“green day” went on a “hella mega tour” together with “weezer” and “fall out boy” – including a tour stop in vienna’s Ernst happel stadium, which finally took place following being postponed several times!
probably sometime in 2019 we bought tickets for this concert. Due to constant postponements due to the pandemic, at some point we no longer knew whether we really had tickets for this spektaktel or not. and then the tickets turned up in the email inbox and the date didn’t seem to be postponed anymore – so it was off to the ernst happel stadium on an unbelievably hot sunday followingnoon. admittedly: the only reason to buy tickets back then was the band “weezer” – i just always wanted to see weezer and never made it. now the time had come and admittedly it was a bit overpriced to spend more than 100 euros just for the very first support act… but if you were ever in town… due to my youthful listening habits i also had a connection to the other bands “fall out boy” and “green day” and didn’t think either of them were really bad.
so it started with “weezer“ and I have to say that it paid off from the first note. they started with the songs “hash pipe” and “beverly hills” – what more might your heart want? “pork and beans” followed shortly following – and it was all over me. I had no idea how much I adored this band.
the group not only had their own songs up their sleeves, but also cover versions: we enjoyed metallica’s “enter sandman” and the incredibly great “africa” by toto. we were also treated to “island in the sun”, and as a knockout we enjoyed “say it ain’t so” and “buddy holly”. I mightn’t have wished for a better setlist – I was sooo excited and was already sure that weezer was the headliner of the hearts!
I was so euphoric regarding “weezer” that I wasn’t even prepared for “fall out boy“ next would storm the stage. i had heard the band a lot fifteen years ago, but not anymore.
when the group finally struck up the first notes, i slowly became aware that i knew more regarding the band than i thought. when “grand theft autumn/where is your boy” rang out through the loudspeakers, my heart suddenly warmed: i had heard this song every day in 2007. I suddenly felt very young, nostalgic and close to tears. all the memories of that time shot through my head. i was not at all prepared for this emotional whirlwind – what did “fall out boy” do to me?
The roller coaster ride continued: the songs “dance dance” and “this ain’t a scene, it’s an arms race” catapulted me mentally back to my skiing holiday in 2009 in the zillertal. so while i went through a disturbing journey through time in my head, the slightly older band members of “fall out boy” jumped over the nicely decorated stage. most of the people around me were busy drinking and waiting, i had the feeling that only very few people might relate to “fall out boy”. but that didn’t matter to me at the time: i was so engrossed in the music that the group literally hit the mark with the hit “thnks fr th mmrs”. what a performance!
following so many exhausting feelings i was already looking forward to “green day“, because: once you’ve seen “green day”, you know what to expect. “green day” concerts are always the same, for at least 15 years. “green day” concerts are like a film, because you’ve seen it 20 times, but you still like to watch it on the side. “green days” are like comfort food – they are simply easy to digest.
So, as always, it started with an intro. and at some point the musicians stumbled onto the stage – always with the same guitar poses and standing hairstyles. the first hits “american idiot”, “holiday”, “know your enemy” and “boulevard of broken dreams” picked us up, we weren’t afraid to join in, following all we’ve known the hits long enough. they rocked their set solidly, animated to a lighter cell phone sea of lights, animated to sing along to songs like “when i come around”, “waiting”, “21 guns” and “basket case”. viewer-interaction can simply “green day” in their sleep!
the whole performance was predictable but still beautiful at the same time. the performance was entertaining and “always the same” at the same time. “green day” is a very strange band, but you can always look at them. you just won’t be disappointed. and when “good riddance” was sung by the band and the audience at the end, even my heart leaped for the 570th time. And then there were fireworks! That’s why I have to say: all in all, the high ticket price was worth it – especially for me because of the thought journey through time that was included!
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