Green Day took over the streets on Downtown Las Vegas in an epic not-so-secret show that happened on Thursday, Oct. 20.
Rumors broke out across town about a potential pop-up performance happening with Green Day. Online forums started becoming filled with questions about the inside details of this secret show. A few hours later, it was confirmed that tickets would go on sale right at 10 a.m. on that Thursday — the same Thursday as the show.
In just a few minutes, tickets were completely absorbed by “When We Were Young” festival attendees, locals and mega fans.
Tickets were in such demand that the venue released an additional couple hundred tickets after the first round of tickets dropped. But, there’s good reason for the hype. There’s something special about seeing a mega band perform in an intimate, close-up venue.
For one night, we felt like it was truly the early 2000s again, and we were seeing Green Day in its most purest form. Without the huge theatrics, without the mass commercialization of current-day concerts and without the artificial feeling of “forcing punk.” Green Day is punk simply because they are.
Before the concert started, a line snaked along the Fremont Country Club building. People were standing, excited and pumped to see Green Day. One person in line even told us that he came a day earlier, changed his flight and hotel check-in after he heard about this show. Luckily, he was able to purchase one of these coveted tickets because many people weren’t.
Before Green Day Performed, Ultra Q Did
During the show, the band Ultra Q opened up. Ultra Q is fronted by Billie Joe Armstrong’s song, Jakob Danger.
Once Green Day came on, a jolt of electricity came upon the crowd. Mosh pits formed, head-banging initiated and screaming of the iconic Green Day lyrics ignited.
The band performed the entirety of the “Dookie” album. They also performed other hits and even performed for the very first time the band’s newest song, “The American Dream Is Killing Me.”
Throughout the night, you could see the room filled with accompanying lyrics being shouted from the souls. People were dancing and just reliving a moment that may have been better, worse or all of the above.
New, Exciting Tour With Smashing Pumpkins
The cherry on top of this back-to-punk show was Billie Joe Armstrong’s announcement. The band is scheduled to go on tour with the Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid and the Linda Lindas.
It was an incredible show that created the perfect “welcome” weekend to the “When We Were Young” Festival. So, let’s get ready for yet another weekend of amazing music in Sin City.
Check out the photos from last night’s show below.
