Tonight I should have been finishing up my packing for my big trip tomorrow, but instead I went to see Green Day in concert...and it was amazing!!!!  I had seen them perform before, but it was a complete fluke.  I saw American Idiot on Broadway on its closing night, and Billy Joe was in the show playing the character St. Jimmy.  Who knew that, after the show, the band would go on stage and play some of their best hits.  On the way back to my hotel, I had a huge idiot smile on my face - I swear!  The crowd tonight was a really interesting mix of people who grew up with the band and are now taking their kids - teens and preteens - to see a show, people around my age that are out having a blast with their friends on a "school night," and the newer and younger Green Day fans - who were doing the majority of the old school moshing and crowd surfing.  I think what's most remarkable is for a band whose music is so simple, in a good way, they have achieved such a great and unexpected longevity that isn't going away anytime soon.  Maybe it's the energy of their show, and their music in general, that just sucks you in every time?  Well, I am thankful for their energy because now I can stay awake until the wee hours of the morning getting everything else I need to get done!



The concert set list at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia was perfect.  Just enough vintage Dookie songs and my absolute favorite songs from American Idiot - Jesus of Suburbia, Holiday and St. Jimmy.  (I have to confess, I think I have a little crush on Billy Joe!)  It was quite a loud drive home with me belting out the songs again over the car stereo.  I also started to piece together my dream festival concert lineup in my head...I've got 6 bands so far, one of which is definitely Green Day.

Here are some videos from the show - Holiday, St. Jimmy, and Basket Case.  Enjoy!