O.k., so first, I'd like to start off by saying: I’M NOT OLD!!! I swear!
I really do wonder if my musings tonight reflect more on the fact that I’m getting OLDER, or if it’s just the genre of music.
I’m a fairly big fan of Green Day. They’ve always put out good, listenable punk/rock music. I know it’s not the hardcore stuff like Sex Pistols, Black Flag, Clash, Husker Du, etc., but it’s good. Music’s good, lyrics aren’t too trite. And while I like the aforementioned bands, I’ve never been to a punk concert before now.
Can someone explain if it’s the genre that dictates that the speakers and instruments must be turned up SO loud that they blast past the point of sounding good to the point of pure distortion, for distortions sake alone? I realize that I sound like some old geezer complaining about the loudness of a concert, but honestly, that’s not it.
I like loud music. See my review from Nine Inch Nails at the Fillmore from a few months back, or come back in a few days to read my review of them at the Pepsi Center. I LOVE loud music. However, this was pushed past loud to obnoxious, and it just didn’t sound right.
Like I said, I really enjoy their music, so it was a bit disappointing to go and hear over-distorted music.
Before I get lynched, let me say that I did really enjoy the concert. Mainly because I could just see the production meetings with Billy, who you can just tell is a big kid. You could just hear him saying, “o.k., I want the band’s name in lights, I want psychedelic pictures going on in the background, I want 60 foot high flames, I want explosions, and I want to get some young kids up on stage to give them the time of their life.” (yes, that was intended) From a fun and energetic standpoint, it was high energy for hours.
And they played a lot of great tunes…which, at an average of 2:30 per song, meant that we got to hear a great deal of their catalog.
There were a ton of sing-a-longs, audience participation, politics bashing, and lighter lighting (oh, and let’s not forget the cell-phone lighting – the new version of the lighter lighting). There was also a fair share of covers, which was also a lot of fun.
Truly, it was a good time, but I wish they had toned it back a bit on the distortion. Their music stands on its own, and it was a shame to hear it slightly mutilated.
Well done, Green Day…I’d go see you again.
B- for the distortion…
-Myles-