All About Love: Green Day at Gwinnett Arena

Billie Joe, Jason, Mike, Tre Cool

On Stage Fireworks

Jason, Billie Joe, Mike, Tre Cool

The August 1, 2009 Green Day concert at the Gwinnett Arena in Atlanta, Georgia was an orgasmic experience. (Oops, I meant to say, cathartic experience, though I’m certain Billie Joe Armstrong would approve.) There was a thirty something woman right beside me, front row, Section 106, looking over the heads of the mosh pit, equally enthralled to see Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tre Cool perform on that stage. And the guys, well, they all had a good time, too- the sons, and the husbands, and the boyfriends, and the kids, and that crazy guy Kaiser Chiefs stalkerish fan. My ears are still ringing, slightly deaf, somewhat numb- not from the volume of the music- from the screaming fans, who gave Armstrong, and Dirnt, and Tre Cool the love, because Green Day started it, and they kept giving it back. And my voice is hoarse, too, as I write this, middle of the night, from singing and screaming along with the thirteen thousand.

There were times I was not more than thirty feet from Armstrong or Dirnt, as they played at the stage left edge of the stage, mostly to section 105, adjacent to the stage apron, though they often swept their eyes over the audience to make sure everyone felt included, especially toward the close of the concert, when Billie Joe gave his sincere Thank You’s to every section of the arena, and we believed him, because he means it.

My husband, son, and I, seated in the front row courtesy of our Idiot Club advance ticket purchase, were able to stand up (along with everyone else in the arena), with room to change our position, or lean over the low wall, every time an over-tall security guard planted his body forward of our view. We could jump, and throw our arms in the air (along with everyone else), clap hands over our heads, pump our fists, and move to the music (along with everyone else)- You can’t go to a Green Day concert without doing all five, along with the screaming and the singing, or Armstrong will kick you out!

Other times, Armstrong was out on the “catwalk” part of the stage, not more than forty feet from us, just above the mosh pit, and that’s where he was when he sang the closing set. Imagine 21 Guns with Armstrong alone, singing with his amazing voice and playing on acoustic guitar. He followed 21 Guns with a beautiful song I don’t think anyone in the audience had ever heard before, followed by a flawless, poignant version of Last Night on Earth that felt like he was singing the love song to you (even if you were male).

He concluded the concert with The Time of Your Life, interchanging verses with the audience, so we could all sing along. We knew it was his good-bye, but many of us lingered, wrung out and satisfied, when the arena lights came on, just to see where Armstrong had been.

The entire concert was non-stop energy, and competence. Special effects included flame and fireworks, but that’s not what made the concert spectacular. Billie Joe Armstrong brought numerous people up on the stage, to sing or play guitar, hugging each and every one, and we all felt the love.

Songs, there were so many in the two hour and fifty minute concert, 8:30 to 11:20 pm - oldies and goodies and new ones from 21st Century Breakdown. These are most of them, in no particular order: 21st Century Breakdown, American Idiot, Longview, Basket Case, Minority, 21 Guns, Know Your Enemy, Dearly Beloved, Are We the Waiting, After the Lobotomy (dedicated to a Mom named Joanne from Section 105, after he spoke to her and made a few jokes, and he identified it correctly as a song about family), Jesus of Suburbia, East Jesus Nowhere, The Static Age, American Eulogy, I Don’t Care, Holiday, Tales of Another Broken Home, She, St. Jimmy… and, of course, King for a Day and Shout.

The longer Armstrong played, the circle of sweat soaking through the back of his vest enlarged, until the entire back had changed from light grey to dark, and you’d never know the difference, or in his energy level. At 37 years old, Armstrong and Dirnt are still kicking, jumping in the air with both legs leaving the ground. Many photographers have captured it. We, the audience, were restricted to cell phone cameras only, and security required men to empty their pockets to be sure (sending my husband back to the car with our camera), so please forgive my poor 1 megapixel pictures, without clarity or telephoto, though the best three I’ve published help to capture the “feel” of the event.

Our one and only disappointment – and we already knew about it going into the concert – the set list didn’t include either of the Gloria songs from 21st Century Breakdown. I dearly love Viva La Gloria!, the first of the two, and it would have been incredible to hear it performed. Maybe the song is too depressing for Armstrong to play it live, and this concert was all about fun, as much for Billie Joe Armstrong as for the audience, judging from the huge smiles emanating from his face- and I was close enough to catch their glimmer and reflect them. I think that’s what Billie Joe Armstrong’s concerts and his music are all about- giving love, and getting it back. It’s a Green Day show, and he couldn’t achieve it without Mike Dirnt or Tre Cool, but it’s a Billie Joe Armstrong love affair.

Photos and Text © 2009 Annie Swann

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To read my other articles about Green Day and Billie Joe Armstrong, click on the labels below this post.

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JulienPhotography posted great photos of the concert, where you can see Armstrong in the audience on the side of the arena opposite our seats. Lucky them!