Philadelphia, PA - Liacouris Center, October 28th, 2004
October 29th is the day that will stay etched into my memory forever as the Best Day of My Life! As me and Lauren got into the car on the way to Philly to pick up my cousin, Vincent, we were soo eager! We were blasting the 'American Idiot' CD and singing along to prepare for some serious rocking out, hehe. By the time we had picked up my cousin and were on our way to the Liacouris Center we were overly excited and couldn't sit still.
When we got to the Center we walked in and could hear the sound of Sugar Cult playing their set, boring!, and we were greeted by huge banners of Green Day! We got into our seats, ok so we weren't in the pit and we weren't very close to the stage but we had a great view and any seat would do for me as long as I got to see the show. The crowd grew anxious as Sugar Cult finished their set and New Found Glory began to set up, one more boring band, in my opinion, to go and then the Highlight of the night. When New Found Glory took the stage me and Lauren decided to go buy our T-shirts then because we figured we wouldn't miss much excitment. I got a black one with the heart grenade on it and it says "American Idiot" and Lauren got a white one with the cover from the 'American Idiot" single on it. When we got back to out seats New Found Glory was still playing and we had awhile to wait so I tried to enjoy it but I don't really like their music so I just stared at the stage entrance thinger hoping to see Billie Joe, Tre or Mike walk by, but I didn't see them, haha.
Ok, so the moment had finally arrived and New Found Glory left the stage and they set up Green Day's set and everything was ready to go!! The stage was decorated with Heart Grenade banners and a big light up Green Day sign. The Crowd was roaring with excitment and I was jumping out of my sit waiting for them to take the stage! Before Green Day came on, this Big Pink Bunny came out onto the catwalk and chugged down a beer to get the crowd going and at that time I looked at the stage entrance and there they were, My three idols dressed in their usual attire, black and red! When They ran onto the stage the crowd went beserk, it was soo loud I couldn't hear myself think, and then the first chords to 'American Idiot' were played and the crowd went insane. They played that 2 minute powerful hit flawlessly and it was the perfect start to any rock concert. Next Billie Joe Announced "This song is called Jesus of Suburbia" and the crowd roared! That 9 minute rock opera was played from start to finish and it was kick ass the whole time! When that was over Billie Joe announced 'Holiday' and said "this song isn't anti-American, it's anti-war" and they rocked that song! Then they did 'Are we the Waiting' and a disco ball came down because the first line to song is, "Starry Nights.." and the whole stadium was shining, it was beautiful. And right after that they went directly into St. Jimmy, and Billie Joe was jumping all over the stage for that one, it's a very energetic song. Then the next song they played got me really really psyched! It's an oldie, a classic and it goes by the name of 'Longview', as soon as the crowd heard that classic, incredible bass intro we went crazy! I love that song and well so does every other fan so it was so cool that they played it. During the song he introduced the band and called himself "Asshole"! Then they played the next song, and my favorite song, Hotchin' A Ride!! I love it so much and I was sooo overjoyed when they started to play it. And here's the best part, in the middle of the song Billie Joe stopped playing and Mike and Tre continued their parts and Billie Joe started making sex noises and had an orgasm on stage and his hands went down his pants! Whoa, that was hot, haha, and then he screamed "Somebody fuck me" and the crowd screamed back!!! Then they went into Brain Stew and Jaded and that was really cool because they're both classic songs that you hafta love! Then they played 'Knowledge' from 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours (written by Operation Ivy) and in the middle of the song Green Day picked out a guitarist from the pit and Billie Joe taught him the guitar part, and then they picked a drummer and Tre taught him the drum part and then Billie Joe said "Get out here you fucking cripple" and