The San Francisco Bay Area's rich history of music and activism collided in an epic night this past Tuesday. East Bay heroes Green Day delivered a surprise show at the iconic Fillmore, benefitting the Right Here Right Now Climate Alliance's fight against the human rights crises of climate change. Tickets for the intimate 1,000 person venue vanished in seconds when they went on sale less than a week before the show. Dedicated fans that were unable to get tickets began lining up as early as 1 AM, holding out hope for a final batch of tickets to be released. Their devotion was rewarded just a few hours before doors opened, and they were able to get in to see a performance that will forever be etched in Fillmore history.

As Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool, Mike Dirnt and company took the stage, they wasted no time and jumped into their newest album “Saviors”. Nearly 40 years into their career, Green Day is still writing music that resonates strongly with their fan base. This was clear as the crowd sang along and moshed to every song as the band played the album in its entirety.

Green Day’s political commentary continues to connect with fans in “The American Dream is Killing Me”, as the audience chanted along with the titular chorus. “Bulldoze your family home // Now it's a condo” resonates particularly well in SF that has struggled with the consequences of gentrification. The crowd's passionate chanting of “We are not home // Are we not home?” demonstrated how deeply the leading single resonated and fits in with the band’s storied commentary. The pit was rambunctious and lively through the heavier tracks like “One Eyed Bastard” and “1981”, with bodies colliding as everyone let out pent up energy. As they closed their playthrough of “Saviors” with the casanova-esque power ballad “Fancy Sauce”, it was apparent that the entire room had embraced Green Day’s latest installment to their discography with open arms.

Green Day’s joy of performing was apparent throughout the entire night. Each member was jumping around and engaging with the fans as they smiled from ear to ear. They were at home in the Bay, playing to an audience of die-hard fans who all felt like they won the lottery to be there, and they loved every second of it.

The night was far from over after the conclusion of “Saviors”. Without a moment to waste, the band immediately dove into their legendary “American Idiot” album, also playing it in its entirety. Getting not one, but two albums in full in a single set is an unforgettable experience. The energy in the room was already superb, but it turned feral as iconic fan favorites like “American Idiot”, “Holiday”, and “Jesus of Suburbia” echoed through the venue. Crowd surfers flew through the air. The circle pit was running at full speed. Fists and metal horns were raised. Sweat was flying as heads were banging. The floor was literally bouncing in response to the pit. It was an absolute delight.

The full playthrough of the “American Idiot” album was the first since 2005, however the performance was tight and polished as though it has been a staple of their setlist for 20 years. After the final notes rang out during a brief break, Green Day took the stage for their encore. “Minority” got the crowd going again. Green Day decided to display their rebellious side and went directly into “Basket Case” despite it not being on the setlist. The fan favorite pulled every last ounce of energy from the audience and was the perfect way to close the night.

The band powered through the impressive 30 song setlist with a force unparalleled. The transitions were as smooth as on the studio albums they were playing through. The showmanship was at the level required to hold the attention of stadiums, making the performance larger than life in the intimate venue. The night was a perfect mix of new and exciting music and celebrating the nostalgia of the classics.

Photos and Review by Kyle Hotchkiss

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