green Day is their energy—and talent—is ageless, and this is reflected in a crowd spanning from teenagers to seniors. Vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong truly seems to age in reverse, somehow maintaining his boyish charm into his fifties. Green Day opened the night to “The American Dream is Killing Me” with an explosion of pyro and fireworks. There was no shortage of production for The Saviors Tour, with ample fire and booms through the entire 37-song set, commanding attention should one even consider walking away for some nachos or a beer. I was initially shocked by the lengthy set list until my favorite editor Jason reminded me that it’s Green Day and many of their songs are under 2 minutes, and for a generation with an incredibly short attention span I think Green Day couldn’t be more perfect.
Although titled The Saviors Tour, after their most recent LP, the show featured a full play through of two other albums—Dookie and American Idiot, both celebrating anniversaries this year (their 30th and 20th, respectively). We weren’t just gifted the hits or singles from the albums, we got every bit that these two iconic sets had to offer—hidden songs included. Drummer Tré Cool gifted us with the secret song from Dookie, “All by Myself,” in his glorious leopard print robe and flaming blue hair. A set list so packed leaves little room for banter, but that didn’t stop Billie Joe from bringing a young fan on stage for “Know Your Enemy,” encouraging her to stage dive and giving accolades to the youngster when she gave a firm “no.” Green Day does a great job of highlighting their individual talents, with “Longview” giving bassist Mike Dirnt his time to shine with the iconic bass riff being the defining sound of the track. The repetitive punchy notes add an element of urgency to the song, making it impossible to sit idly and not bob your head along to one of Green Day’s most memorable hits. We were treated to a few odd songs thrown in as a sort of intermission before the second half of the show, with “Brain Stew” and a few more Saviors tracks (“Dilemma,” “One Eyed Bastard,” “Look Ma, No Brains!”) thrown in the mix, as well as a quick cover of “Jack & Diane” by John Mellencamp.
Dookie is a gem, but American Idiot was my album growing up. There is no song on the album that is a skip, and I watched the second half of the set Thursday laying in the grass of the lawn and taking it in. Fireworks and pyro blasts accented the lightning in the sky, which was close enough to add an element of excitement but not yet near enough to stop the show. The energy expended on stage looked exhausting, with Armstrong slowing things down a bit for an acoustic performance of “Give Me Novacaine.” Things sped up after this, with the band determined to finish the set before the weather moved in. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” is always an emotional song live, with “Homecoming” and “Whatsername” following. Armstrong let fans know that mother nature had decided the show was over before launching into a very rapid, mostly acapella, encore of “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” as he was hurried off stage. Singing to the backs of fans as they raced to beat the incoming storm, Armstrong was spot on as he crooned rapidly “Ihopeyouhadthetimeofyourlife.” I think I speak for everyone that night when I say, we absolutely did, Billie. | Erica Vining