John Ritchie, from the Eagles who was out for the year because of a leg injury, came out from backstage and he played the bass part. The 3 lucky people got to play the song and Billie Jow sang! Then when it was over Billie Joe let the guy keep the guitar and the drummer got to keep the sticks! Then Billie Joe said: "Where's that drummer get him out here", and he came on the stage again and Billie Joe said your gonna do a stage dive and the crowd started to chant "dive! dive!" and Tre gave him a drum roll and he dove off into the pit! Then they did 'Basket Case' and 'She' which kicked ass! And then they did one of my favorite songs from 'American idiot' "Wake Me When September Ends" and they dedicated it to Johnny Ramone, which was sweet. I love that song so much, cell phones and lighters emerged from pockets everywhere and lit up the stadium. I had my cell phone out and I would call someone and then wave the phone back a forth so the person could hear the show! The they did 'King for A Day' haha, that song is hilarious and Billie Joe put on his crown and danced around the stage and then they broke into 'Shout' and when it goes "a little bit softer now" and it slowly gets quieter, everyone except Tre, got real low to the ground while they were still playing their instruments! it was awesome! Then someone came out and put a cape on Billie Joe when he was crouched on the ground, to complete him King outfit! Then the last song before the encore was 'Homecoming' and it was so exciting because Mike and Tre both have main singing parts in that! After the awesome 9 minute opera was over confetti shot out all over the place and we caught a bunch of pieces! Then Green Day left the stage.... but these big signs lit up that said "GREEN.. DAY" and it got the crowd to chant that until they came back on stage and the crowd went crazy again. For the encore they did 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams', 'Minority' and I Love that song sooo much so I was very happy when they played that! Then they covered the song "We are the Champions" by Queen, which was an awesome surprise. They performed the song really really well, it was amazing. Then after that more confetti shot all over the stadium! Then Mike and Tre left the stage and the lights went real low and a spot light shone onto the catwalk where Billie Joe stood solo and performed 'Time of Your Life' The song was beautiful and I thought I was going to cry. It was flawless and so emotional. It was the perfect note to end on, the perfect way to end such an amazing concert. Then it was over Billie Joe left the stage and the show was over.
When it ended I wasn't sad or mad that it was over, I was happy that it happened. It was the most amazing experience ever. I was in the same stadium with my idols, my favorite band, and my musical inspiration and I got to see them do what they do best and that's to fucking rock out like there’s no tomorrow! Green Day is the band that made me realize what type of music I liked; they were the first band I actually liked. They turned me into an individual musically, I wasn't just someone who listened to all the hits on Q102 and pretended to like it all, I had my own taste in music because of them. And I will always remember that experience.
When we got to the Center we walked in and could hear the sound of Sugar Cult playing their set, boring!, and we were greeted by huge banners of Green Day! We got into our seats, ok so we weren't in the pit and we weren't very close to the stage but we had a great view and any seat would do for me as long as I got to see the show. The crowd grew anxious as Sugar Cult finished their set and New Found Glory began to set up, one more boring band, in my opinion, to go and then the Highlight of the night. When New Found Glory took the stage me and Lauren decided to go buy our T-shirts then because we figured we wouldn't miss much excitment. I got a black one with the heart grenade on it and it says "American Idiot" and Lauren got a white one with the cover from the 'American Idiot" single on it. When we got back to out seats New Found Glory was still playing and we had awhile to wait so I tried to enjoy it but I don't really like their music so I just stared at the stage entrance thinger hoping to see Billie Joe, Tre or Mike walk by, but I didn't see them, haha.
