It started yesterday in Lisbon - Portugal: Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool and Mike Dirnt absolutelly ruled in the first concert of the "21st Century Breakdown Tour" throughout Europe. "You are so much better than America", said the lead singer in the middle of the show.

The opening band - Prima Donna - was very a pleasent surprise to all, if I'm not mistaken, and really warmed up the crowd. But more on them later.

The show started with (no surprise there) "Song of the Century" folowed by "21st Century Breakdown" , of course. Afterwards they made the crowd go wild with "Know Your Enemy". Also from their new album, they played "East Jesus Nowhere" which especially kicked ass. At the end of the song, Billie Joe asked especificlly for "a little boy or a little girl" to go up on stage (I tried to make the best of my shorteness, but luck came to a kid standing close to me). He placed a hand on his head and sang the last verse, at the end of which, the boy fell on his back, following the instructions B.J.A. had whispered in his ear. At the same time there were two awsome explosions on wich side of the stage.

Best song in the concert? Most people will probably agree on "Basket Case", but please, please do not forget these two:
"Holiday" because if one can feel every word of the lyrics close to one's heart no matter where they are from ("the representative from Portugal has the floor", he sang) as long as one has a little political conscience, imagine what it's like to hear it live, not only from the band you admire, but also by the voices of hundreds of your pears. "21 Guns" as the same effect; it can make your heart beat to the same rythm as the drums, and probablly to Tré Cool's heart too. But as far as I'm concerned, nothing beats "Holiday".
"King for a Day" because... well, it's really funny. Especially if B.J.A. shakes is butt showing his underpants while he sings "sugar, spice and everything nice...". Speaking of that, we all got to see his bare butt, in another part of the show. HOT

As for the habit they have to call people on stage, there was this guy who really did a good job on the guitar in "Jesus of Suburbia" - wich was a huge responsability - and another one who didn't do so well singing "Longview".
Also from Dookie, there were "She" and "Welcome to Paradise" (fucking amazing!), apart from the ones mentioned above. My tiny disappointement of the night was the absence of "When I Come Around" wich should be considerated one of their most important songs. From the album that portrays youth decadence in that fantastic way, it's probably the one that does it best.

Expect to go crazy with "American Idiot", "Minority", St.Jimmy and "Static Age", (Although I'm not the biggest fan of this last one, but that's just me) as well as with the great pirotechnic effects. "Are We The Waiting" was also a good song.

At some point, the first rows of people in the standing audience were greeted by jets of water shot from the biggest water gun I have ever seen. All elements of the band (including a saxophone and another guitar player) looked joyous and smiley during the whole evening.

Ballads such as "Last Night on Earth" were saved for the encore and the show was closed by "Good Riddance", as many had expected.

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Those who say the american trio does shows nothing new with this last album, aren't probably familiar with all of their work, and take in consideration only "American Idiot". Green Day has come a long way, and for anyone who knows it, it's idiotic not to acknowlege it. They've done the reckless fun tracks, the bored but far from boring ones, and they have grown to the political aware stage they're at. All of this lyrically.

Let's not forget the insrumental, as for you'll tell me that, for intervention songs, their rock opera was better than "21st Century Breakdown". Of course. But take an attentive listen to "Peacemaker", to "Viva la Gloria?", to "Restless Heart Syndrome" (especially to the "I am my own worst enemy... Know your enemy!" part, wich give me the creeps) and tell me they have not evolved and inovated. Listen to when they were just a band inspired by the 1970's punk rock and tell me they're still only that. Listen to "Warning", "Dookie", etc. and tell me they're all the same! They have matured but somehow managed to stay young.

And what other second generation punk rock bands have lasted without staying always the same?
If indeed, "PUNK IS NOT DEAD", it is thanks to Green Day.