Green Day opened to a packed Marvel Stadium last night, with the blended audience each belonging to a specific era of the band's near 40-year reign. Billy Joe Armstrong (guitar and lead vocals), Mike Dirnt (bass and backing vocals) and Tré Cool (Drummer) delivered their trademark energy and playfulness on stage, with a cool confidence suggesting they have yet to skip a band practice in decades.

With many of the greats returning to the stage for reunion tours, Green Day certainly raised the bar with their pledge to play Dookie and American Idiot in their entirety for the Saviors tour. This massive undertaking is in celebration of 30 years since Dookie was released and 20 years since American Idiot launched. When all was said and done, the show included an impressive 37-track set list. 

Hits from their recent album Saviors were peppered through, but it was clear the boys were keen to rip in to their older material with the start of each song eliciting a visceral reaction as the fans' delight rippled through the stadium. 

The visual choreography across the screens was executed incredibly, with the stage framed in screens, bringing to life these iconic videos, cartoons, typography and the signature Green Day rock look and feel. During the Dookie album performance, there was a volcano set design which changed colour and paid homage to the Dookie album cover.

There was also a remote operated plane that appeared from behind the stage and flew out over general admission, which added a fun dimension to the show, and Dookie-lovers would easily recognise the plane as the one that appears on the Dookie album cover. When it was time for the American Idiot tracks, the stage was transformed to red with similar visual elements that tied to the album.

A highlight of the show was Armstrong looking to the audience to find someone to complete Know Your Enemy with him on stage. Selecting possibly the most perfect candidate, a very keen young person named Honey was pulled onto stage. Honey and Armstrong completed the song with their respective microphones before jumping together in unison, and a final jump from Honey off an amp with her landing timed with pyrotechnics. 

Pleased with his selection, Armstrong began a “Honey, Honey, Honey” cry to the crown, with the audience returning “Oi, Oi, Oi” back. There were a few instances of Armstrong taking a punt on a few covers,  teasing out a few chords and lyrics to Tom Petty’s Free Fallin’, and later some AC/DC chords, perhaps a nod to the Australian rock legends. A harmonica interlude during Minority was an unexpected treat, with Armstrong introducing his band and extra players supporting their set.

There was no predictability to the show, despite tour goers being aware that Dookie and American Idiot were going to be played to their entirety. For example, at one point Tré Cool took the stage by himself as he pranced around the stage singing All By Myself with orchestral backing wearing a mini leopard print dressing gown. 

American Idiot was undoubtedly the crowd favourite, with Armstrong demanding that the crowd “go fucking crazy” and jump up and down. His orders were followed to the letter, and young and old screamed the lyrics to a song that feels hyper relevant in 2025. The iconic line “I’m not part of a redneck agenda” was replaced with “I’m not part of a MAGA agenda” which was met with lots of cheering.

Interestingly, during Green Day’s South African show in January, the group used their platform to clap back at Elon Musk too, singing “I’m not part of your Elon agenda”. Regardless of where you fall in politics, there is a natural order in watching rock bands stick it to the establishment, and in this case the controversial Trump administration.

Brain Stew was a personal favourite, with its slow pace and angsty lyrics taking me back to the very elements that made Green Day such a juggernaut of its time. Watching Armstrong perform it at aged 53, you would be forgiven for thinking he was that same 20-something “fucked up and spun out” in his bedroom. Dirnt’s bass work did some heavy lifting in the track, and it was unbelievable to see him front and centre in an orange utility suit playing with the drama and energy you would expect from a new track and not the 30 year old hit.

Basket Case was another pearler, starting with a dark stage and anticipation building before the light came on to reveal a beaming, wide-eyed Billy Joe. It was as if the whole stadium knew. The all too familiar riff was like being pierced with the nostalgic sound of Basket Case as Armstrong bellowed “Do you have the time, to listen to me whine?”. Armstrong’s vocals were reminiscent of an early ’90s-inspired revolt, and the feeling amongst the crowd as the chorus approached was electric.

The Australian leg of the Saviors Tour continues in Sydney on Monday and the Gold Coast on Wednesday. From there, the group perform in India, Europe, Mexico and the United States, ending with a bang in a festival in Maryland. 

An open top stadium on a balmy night felt like the perfect way to honour Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life). Performed earnestly by the trio of bandmates and friends, it is incredible to remember just how popular this song is, penetrating all genres and pop culture. The beginning of the track with the false start guitar work is etched in our minds forever, and for one incredible lucky fan, they were able to put their own prints on this song.

Yet another fan was plucked from the mosh pit and given a guitar to master the Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) chords which they absolutely nailed for an audience of some 50,000 people. 

As the crowd emptied Marvel Stadium, the crowds were buzzing with the most uniform looking attendees we had ever seen. A sea of Green Day band shirts celebrating the 2024/2025 tour as well as previous work tours were seen on all ages, eager to wear a piece of a band important to so many.

AFI was the perfect accompaniment to Green Day, with their support act performance priming an already eager audience with their signature sound and wild on-stage energy. The group have joined Green Day throughout parts of the tour and will conclude with Australia, their last collaboration. AFI is set to support System Of A Down in May of this year. 

The tour will continue on Monday in Sydney at Engie Stadium.