The Time of My Life

[insomniak]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 3:58pm

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

~Green Day, whom I saw live yesterday

My friend and I were late (he had a thing) so we missed My Chemical Romance, but I don't know them anyway so I wasn't upset. We did get to see their awesome techies (techies are always awesome), though, while waiting for Green Day to get set up. Awesome as they are, people moving mike stands are only so much fun so we wandered down to the souvenir place where I ended up with a poster much too big for anywhere and debated over whether or not to buy- I kid you not- a five dollar and fifty cent seven inch pizza. Robbery is spelled D-O-N-A-T-O-S, my friends. And just as I was about to spend far too much money on far too little food, Friend checked his watch. 7:59. We were on the ground floor, and our seats were the second-to-last row in the nosebleeds. (I swear there were clouds between us and the lucky kids on the floor) You’ve probably never been to the Schottenstein Center, but if you go I highly recommend getting to your seat sooner than one minute before the band starts, especially if said seat is approximately 394578349857.83 miles away. And I insist it if your running skills resemble mine. That was my workout for the week.

Anyway, on to things people might care about.

They started a bit late (good for the athletically and watch-watching challenged). Billie Joe Armstrong is nothing if not a performer. He’s excellent at drawing an audience in and he really works off their energy. Whether it’s an act or if he’s really just that excited to be there, I don’t know, but I loved it either way. Jesus of Suburbia was particularly well-performed because Billie has an almost Jesus-like presence. The crowd definitely follows him before anyone and he turned the show into his own platform to say things that he feels, which he does with great vigor and anger. He really sings it as though it’s his first time with the lyrics and he’s feeling them; there’s no phoned-in performance. The other interesting thing is how he sounds live- still sings very well (in my uneducated opinion) but his voice has a different, almost juvenile twang to it. It’s small but noticeable. Speaking of small, he’s a very short little boy, making him look even more like a twelve year old. It’s cute/hot to watch him jump around like nuts on stage beside the much more chilled out bassist, who has arm muscles that greek gods envy. Tre Cool is very fun to watch, too. I love seeing him pound the **** out of those drum sets, and he does it quite admirably. The guy who played guitar while Billie was too busy running around was also great, I wish he’d gotten more credit. Jason White (I think that’s his name), you rock.

Anyway, they didn’t play much of American Idiot (wish they had done Homecoming) but it was great, the new and the old stuff. I was also watching for things that my dear Ellie told me to keep an eye out for, such as the part where he invites three kids up on stage to play the band’s instruments and then allows the one who takes his place to keep the guitar. I didn’t, however, count on him to kiss the boy, though. And it nearly killed me when he did. He just grabbed this guy and kissed him. The image is forever burned into my retinas and I shall die a happy woman. My friend later told me he’s bi. And I thought I really did die. And if that wasn’t good enough, there was one part where he started making sex noises. Obviously a joke, but hot as hell. And there was groping, too. Yeah. I love the gutter.

Then they went back to that music stuff and we enjoyed a few more songs. Then they took another breaklike thing in which Billie said he thought he’d take off all his clothes. And then he changed his mind (not that he was ever really going to, but I was very hopeful. He does have a nice ass though, which was displayed).

All of this was planned, of course, but my favorite Billie Joe moment was not. In the middle of one of their breaklike-music-playing things, he stopped what he was doing and told the band to stop too, then went over to the side of the stage and talked to the kids on the floor. A couple of them were fighting and Billie just stood there and lectured them. I believe his exact words were ‘Don’t ****ing punch people, ok?’ Then he threatened to beat them up with a microphone if they didn’t stop, or else he’d have to separate them.

This is getting long, so I’ll wrap up with three songs. They did a wonderful cover of We Are the Champions, complete with lighter-waving from the audience. Wake Me Up When September Ends was the same; I just stood and stared. I did borrow a less-than-legal trick from a bwwer who shall remain unnamed for her own protection and allowed my mother to listen in on that one song via cell phone, since she loves it. I kept thinking it was over and then it kept going, right up until Billie finished with Good Riddance all alone onstage.

A very good way to lose my concert virginity, I think. And thanks for reading.