Ok, so the moment had finally arrived and New Found Glory left the stage and they set up Green Day's set and everything was ready to go!! The stage was decorated with Heart Grenade banners and a big light up Green Day sign. The Crowd was roaring with excitment and I was jumping out of my sit waiting for them to take the stage! Before Green Day came on, this Big Pink Bunny came out onto the catwalk and chugged down a beer to get the crowd going and at that time I looked at the stage entrance and there they were, My three idols dressed in their usual attire, black and red! When They ran onto the stage the crowd went beserk, it was soo loud I couldn't hear myself think, and then the first chords to 'American Idiot' were played and the crowd went insane. They played that 2 minute powerful hit flawlessly and it was the perfect start to any rock concert. Next Billie Joe Announced "This song is called Jesus of Suburbia" and the crowd roared! That 9 minute rock opera was played from start to finish and it was kick ass the whole time! When that was over Billie Joe announced 'Holiday' and said "this song isn't anti-American, it's anti-war" and they rocked that song! Then they did 'Are we the Waiting' and a disco ball came down because the first line to song is, "Starry Nights.." and the whole stadium was shining, it was beautiful. And right after that they went directly into St. Jimmy, and Billie Joe was jumping all over the stage for that one, it's a very energetic song. Then the next song they played got me really really psyched! It's an oldie, a classic and it goes by the name of 'Longview', as soon as the crowd heard that classic, incredible bass intro we went crazy! I love that song and well so does every other fan so it was so cool that they played it. During the song he introduced the band and called himself "Asshole"! Then they played the next song, and my favorite song, Hotchin' A Ride!! I love it so much and I was sooo overjoyed when they started to play it. And here's the best part, in the middle of the song Billie Joe stopped playing and Mike and Tre continued their parts and Billie Joe started making sex noises and had an orgasm on stage and his hands went down his pants! Whoa, that was hot, haha, and then he screamed "Somebody fuck me" and the crowd screamed back!!! Then they went into Brain Stew and Jaded and that was really cool because they're both classic songs that you hafta love! Then they played 'Knowledge' from 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours (written by Operation Ivy) and in the middle of the song Green Day picked out a guitarist from the pit and Billie Joe taught him the guitar part, and then they picked a drummer and Tre taught him the drum part and then Billie Joe said "Get out here you fucking cripple" and John Ritchie, from the Eagles who was out for the year because of a leg injury, came out from backstage and he played the bass part. The 3 lucky people got to play the song and Billie Jow sang! Then when it was over Billie Joe let the guy keep the guitar and the drummer got to keep the sticks! Then Billie Joe said: "Where's that drummer get him out here", and he came on the stage again and Billie Joe said your gonna do a stage dive and the crowd started to chant "dive! dive!" and Tre gave him a drum roll and he dove off into the pit! Then they did 'Basket Case' and 'She' which kicked ass! And then they did one of my favorite songs from 'American idiot' "Wake Me When September Ends" and they dedicated it to Johnny Ramone, which was sweet. I love that song so much, cell phones and lighters emerged from pockets everywhere and lit up the stadium. I had my cell phone out and I would call someone and then wave the phone back a forth so the person could hear the show! The they did 'King for A Day' haha, that song is hilarious and Billie Joe put on his crown and danced around the stage and then they broke into 'Shout' and when it goes "a little bit softer now" and it slowly gets quieter, everyone except Tre, got real low to the ground while they were still playing their instruments! it was awesome! Then someone came out and put a cape on Billie Joe when he was crouched on the ground, to complete him King outfit! Then the last song before the encore was 'Homecoming' and it was so exciting because Mike and Tre both have main singing parts in that! After the awesome 9 minute opera was over confetti shot out all over the place and we caught a bunch of pieces! Then Green Day left the stage.... but these big signs lit up that said "GREEN.. DAY" and it got the crowd to chant that until they came back on stage and the crowd went crazy again. For the encore they did 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams', 'Minority' and I Love that song sooo much so I was very happy when they played that! Then they covered the song "We are the Champions" by Queen, which was an awesome surprise. They performed the song really really well, it was amazing. Then after that more confetti shot all over the stadium! Then Mike and Tre left the stage and the lights went real low and a spot light shone onto the catwalk where Billie Joe stood solo and performed 'Time of Your Life' The song was beautiful and I thought I was going to cry. It was flawless and so emotional. It was the perfect note to end on, the perfect way to end such an amazing concert. Then it was over Billie Joe left the stage and the show was over.
When it ended I wasn't sad or mad that it was over, I was happy that it happened. It was the most amazing experience ever. I was in the same stadium with my idols, my favorite band, and my musical inspiration and I got to see them do what they do best and that's to fucking rock out like there’s no tomorrow! Green Day is the band that made me realize what type of music I liked; they were the first band I actually liked. They turned me into an individual musically, I wasn't just someone who listened to all the hits on Q102 and pretended to like it all, I had my own taste in music because of them. And I will always remember that experience.
