Green Day - Awesome As F**k Review

Green Day are probably one of the most iconic alternative bands around today. Their releases over the past decade have been monumental in terms of musical power and merchandising alike. But perhaps their greatest quality is their live show. Packed with energy, pyrotechnics and a hint of humor, a Green Day show is a sight to see... and hear.

If you've never seen the three-piece live, or are just seriously missing the chaos of the live show, then the band's new CD/DVD combo, Awesome As F**k, will scratch your itch.

The live CD is a 17 track listen through some of the best Green Day have to offer. It begins with three of their newer songs, "21st Century Breakdown", "Know Your Enemy" and "East Jesus Nowhere", before opening up into a solid mix of old school classics and previously unreleased tracks.

You'll hear "Cigarettes And Valentines" from Phoenix, AZ; "Burnout" from Irvine, CA and "Going To Pasalacqua" from Chula Vista, CA. In fact, all tracks on the live CD were recorded from shows around the globe in both 2009 and 2010. This makes for a more in depth track listing/set than that which was featured on the band's 2005 live CD/DVD combo, Bullet In a Bible (which was recorded from two shows at Milton Keynes in England).

The rest of Awesome is filled with a few classics both new and old. Songs like, "Minority" and "Longview" were put to the side to make room for "21 Guns" and "When I Come Around" - tracks that weren't in Green Day's live repertoire during their American Idiot tours.

In addition to the 17 tracks, iTunes offers three more live songs for download. Tracks include, "Letterbomb" from Chula Vista, CA; "Christie Road" from Hartford, CT and "Paper Lanterns/2,000 Light Years Away" from Alpharetta, GA.

If that wasn't impressive enough, then the live DVD will certainly blow your mind. The 17 song set, filmed in Japan, truly shows the energy and showmanship Green Day bring to the table. You'll find yourself getting swept up in the show - singing "hey-oh!" with the thousands of fans there that night.

Awesome's DVD will deliver the visual element that really sums up Green Day. From the hail of sparks raining down during "21 Guns" to the nine-minute rock showcase that is "Jesus Of Suburbia", Green Day's true power as a band shines.

And as a bonus you'll get a video performance of "Cigarettes And Valentines" just to round things out. With over an hour of live footage, the DVD will bring a full Green Day performance into your living room - sweat, emotion and eyeliner included.

As one of our correspondents noted, Awesome As F**k needs no description. It's all in the title. If all that live music doesn't put a smile on your face, you're not punk-rock. Fact.

**Special thanks to our correspondent T.B. for help with this posting**

American Idiot Film

It's hard to believe that Green Day's American Idiot was released over six years ago. But perhaps what's more amazing is the impact it's still having on not only the punk scene, but American pop-culture in general.

The Grammy winning album that burned classics like "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" into the heads of millions worldwide is now a musical on Broadway. In fact, in the coming weeks, the show will star Melissa Etheridge as the record's protagonist, St. Jimmy (a spot currently being played by Green Day vocalist, Billie Joe Armstrong).

But the band, along with the musical's producers, are looking to take the phenomenon that is American Idiot beyond the stage. That's right, straight to the big screen.

While all this still remains in talks, both Armstrong and musical director Michael Mayer said the album is suited perfectly for film. Think about it. American Idiot is a rock-opera built around the lives of American youth trying to make sense of their lives, their dreams and the decay of suburbia in a post-9/11 world. The story is as visually appealing as the record is musically riveting.

Mayer recently told the New York Times that, "There are people who have the ability to make it [a film version] happen, who have expressed genuine interest in it, and we want to do it, so I think it could happen."

So what about characters? Who would play that coveted spot of St. Jimmy? When the Times asked both Armstrong and Mayer that question, Armstrong simply smiled and shrugged - to which Mayer responded, "I think it's a no-brainer."

The impact that a film version of the musical/rock-opera could have on pop-culture is massive. The musical alone has grown exponentially. Starting off in the Berkeley Repertory Theater in California in September of 2009, the production has since moved to the St. James Theater on Broadway where it's been playing non-stop since March 2010.

A movie, nationwide, could essentially connect the masses to the message once again, as it was in '04 and '05 when Green Day toured relentlessly in support of the album.

And beyond all that American Idiot has become, Armstrong says he's got his sights set on some new types of writing.

"I think I'd be interested in the future of really getting into writing specifically for a [theater] show," Armstrong told the Times. "The kind of music that I like is very immediate and very catchy, and you identify with it quickly, and I try to write that way. And in musical theater it's the same thing: you identify with the songs immediately, the good ones anyway."

So there you have it, Green Day enthusiasts. You might not have to make the pilgrimage to NYC to catch American Idiot live after all. You lucky punks.

**We'd like to thank our correspondent K.C. for the research for this post**

Summer 2010 Music Tours

With summer right around the corner it's time to gear up for this year's slew of shows in the sunshine. If you're not up to date on who's playing when, just take a look below for some of the best shows/festivals that summer 2010 has to offer.

Anberlin

May 28th - Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT

May 29th - Northshore Mall, Peabody, MA (FREE SHOW!)

June 1st - Toad's Place, New Haven, CT

Even though Florida-based rockers Anberlin are busy working on their new album, they've decided to do a small tour to welcome in the summer months. They'll start off their New England run in Vermont before heading to Mass. as part of the Journey's Backyard BBQ Tour, a five city skate/BMX tour featuring both athletes and bands from across the country. Anberlin will be sharing the stage (at the Northshore Mall of all places) with Mayday Parade for the free show. Three days later the quintet will be in Connecticut alongside Story Of The Year and Terrible Things. These are some shows you don't want to miss!

Taking Back Sunday

June 25th - House of Blues, Boston, MA

As part of one of the shortest tours ever, only six shows nationwide, TBS are setting out for their first round of shows with original members John Nolan and Shaun Cooper back in the lineup. Lucky for New England, they're hitting Boston's House of Blues. No word on openers just yet. Tickets are still available, though the special VIP packages are all sold out. This will be a must see for any TBS fan.

Paramore

July 27th - Oakdale Theater, Wallingford, CT

July 28th - Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA

Aug 3rd - Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion, Gilford, NH

The Honda Civic Tour has built itself on solid pop-punk lineups year after year, and 2010 is no different. Paramore are headlining this summer's tour alongside scene staples New Found Glory and Tegan and Sara for what's set to be one of the best shows all season. With three chances to see this tour in New England, you've got no excuses for missing it.

Green Day

Aug 12th - Comcast Theater, Hartford, CT

Aug 16th - Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA

Still busy touring to support their latest release, 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day are bringing out fellow punk rock lifers AFI for a late summer romp through the US. With both bands developing massive followings that carried over from the 90s, these shows will definitely draw out an eclectic crowd that will be as fun to watch as the bands.

Vans Warped Tour

July 11th - Comcast Theater, Hartford, CT

July 13th - Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA

Who could forget about the best tour of every summer? Warped is back for its 16th year, and has two stops in New England. With a lineup to suit anyone's tastes, tickets should go fast. Where else can you see The All-American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack, Four Year Strong, Bring Me The Horizon and The Rocket Summer in the same day?