Updated On: 5/6/05 at 03:58 PM

[KelRel]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 3:59pm

Glad you ahd a good time

[insomniak]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:04pm

Thanks. After-concert was fun too, we lost my friend's car and wandered around for ages looking and then went to McDonalds.

I believe the entire known universe and parts of the unknown were there last night. I have seen twenty Green Day concert tshirts so far today.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:05pm

yaaaaaaaay, I'm glad you had fun.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:06pm

Marvelous, glad you had a great time. I wish I could have seen Green Day.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:07pm

Sounds like you had a great time! Don't you just love losing the car??

[insomniak]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:09pm

Yes I do, bdway! We had no clue where it was parked so we just ran around and I was thisclose to being hit by a bus. I'm suprised I'm alive, it was wierd.

And try to catch them if you get a chance, it's very worth it.

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:11pm

I'm glad you had a great time! Green Day is amazing live (I saw them Saturday, and it sounds like they did the same exact thing!) Anyway, glad you had fun!!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:22pm

I hate, HATE, HATE My Chemical Romance. It's so easy to separate the poseurs from the non-, if you ask me.

Green Day I will love forever.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 5:08pm

glad u had a great time! i lost my concert virginity at a No Dobut concert four years ago... ive never been the same since. well, actually, i have. annnywho

[oxdreaminxo]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 5:16pm

Lucky ducky! Green Day and My Chemical Romance are prolly the only 2 CDs I have that aren't related to Broadway musicals. Wow-I am pathetic. Glad you had fun!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 5:29pm

Please, buy more non-Broadway cds. You HAVE to be more rounded.

Listen for The Futureheads, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Scissor Sisters (of course).

There's so much more to life than belting.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 5:42pm

I expected your list to include a few more from the eras of mine Namo. Those are all good bands, but The Who and The Stones are also good. Then there is great: The Clash, The Velvet Underground (and Lou solo), Joni Mitchell to change the pace, and Bob Dylan as the master.
Or go back to Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, and Dizzie. Chuck Berry.
Bix Biederbeck and Glenn Miller as well.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 5:46pm

TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS!!

[insomniak]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 8:18pm

Wow, why are there two threads? Wierd.

And yes, it was awesome and a half. Namo, you sound like my friend- I'm waiting on her to burn me The Killers, Franz Ferdinand and The Dresden Dolls. Penguin, if I ever make any money I'll look into those.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 10:25pm

I saw Green Day in september with sugar cult and new found glory and it was amazing. It's like a cult and Billy joe stands up as the supreme leader and people go nuts. and he certainly sounded great live...a hell of a lot better than sugar cult

[amasis]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 11:33pm

That was fun to read. Thanks, nia. Glad you had a great time.

[insomniak]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 11:42pm

I'm glad I didn't bore you. Sadly, I was unable to take pictures.

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 11:50pm

YAY for Green Day concert attendees! I went and saw the concert in Albany last week, and I was in shock at how much I enjoyed myself. I am not a fan of rock music at all, but my boyfriend is and I took him for his birthday. Such a great time and amazing performers and such a surprising night! American Idiot has joined the likes of broadway and Tori Amos in my playlist!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 12:04am

Hey thats cool Insomniak, but Green Day, Frans Ferdinand, ect are heading down the right track!
I can always let you listen to mine.

[Ellie3]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 10:19pm

I knew you wouldn't be disappointed! Only an eejit would be. Billie Joe is always amazing. He is my boyfriend. Call me deluded, but the fact remains we are lovers.

Shame about the photos - how come you weren't able to take any?
And you missed nothing with My Chemical Romance. Pretentious goons.

[insomniak]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 10:21pm

Ellie, I was waiting for you post! It bumped me to the top again!

And they took my camara out of my purse and said they'd have to throw it out. It sucked a great deal. I SWEAR I had something else to tell you too.

[Ellie3]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 10:25pm

They took your camera out of your purse and threw it away?? What morons they must be. It was a disposable, I trust?? I suppose I shall let you away with it, seeing as you were a concert virgin, but...next time, smuggle it it in your underwear. Or down your top, between your thighs, or even strap it on to your chest and call it a Soviet pacemaker...by whatever means necessary!!

But back to Billie...isn't he adorable?