TVD Live Shots: Green Day and Catfish and the Bottlemen at Wrigley Field, 8/24

Green Day put on what was easily the most exhilarating performance that Wrigley Field has seen all summer—and that’s saying something, given the ballpark’s abundant and star-studded 2017 concert lineup. Also, it’s worth noting that what was arguably the most fun and celebratory show at Wrigley all summer was the cheapest one. (Thanks Green Day for making your shows affordable.)

Where to begin? There was a drunk bunny tossing toys into the crowd, pyrotechnics, Billie’s leaps, Mike’s facial expressions, Tré’s tutu, jokes, a t-shirt canon, so many fireworks, sing-a-longs, Chicago-centric covers (“Shout,” etc.) and rally cries. (In general: theatrics galore!) Multiple fans were pulled from the crowd to sing and stage dive. One, “Ritchie from Glenview,” was given the guitar he was brought to the stage to play. I mean, the band gave so much to the crowd that we might as well have been contestants on a game show.

Seriously though, Green Day is incredibly generous to their fans. And I’m not talking about their giveaways. They’re kind, considerate, and loyal to their fanbase. They played every single song as if it was their last time playing it. Ever. How they still have this much energy 30+ years later is beyond me. The band was juiced, the crowd was juiced, and it made for one hell of a fun ride. Even Billie Joe referred to it as “one of best nights” of his life. In awe staring out at Wrigley Field, he confessed, “Never in my fucking life did I ever think we’d be playing Wrigley Field.”

While the mood of the night was light and merry, Billie Joe did take the opportunity to express his exasperation over the current state of the country. “Neo-nazis and shit?!” he questioned. The crowd loudly booed. “Go back to your fucking holes man! Get the fuck out! You lose your freedom of speech the minute you say you’re a nazi or a white supremacist,” he declared to a roar of cheers before adding, “Don’t let any politician get between you and the truth.”

As I was exiting Wrigley after the concert, I saw a woman weeping next to me. “I’m so sad it’s over,” she cried to her boyfriend. I understood her sorrow. For a few hours, I was 15 again, screaming lyrics from Dookie into August air with not a care in the world.

CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN

GREEN DAY SET LIST
Know Your Enemy
Bang Bang
Revolution Radio
Holiday
Letterbomb
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Longview
Youngblood
2000 Light Years Away
Hitchin’ a Ride
When I Come Around
Welcome to Paradise
Minority
Are We the Waiting
St. Jimmy
Knowledge (cover of Operation Ivy)
Basket Case
She
King For A Day
Medley of covers: Shout (The Isley Brothers), Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (Eric Idle), (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Rolling Stones), Hey Jude (The Beatles)
2till Breathing
Forever Now