Two bands that played in heavy rotation on the soundtrack to this writer’s formative years, Green Day & Smashing Pumpkins brought one of the best shows of the prime concert season to Pittsburgh’s PNC Park on Sunday, September 1! Neither act disappointed.
Proceeded by a solid set from up-and-comers The Linda Lindas and veteran punk outfit, Rancid (who closed their set with crowd pleasers“Time Bomb” and “Ruby Soho,”) Smashing Pumpkins took the stage and kicked off their set with “Everlasting Gaze.”
Frontman Billy Corgan was joined by fellow founding members James Iha on guitar and the incomparable Jimmy Chamberlin on drums. Rounding out the touring lineup is gorgeous Instagram sensation Kiki Wong, bassist Jack Bates, and CleveRock favorite, Miss Katie Cole! {SHOUT OUT TO KATIE! Check out our interview with Katie, conducted a week before the show. Support her Kickstarter while you’re at it!}
The second song on the setlist, “Doomsday Clock,” was the first track on the Smashing Pumpkins’ 2007 album ‘Zeitgeist,’ their first record after regrouping following their previous disbandment in 2000. It’s not a great song, but it’s exciting to this reviewer. It was the first new SP song I had heard after a seven-year drought. An odd cover of U2’s “Zoo Station” (although not as odd as last tour’s cover of Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime“) also appeared early in the set.
Smashing Pumpkins are unassumingly one of the more versatile alt-rock bands of the 1990s. They can switch from angry hard rock songs like “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” to acoustic versions of “Tonight, Tonight” on a dime and fill in with songs of any temperament in between. This ability was on full display this beautiful September evening along the beautiful Pittsburgh riverfront.
The Pumpkins played a string of four consecutive hits: “Tonight, Tonight,” “Ava Adore,” “Disarm,” and “Bullet With Butterfly Wings.” This kept the capacity crowd on their feet, fully engaged, and singing at the top of their lungs.
Sure, Green Day was the headliner, but Smashing Pumpkins left their mark tonight, too. Love him or hate him, Corgan is a consummate frontman. His instantly recognizable bald head and distinct voice led the charge, but the drumming of Chamberlin, the talent of Iha, and the more-than-competent supporting crew certainly helped out. (Having two gorgeous women on stage is simply a bonus!)
“1979” was the highlight for this reviewer. Based on audience participation, it was the consensus crowd favorite as well. Everyone sang along to the chorus:
“That weeeeeeee don’t even care / As restless as we are” and grew even louder when Corgan announced “last one” to close out the song.
In a bizarre WTF moment, after dedicating their 1993 hit “Cherub Rock” to former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Kent Tekulve, the band brought out wrestlers from the Corgan-run National Wrestling Alliance to (poorly) fake a fight on stage. Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to have a man throwing a punch at a woman (albeit fake and missing by a mile). Nobody had a clue as to what the hell they were witnessing.
Smashing Pumpkins closed their set with “Zero,” leaving fans simultaneously satisfied yet wanting more.
Check out CleveRock’s photos of Smashing Pumpkins set!
And now, ladies and gentlemen…The moment everyone has been waiting for: Green Day!
The Billie Joe Armstrong-led band quickly fired up “The American Dream Is Killing Me” from their 2024 release, ‘Saviors.’ Although dubbed “The Saviors Tour,” Green Day played a mere five songs from the album, compared to their choice to celebrate the 1994 release ‘Dookie’ and 2004’s ‘American Idiot.’ by playing them from start to finish. (Zero complaints!)
Armstrong announced that it was the 30th anniversary of ‘Dookie,’ and without hesitation, Green Day jumped into the album’s lead track, “Burnout.” 30 years. Damn. Way to make this 40-year-old reviewer feel old AF.
‘Dookie‘ was one of four albums that appeared under this guy’s Christmas Tree with my first CD player in the fifth grade. I played the hell out of it. I copied the CD to a cassette to listen to it in the car (until my parents confiscated it due to potty-mouth language). I listened to it while doing homework. I played it while partying (or the lame middle-schooler equivalent). It was my favorite record at the time. ‘Dookie’ has stood the test of time. Fans who are a bit younger and got their first taste of Green Day with the release of ‘American Idiot’ went back in time and fell in love with the album.
The complete run-through of ‘Dookie’ was literal. The band didn’t stop to introduce songs, talk about their meanings, and kept their banter to a bare minimum. Armstrong did instruct the audience to live in the moment and put their phones away during “Longview.” Not a bad idea. The song contains one of the most poetic lyrics in rock history:
“When masturbation’s lost its fun, you’re fuckin’ lazy.”
The crowd went crazy! Rightfully so.
CHECK OUT OUR GREEN DAY PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW!
The album continued with the hit single “Welcome to Paradise” and this writer’s favorite Green Day tune, “Basket Case,” which summons memories of better times in life.
During “Emenius Sleepus,” an inflatable airplane soared over the field seats, dropping items that this reviewer could not identify. (T-shirts, perhaps?)
Other highlights from the album included “When I Come Around” and “She.” (But let’s be honest, the whole album is a highlight.)
Drummer Tré Cool had fun with “All By Myself” as he traversed the stage, taking on the role of vocalist.
A six-song interlude bridged the gap between ‘Dookie’ and ‘American Idiot.’ The first, “Know Your Enemy” gave two fans the opportunity of a lifetime! After both promised they knew the lyrics to the bridge, Armstrong invited them on stage and gave both of them the opportunity to sing the song’s bridge. It’s hard to tell if they nailed it or not, as their microphones were a bit muffled. Both fans remained on stage for the rest of the song, in awe of what just happened, before quickly being ushered back to the pit by security. “Look Ma, No Brains!” and “Minority” were also part of the setlist before the next album run-through.
Just like the introduction to ‘Dookie,’ Armstrong noted that it was the 20th anniversary of ‘American Idiot’ and, without hesitation, stormed into the album’s title track. It’s no secret that the album is a diss to former United States President George W. Bush. (I can only imagine what an album aimed at Donald Trump would sound like. Maybe we’ll find out if, God forbid, he finds his way back into the Oval Office.)
The album’s two most successful singles, “Holiday” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” were played back to back as the lightest possible rain (more so a mist) cooled the crowd on what was otherwise a picture-perfect weather evening. These were probably the loudest sing-alongs of the night.
The third to last track on the record, “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” was appropriate for the first day of said month.
Formed in 1987 and solidifying themselves as one of the kings of alt-rock in 1994, Green Day spans generations. Adults in their mid- to late 50s were sitting next to preteens, all of whom enjoyed the band as much as fans from teenagers up through those in their 40s, sitting in the same row. Parents brought their children. Children brought their parents. Green Day defines timelessness.
Green Day closed with the lyrics “I hope you had the time of your life” before taking a final bow. I sure did!
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