Green Day Still Thinks The Kids Are Alright

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 13, 2009 4:20PM

We think it's not too much of a leap to say Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong is striving to be his generation's Pete Townsend. Pearl Jam may carry on The Who's musical heritage but Armstrong seems to have appropriated their mindset. And if the songs dealing with teenage wastelands and politic over the band's last two punk rock opera albums weren't enough to suss this out, the band's recently released note for note cover of The Who's "A Quick One" should prove our point beyond a doubt.

Green Day's American Idiot rejuvenated the band, and reinvigorated our own appreciation of them. It's relatively concise story line, backed by some of the most viciously catchy music music of the band's career was made all the more impressive for including 10+ minute songs that sped along and felt like three-minute pop opuses. The follow-up, 21st Century Breakdown is more ambitious, continuing the rock opera format, but now wrapping itself in a multi-movement song cycle. The story is less clear, but this could be due to the fact that Armstrong is no longer railing against a scorched political establishment, and is instead outing his personal fears regarding the obstacles the current generation faces. Weighty stuff to be sure, and at times overreaching, and the album's continuity suffers. And while we feel the disc could have cut a couple songs there is no denying that Armstrong's uncanny ear for the snarling hook is still incredibly strong.

We were lucky enough to see the band in a relatively small venue a few years ago, just before the American Idiot tour, and were amazed at the energy the group still smothers the audience with. The original trio is nowadays augmented by a few supporting musicians, but the focus is clearly on the diminutive Armstong as his form expands to encompass the entire room with its exposed wiring and bolts of coursing energy. Drummer Tré Cool and bassist Mike Dirnt are no slouches either, and the combination of the three men's lockstep musical attack continues to mark them as one of the best live bands out there. The group plays tonight at the United Center, and we feel confident that Green Day will have no trouble keeping every fan in even that larger room entertained until the last power chord fades out.

Green Day plays tonight, July 13, at The United Center, 1901 W Madison, 8 p.m., $25 - $49.50, all ages