Gig review: Green Day

Published on Tuesday 22 June 2010 19:06

GREEN DAY **** SECC, GLASGOW

LESS than a decade ago, Green Day were resting on their overgrown adolescent-punk laurels, but came of age with the game-changing American Idiot, a concept album that dared to go into US president-baiting political territory.

These days, the trio are practically elder statesmen – but clearly their inner teenager is still running rampant, hence the punk pantomime beginning. Opener 21st Century Breakdown was both tuneful rabble-rouser and arm-waving anthem. You could hear immediately that these guys are big fans of the Skids and, therefore, would go down well in Scotland.

Within minutes, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, pictured above, was careering around the stage with a Saltire on his back and pulling a set of twins from the crowd for their first stage dive.

Everything was executed with infectious gusto, including Armstrong nearly putting himself out of a job by picking out a talented youngster to cover frontman duties during his cigarette break.

There was even something of the novelty soul revue to the band's cover medley involving Lulu's Shout and Travis's Why Does it Always Rain On Me. For all the fun, however, truly great songs were lacking until the chunky satisfying one-two of Welcome to Paradise and When I Come Around.