Boston Posted August 20, 2011 Posted August 20, 2011 A few nights ago I was slapped in the face with inspiration, and I wrote it down to share with the masses: When Green Day announced that they were playing a not-so-secret benefit show on Thursday, August 11th, the fandom was ablaze with hopes and concerns about the setlist. Would they stick to the 21st Century Breakdown setup and open with a slaying arena-rock anthem; would they open with a pop-punk gem from the album that launched them into musical relevance; or would they break out a tune that has rarely been heard live, much less begun a night? What the band did start and fill the show with was beyond any fan’s expectations - a show devoted entirely to new music. “To reminisce is to die,” Billie said, before he launched into an evening of brand new material. After having listened to several songs from the show, I can confirm that this adventure is new and different, but in no way is it scary – in fact, I highly anticipate the new direction in which Green Day seems to be headed. When I first awoke the morning after the show and tried to catch up with the madness that had ensued on the forum, one of the first things I noticed were Billie’s clothes – they were plain. He had stripped himself of his rock star image, which struck me as intriguing. In fact, I was more than simply intrigued – I was excited, thrilled, ecstatic. Ever since I had known Green Day, they had been mega-stars in the rock world – the kings of their craft, arguably the best touring band in existence. They sold out some of the biggest arenas in the world, and filmed a live DVD at the Milton Keynes Bowl in England. They accomplished all of this with a rigorous structure – a setlist that included the classic must-haves without much room for change, crowd antics that were amazing to witness but remained the same night after night, and a costume-esque attire that set them apart from the baggy-short wearing skater punks of yesteryear. During the second leg of the 21st Century Breakdown tour, this structure began to break down. The costumes and crowd-pleasing acts were still in place, but the music and atmosphere became more relaxed. It became less about the politics and more about the favorites. Fans requested songs and heard them played, and the band peppered in some of their personal favorites as well. In the spring of 2011, the release of Awesome As Fuck (a fan-created title) reflected this loosening of the reigns. However, the chains that bound Green Day to their arena-rock, punk-God, and Broadway-hero acts did not fully break until their impromptu show last week. For the first time since the last of their Warning shows, they stripped themselves of all of that. A setlist full of brand new songs, no more water gun shticks, and plain street-clothes to me symbolize a new beginning; a new beginning for which I think I’m ready. Many of the songs I’ve heard are clearly headed away from the rock-opera style of the last two albums, but also not backward toward anything prior to American Idiot. The songs seem to have a pure rock ’n roll vibe, separate from the pop-punk angst of Dookie, the pure rage of Insomniac, or even the somewhat rootsy vibe on Warning. The style of the music seems to be completely fitting to the band Green Day has become – a band that has written two enormously successful and ambitious rock-operas but recognizes that its time to move on while maintaining a sense of growth and not retreating into old territory. Billie’s remarks about the past from the show say to me that he is ready to move on from it all, but wants to take the lessons he’s learned with him. These new songs take everything Green Day has ever recorded and send it spiraling down a new path; a path that is different, but which also has familiar landmarks scattered along the way. This path does not alienate the fans or the past, but rather embraces them while breathing into them new life. American Idiot changed everything for the band, and 21st Century Breakdown completed Billie’s mission; however, the mission is just that: complete. Judging by the new material displayed at The Tiki Bar, the band has recognized this. Green Day has boarded a train into uncharted territory, and I am sure as hell willing to abandon any doubts or expectations and ride along. This bad boy will show up on the main site in a couple of hours (at which time perhaps someone could edit in a link? Thanks homies.) Enjoy.
jamesobxfan2296 Posted August 20, 2011 Posted August 20, 2011 When Green Day announced that they were playing a not-so-secret benefit show on Thursday, August 12th, August 12th was a Friday. I think you mean Thursday, August 11th.
Four. Posted August 20, 2011 Posted August 20, 2011 Amanda, the more I read the stuff you write for the GDA, the more I find you're perfect for the job. Also, since this thread is also for our thoughts, I can't exactly say my thoughts on the new sound, because for all I've heard, it sounds like static. For the new vibe though, I can say that I'm so happy they won't be wearing ties anymore and will kinda dip back into their roots. Apparently it sounds like a mix of Warning, Insomniac and the Tubbies (two of my favorite albums + a band I love), so I can say that I'm excited as fuck to hear new live material and tour the world and eugfdbkudsg.
