PAUSED IN THE D’

What a night in downtown Detroit Wednesday at Comerica Park home of the Detroit Tigers and on this night Grenn Day’s. The evening started out like always with long check in lines, merch tents, and streets filled with happy patrons, all waiting to see Green Day with special guests The Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, and the Linda Lindas. The Saviors Tour celebrating 30 years of DOOKIE and 20 years of AMERICAN IDIOT is something you don’t see quite often.

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performing live at Comerica Park September 4, 2024.

Before things even got going the 35,000 plus fans sang in harmony during Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” that led us into Green Day taking the stage and opening with their smash hit “The American Dream is Killing Me” of the band’s 2024 album “Saviors.” The 37-song set was pure brilliance playing two albums in its entirety flawlessly like a well-oiled machine. The band’s first half of the set was from the “Dookie” album which made them superstars back in 1994. During the set the band was rushed of stage unknowingly to the fans and themselves for that matter mid song playing “Longview.” Concertgoers spotted a drone hovering over the concert and flying low. DPD detained an individual outside the stadium and he was arrested. After the short show pause things went on as scheduled.

Billie Joe Armstrong returned to the stage and asked everyone “How you guys doing? Everybody OK?” continuing from where they left off finishing the “Dookie” set list. Armstrong also let the fans know “There’s no mother——going to stop us” The two hour and 40-minute set will go down as one of the top performances every at Comerica Park. Other hits from the “Dookie” album included “Welcome to Paradise” “Sassafras Root” with an (orchestral version) of “All by Myself.” The 22-song set ended with “Brain Stew.”

Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins performing live at Comerica Park September 4, 2024.

Kicking off the American Idiot set with “American Idiot” was like totally cool in itself followed up with “Jesus of Suburbia” and “Holiday.” The American Idiot set received a makeover complete with the hand grenade heart from the album cover. Cool highlight from the set came when the fans lit up Comerica with their cell phone during “Give Me Novacaine.” Armstrong said tonight “We are all together!” Tonight is all about a celebration here in Detroit.” Other classics from the set included “Leeterbomb” “Bobby Sox” and “She’s a Rebel.” The set concluded with Good Riddance (Time of your Life) with Led Zeppelin’s (“Over the Hills and Far Away” intro) This is truly a once in a lifetime event that everyone needs to see. There is plenty of time to catch them in a city near you. Also, on the bill punk rockers Linda Linda’s and Rancid played to a very nice crowd in Detroit rock city. Stay young Americ keep rocking!

Green Day live at Comerica Park, September 4, 2024, The Saviors Tour.