Seeing Green Day perform at Wembley Stadium was possibly the highlight of my year! Their show is completely one of a kind and it is this very uniqueness that makes them so special to watch. The band oozed energy, as they powered through a massive two and a half hour set, showing no sign of slowing down the pace. Billie Joe effortlessly controls the crowd, engaging fans in a series of chants and sing-alongs, whilst even pulling a few lucky fans onto the stage. Their show is extremely interactive, making the event seem more personal, despite the vast size of the stadium.
The band were clearly having the time of their lives, as they energetically bounded around the stage, dressed up in ridiculous outfits and had their adoring audience eating out of the palm of their hand. Even drummer Tre Cool took to centre stage, singing his comical hit, Dominated Love Slave and giving fans a good giggle at his spectacular dance moves during the Shout ensemble. Mike Dirnt was also roped into putting on his dancing boots, as Billie and the crowd shouted their encouragements, leaving him with no option but to join in! The band effortlessly tore through countless classic hits, ranging from the ground breaking American Idiot, to old favourites such as Basket Case and Longview. These hits were interspersed with a series of tracks from their new album, reflecting the band's vast catalogue of songs. They could have quite easily played all night.
The response from the crowd from the very moment the band took to the stage, to the moment they left, was mind-blowing. The audience sang along and cheered the band the whole way through with such enthusiasm, that the sound from the stadium would have been heard for miles around. Green Day have such a devoted following of adoring fans (yes that would be myself included!), that they appeared very humbled and honoured to be playing a show of such a substantial size. They have most definitely earned their iconic status, becoming one of the biggest rock bands in the world. But it is Green Day's character, originality and their ability to perform such spectacular live shows, that has them firmly placed in a league all of their own.
Here is a video of one of my favourite parts of the show at Wembley. Enjoy! - American Idiot Live Wembley Stadium 2010
2 - My Chemical Romance, Manchester Apollo
My Chemical Romance's comeback show was hugely enjoyable. Due to the reasonable small venue, the show felt intimate and personal, whilst the music boomed twice as loud as it would have in an arena! The show therefore followed their inspired words from their new album, to "do it now and do it loud." And indeed they did. They rocketed through a twenty two song set, ranging from their old hits, including I'm Not Okay (I Promise), The Ghost Of You, and the massively acclaimed hit, Welcome To The Black Parade. The band also treated fans to an exclusive first airing of songs from their new album Danger Days: The True Lives of The Fabulous Killjoys. The selected few included Planetary (Go!), The Only Hope For Me Is You, The Kids From Yesterday, and the huge first single Na Na Na.
The band looked thrilled to be back performing and seemed overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response they received from fans, who seemed equally relieved to have their heroes back. The band have reclaimed their love of music and performing, appearing to be having the time of their lives back in the spotlight. Their show is packed full of colour and energy, showing the band in a new light, when compared to their previous dark and edgy look of years before. My Chemical Romance are clearly embracing their new found fun and style and their fans are quickly following suit, as many take to dressing in the flamboyant colours of the Killjoys themselves. It seems the band have created a new world that is inescapable.
As the show was merely a small promotional visit to boost awareness of their up-coming album, I cannot wait to see what the band have in store on their return to the UK in February, for their huge arena tour. No doubt it will be chaos!
3 - Motion City Soundtrack, The Cockpit, Leeds
Motion City Soundtrack presented a truly spectacular show, which in my mind, was completely unexpected. With no previous conceptions about the band, I wasn't sure what to expect from them, but they blew me away! They are truly an amazing live band, who are full of life and appear to have no trouble in getting the crowd going. They delivered a set consisting of a selection of new tracks from their latest album, along with many old crowd favourites, including the big hitters, Everything Is Alright and The Future Freaks Me Out. The crowd responded with such enthusiasm, that the small venue pounded, and the atmosphere was electrifying.
On first glance, they don't particularly represent the characteristic rock band, due to their somewhat geeky image. They appear on the surface as extremely unlikely rock stars, however, once on stage, they power through the upbeat set, belting out songs with decidedly witty lyrics, demonstrating that they can roll with the best of them! The crowd joined them in every word, as well as leaping and jumping along to the music for the full one and a half hour show. Lead singer, Justin Pierre, is distinctly quirky on stage, as he uses his hands and facial expressions to act out the words to his songs, whilst frequently dancing around. He was extremely amusing to watch, as he desperately tried not to mess up his own songs - he is quite well known for having little faith in himself and his ability, making his performance all the more endearing. Although, he had nothing to worry about - he did a fantastic job of involving the crowd and chatting away throughout. It was a joy to watch.
With the addition of a moog board in their music, Motion City Soundtrack have created a distinct and unique sound, which most certainly makes them stand out above other bands within the same genre. They are a great up and coming band, with a growing fan base and excellent song writing ability. I'm sure in a few years time they will have progressed to great things, and I cannot wait for their return to the UK, hopefully sometime in the very near future.
Here is a video of Motion City playing crowd favourite The Future Freaks Me Out. Although the band aren't visible in the video, this fully captures the atmosphere of the show perfectly, as the crowd sing their hearts out! - The Future Freaks Me Out Live The Cockpit
Notable Mention
Paramore - Sheffield Arena
Young Guns - The Cockpit
Weezer - Del Mar Racetrack, San Diego, CA
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