Malleus Posted August 20, 2011 Posted August 20, 2011 I am so excited for the new sound! It's only natural for the boys and I think it'll be one of the best sounding albums they make.
dumb shiny bitch Posted August 20, 2011 Posted August 20, 2011 From what I've heard about the new material makes me REALLY fuckin' excited. 21stCB was a great album, it was very theatrical, dynamic and I dunno, had a big sound, I suppose. But hearing that this new stuff is going to be more of a raw-er, more straight-forward rock n' roll sound, just makes me feel like this guy ---> I just hope they don't like, over-produce it, if you know what I mean? I feel this is gonna be a real hard-hitting, in your face type record, much like Insomniac was (which is one of my favourites by GD). So, I really hope they release it quickly, like they did with Insomniac. Anyhoo, I just have a major feeling that this album is gonna UBERLY KICK SOME BUTTOCK!!
lastnightonGDA Posted August 20, 2011 Posted August 20, 2011 Well done, Amanda. It really is perfect for GDA.
Heather. Posted August 20, 2011 Posted August 20, 2011 I loved reading your thoughts on this, Amanda! I really think you accurately observed and analyzed Green Day's current direction. However, I'm not as convinced that they've really turned a corner in this regard (not that they NEED to...). Well, first of all, just because they wore street clothes doesn't convince me that they will do so on their next tour. They are a very image-conscious band and all their talk about this being "their era" suggests to me that they will want to cling onto the professionalism of rock-god status. Obviously they can do that in whatever clothes they feel like, but I think they are very aware of the image they've cultivated and how their career skyrocketed once again when they cleaned up in ties and eyeliner, and made these arena songs. (The extent to which they were originally intended to be arena rock is another question, besides for songs like 21 Guns which Billie said was meant for 20,000 people to sing)... Listening to the Tiki song vibes, and how we all generally agree that they are more straightforward pure rock n roll, it's hard to see how this is a different train altogether... it just seems more like a Bon Jovi train (and by that I mean nothing negative, I just mean creating something like ROCK SONG = MASSIVE CROWDPLEASER)... I don't know... Maybe it's not so much a *new direction* as it is a more finely tuned, focused version of their old direction. But I had no clear direction myself when writing this comment
DoodleBob Posted August 20, 2011 Posted August 20, 2011 I loved, loved, LOVED reading this on GDA. Somewhere in the middle of the editorial, I caught myself smiling. Every word you wrote, I agreed too. You are perfect for the job, and I'm excited to read more of what you have to say:)
Rage & Love. Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 i hope that just because they played with different clothes you think they've changed. because this isn't the case. they might not have at all, this was only a one off show that wasn't supposed to be exposed remember.. i mean, think about this show (below). it was played before 21st Century Breakdown was released, and they came out even more professional looking than they've ever been, and all Billie wore then was stripey tshirt and jacket, much like his random shots when he's seen walking the streets or at airports, etc. also, seen as though it's about this, here's a really good video of the new stuff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktPbP2eOgtk&feature=player_embedded
Boston Posted August 21, 2011 Author Posted August 21, 2011 What errone should understand is that the clothes are a metaphor. I don't think that clothes take away from or add to their music; its just a symbol of a simpler, less stringent style. I loved reading your thoughts on this, Amanda! I really think you accurately observed and analyzed Green Day's current direction. However, I'm not as convinced that they've really turned a corner in this regard (not that they NEED to...). Well, first of all, just because they wore street clothes doesn't convince me that they will do so on their next tour. They are a very image-conscious band and all their talk about this being "their era" suggests to me that they will want to cling onto the professionalism of rock-god status. Obviously they can do that in whatever clothes they feel like, but I think they are very aware of the image they've cultivated and how their career skyrocketed once again when they cleaned up in ties and eyeliner, and made these arena songs. (The extent to which they were originally intended to be arena rock is another question, besides for songs like 21 Guns which Billie said was meant for 20,000 people to sing)... Listening to the Tiki song vibes, and how we all generally agree that they are more straightforward pure rock n roll, it's hard to see how this is a different train altogether... it just seems more like a Bon Jovi train (and by that I mean nothing negative, I just mean creating something like ROCK SONG = MASSIVE CROWDPLEASER)... I don't know... Maybe it's not so much a *new direction* as it is a more finely tuned, focused version of their old direction. But I had no clear direction myself when writing this comment I agree with many parts of this, but I feel I should point out again that no one should take the clothing statements too literally. The "train" thing was an expression and thusly a general exageration, and also I think they're goinh a good job at bringing enough new style to the table while still reating their old properties.
cabot_girl Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 For what I've heard last gang in town is the best song i've heard in years, and i love their style/clothes. Just hope this is where they are going!
alaniluau Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 I like this bit of writing. It's an improvement on your last editorial. The conclusion seemed a bit rushed, but I appreciated your use of imagery. For me, it's been amusing to hear everyone's take on the new songs. Taking into account all the descriptions I've heard, #9 will be 39/Smooth meets Kerplunk meets Dookie meets Insomniac meets Nimrod meets Warning meets American Idiot meets 21st Century Breakdown with a splash of Tubbies thrown in for good measure. I'd like to think it'll be its own era, influenced by (but not too reliant on) all of the above sources plus more. It's difficult for me to say "the new songs sound like x or y" because the material is so very cumulative, and representative of a lifetime of immersion in music.
gdpony Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 I loved this! What really surprised me is that we share the same opinion about their clothes! I Thought I was over analyzing them.
