New York, NY, September 21st, 2004
After waiting for more than an hour after the scheduled performance time, Green Day fans showed no signs of fatigue or mercy as they barreled through the thin metal barricades today on Park Place. The NYPD and other local authorities had to literally brace themselves against the barricades as the band took the stage, and did not get a rest for the remainder of the show. The free, unadvertised show attracted many concertgoers both inside the barricades and on sidewalks, in shops and hanging out of windows on the closed-off city street. The ensuing atmosphere was one of sweat, chaos, and rock and roll.
Green Day opened their set with American Idiot, pausing mid-song to help what appeared to be an injured woman, but losing absolutely no momentum or energy as they finished the popular single. The set continued with Jesus of Suburbia - a four-part, 12:00 song, and segued easily into Holiday, completing the first three songs of their new album, released on Friday.
Abandoning the relatively unknown new material, Green Day made a one-eighty as they launched into Longveiw, their ever-popular teenaged anthem. The crowd sang along enthusiastically, perhaps empathizing with the "boredom" the song laments. The band continued seamlessly into She, another hit from their major-label debut, Dookie. The crowd was completely dominated by the band; after Holiday, they sang every word, obeyed every command, and lost no energy throughout the set. Green Day's set concluded with King for a Day, an extended version of Minority, and three covers, never losing their presence.
After forsaking time restraints ("We're want to fucking play some music!") and meeting the anti-Bush comment quota, Green Day rolled into a full-length version of Queen's We Are the Champions to conclude their show, signifying that evening's triumph of rebellion and rock and roll.
Green Day opened their set with American Idiot, pausing mid-song to help what appeared to be an injured woman, but losing absolutely no momentum or energy as they finished the popular single. The set continued with Jesus of Suburbia - a four-part, 12:00 song, and segued easily into Holiday, completing the first three songs of their new album, released on Friday.
Abandoning the relatively unknown new material, Green Day made a one-eighty as they launched into Longveiw, their ever-popular teenaged anthem. The crowd sang along enthusiastically, perhaps empathizing with the "boredom" the song laments. The band continued seamlessly into She, another hit from their major-label debut, Dookie. The crowd was completely dominated by the band; after Holiday, they sang every word, obeyed every command, and lost no energy throughout the set. Green Day's set concluded with King for a Day, an extended version of Minority, and three covers, never losing their presence.
After forsaking time restraints ("We're want to fucking play some music!") and meeting the anti-Bush comment quota, Green Day rolled into a full-length version of Queen's We Are the Champions to conclude their show, signifying that evening's triumph of rebellion and rock and roll.
