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Review: Green Day’s Unforgettable Stop in Kansas City
Sometimes, you love to hate them; then they remind you why you loved them in the first place.
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On August 20th, 2024, Green Day, often hailed as “God’s favorite band,” electrified nearly 20,000 fans at the Azura Amphitheater in Kansas City, MO. The night was a high-octane celebration featuring a powerhouse setlist that included full performances of American Idiot and Dookie, a selection of tracks from their latest album Saviors, and a few fan-favorite hits. For over two hours, the crowd was captivated by the boundless energy of 52-year-old frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, whose enduring vitality is nothing short of remarkable. Despite the 20-year anniversary of American Idiot having passed, fans of all ages—from middle-aged veterans to enthusiastic younger concert-goers—sang along passionately and eagerly followed Armstrong’s lead.
I’ve now seen Green Day twice, the first being the “Hella Mega Tour” with Weezer and Fall Out Boy in Dallas in 2021. Once again, Green Day featured opening acts that offered a mix of fresh and seasoned talent. The Linda Lindas, a youthful band with a sound that provides a refreshing alternative to mainstream pop, resonated well with families. In contrast, Rancid delivered a set that highlighted their enduring appeal. Their authentic, rhythmic punk rock stood out, maintaining a raw energy that was both refreshing and genuine. A heartfelt moment occurred when Rancid brought local hero ‘Rico’ on stage, acknowledging his recent health challenges with a wave of support from his friends and fans.
In January, I wrote about Saviors and my issues with it. While there are some great tunes, most of which thankfully made it onto our Kansas City setlist, the album ultimately proved to be another dud. I was excited for the show but wasn’t expecting anything extraordinary.
The Azura Amphitheater is an absolutely terrific venue with both great sound and excellent staff. There truly wasn’t a bad seat in the house when Billie Joe, Tre, and Mike took the stage to the sound of “The American Dream Is Killing Me,” the lead single from Saviors. Armstrong then welcomed everyone to the “30th anniversary of Dookie!” before launching immediately into “Burnout,” the opening track from Green Day’s iconic 1994 debut album.
It’s been a fantastic year for fans of 1994. Personally, I’ve enjoyed following Oasis celebrate 30 years of Definitely Maybe, and Weezer’s tribute to The Blue Album—all fitting nods to that iconic year. Dookie was performed in top form by Billie Joe and the gang, with Tre Cool’s orchestral solo closer, “All By Myself,” being an absolute crowd favorite.
The highlight of the night came after the Dookie set, with about 20 minutes of pure Green Day energy in a greatest hits segment. This included “Know Your Enemy” and “Minority,” featured terrific versions of “Look Ma, No Brains!” and “Dilemma” from Saviors, and concluded with a fantastic rendition of “Brain Stew”—possibly my favorite live music moment ever. It’s definitely worth a re-recording.
It’s worth highlighting Billie Joe’s mastery: he paused “Minority” halfway through to assist a fallen fan, invited another fan onstage to sing “Know Your Enemy” (who then left the stage by stage-diving, all unplanned), and created another special moment that closed the show. Any audience member’s respect for the band should have increased tenfold.
Billie quickly transitioned into the iconic American Idiot riff, marking the beginning of the next segment of the show. The crowd maintained its energy, remaining just as loud an hour and a half into the performance as they were at the start. I loved how the Saviors songs were presented on tour, with screens featuring pink film grain and distorted views, but the visuals for the American Idiot and Dookie sections were quite lackluster.
The final highlight of the night came during the encore, after the iconic closing track “Whatsername.” Green Day played “Bobby Sox,” another song from Saviors, followed by “Good Riddance.” Instead of Billie Joe playing acoustic guitar, they invited 17-year-old The Voice contestant Ruby Leigh, who not only played but also sang alongside the band, transforming the song into a fantastic duet between teacher and student. The moment was very heartfelt, with the band staying on stage, not even saying goodbye to the crowd, to take photos with Leigh and celebrate the occasion.
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