WestboundSign! Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 I really loved it! Amazingly written! And as it was said before, I agree, Last Gang in Town sounds like one of the best songs to me, I've ever heard!
awesome.as.whatsername Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 I am a little bit scared about the new sound but excited at the same time. I mean it's like this with evry new record they come out with, you don't know what going to be on it, all this secret shows etc. but I think it's good that they will do something different than American Idiot and 21st CB, they will refresh everything and probably do something that will sound a bit like their all stuff which I love just the same. I'm sure the songs will be brilliant and have something to say. also the fact that they striped off their old things, well I think that they are able to do this I mean being famous is not that easy and I'm sure they want to play a few shows where they don't have do all the eyeliner stuff and hair and everything. And I don't think we have to worry about the shows or anything because everything will be as awesome as always it's Green Day guys! they love us, their fans and I'm sure they will do everything to make us as happy as f**k and even if the music will change I don't care I will still love them because these guys changed my life and they mean sooo much to me <3And yes it was awesome to read this!
Disapperingirl Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 Congratulations Amanda, you did a great job with this editorial, I can see that you wrote it with your heart, really! You've been a very good bagain for GDA staff And thank you for writing that, it made me think a lot... When the first rumours of the secret show appeared, and even after the 90 and more pages of thrilled comments about the new material popped out here on GDC, I kept being excited, and thinking "almost 20 new songs! Maybe a new album soon! Omg!! "...I just believed everyone else's opinion... Now, after more than a week, after reading your thoughts, my opinion about that happening is developping, and I started realizing that a real change is in the air. I missed the first Green Day phase - the first apparitions at Gilman, the "new punk explosion", the worldwide success of Dookie (not my fault, I wasn't born yet in 1994) - ; I discovered the band and what punk rock music is, like a big part of their fans, with the realising of American Idiot; I listened to the older albums, fell in love with their music, their ideals, I found the punk culture, I grew my music taste through 21st Century Breakdown, as a teenager; And now we are face to face with another, the third, phase... During these years as Green Day fan I've learned to love and respect all the band, as talented musicians but also people; so I'm sure that the choices they're making and they'll make, are gonna be made after thinking a lot about what's better for the band, their career and for us fans. And I'm sure I won't stop loving Green Day, cause their music style could change, but the talent, the personalities, the feelings and ideas beyond every song won't change so much, or will change only in better. I wonder if I'll miss their big, theatrical concerts, I've never had a chance to go to one of them; but I'm just looking forward to go to the next concert, with plain clothes or not.
Hermione Posted August 21, 2011 Posted August 21, 2011 Brilliant piece of writing Amanda! Really enjoyed reading it. I hadn't thought about how they'd kind of started moving into a more relaxed/less structured direction towards the end of the 21st CB tour in relation to this, thought that was an interesting observation. Seems like it was a sign of what was/is to come. As for my thoughts I LOVE what I hear from the new songs. The rock n roll sound and the Foxies influence......just couldn't be better as far as I'm concerned! So excited about the direction the seem to be going in.
justcause Posted August 22, 2011 Posted August 22, 2011 Great editorial, and I love it that this stuff is coming off-the-cuff and immediate. My thoughts on the songs - first off, that they're great songs!! They're tight and bold, and they have this romantic, desperado feel to them - and most of all, they feel free. Album could go any which way, but there doesn't seem to be any sprawling, epic stuff, if what we've heard from the Tiki show is anything to go by. All very stimulating and intriguing - and I feel like they should be giving us some downloads, Foxboro-style.
BJA TC MD Posted August 23, 2011 Posted August 23, 2011 So far I've only heard Amy and Stray Heart so far, but I have to say that Green Day are going a great job of making music. I cant wait for the next album!!
Nemo. Posted August 30, 2011 Posted August 30, 2011 great sound... better than the 21st century breakdown sound
janiliz06 Posted September 1, 2011 Posted September 1, 2011 omg...I just read everything after a month without logging in.. and Im so excited for the new material...
bat-chen Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 I love Rock N' roll vibe of the new sound. can't wait for the new album!
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