Review from dotmusic.com

It's fitting that on a day of tube strikes, which will leave many of tonight's punk kids unable to get home, that Green Day introduce their set with 'YMCA'.

Before Billie Joe Armstrong and co. have even appeared on stage the place is going barmy, singing along and pulling collective party moves to the song dedicated to the only place that may give this unusually young crowd refuge after the show.

Leading the crowd in this 70s themed intro is a massive pink rabbit. He runs onto the stage, makes the shape of a 'Y', then an 'M' and downs a beer in one. He proceeds to pull a 'C' and an 'A' and downs his second beer before saluting the crowd and scampering backstage.

The show hasn't even properly begun and already Green Day's circus antics are in full swing.

As anyone who knows anything about the Green Day live experience will tell you, the carnival doesn't end there. Not long later and the first bolt of pyrotechnic explosions lights up the arena; a giant backdrop reveals numerous huge Green Day logos; frontman Billie Joe Armstrong will thoroughly soak the front rows of the audience with a water pistol so big it probably needs a license; and the band will, in time honoured fashion, invite three members of the crowd to take over on guitar, drums and bass to knock out three very shaky chords.

Between the madness it's easy to forget the sheer punk grandeur of Green Day's songs - especially when some of those songs feature guest performances from brass sections dressed as bumble bees and a guitarist kitted out like a gangster.

From drawn out versions of 'Brain Stew' and 'Welcome to Paradise' to thud-along classics 'Basket Case' and 'Waiting', the crowd shout every word back at the band, mostly under the guidance of Billie Joe who seems compelled to start a sing-along at every available opportunity.

Green Day have been on the road for eight months now and, of course, the honed routine has become a little formulaic. But there's no sign that the band have lost their love for this performing malarkey and after doing it for so long they sure have mastered their art, right down to the vacant stare in Billie Joe's eyes and the shake of drummer, Tre Cool's blue rinse hair.

The show is both accomplished and ragged, but always top class, and by the time it's over there's not a single punter who isn't grinning like a dumb kid and wishing the band will carry on all night.

Gigs 2000 - 2002