November 4, 2000
Hardcore Green Day

TORONTO -- The backlash against Radiohead has begun.

And leave it to Billie Joe Armstrong, irreverent frontman for pop-punk outfit Green Day, to do the bashing of the critically lauded British art-rockers.

"How many of you are first-timers ?" Armstrong yelled out to the crowd early in the band's show at the Warehouse last night.

"When you come to see Green Day you have sex after the show," he said to huge cheers.

"Now you could go to see Radiohead ... " continued Armstrong. "(But) I don't want to read no poetry! I want to drink, fight and f--k! God damn it!

Let the games begin.

The Berkeley, California, trio -- rounded out by bass player Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool -- have been at this power punk thing for a decade now. But they showed no signs of maturation during a high-energy and fun-filled 90-minute set, much to the delight of their sweaty, mostly young fans who filled practically every inch of the venue.

The show sold out in three minutes (although half the tickets were part of a radio giveaway) and judging from the steady boil of the mosh pit at the front of the stage, it was hardcore Green Day-ers all the way.

The band, expected to return to Toronto as early as next spring when they will launch a full-fledged tour in support of their month-old new album, Warning, certainly didn't disappoint.

The group-audience connection was palpable as Armstrong, Dirnt and Cool played the hell out of their instruments on such songs as Geek Stink Breath, Brain Stew, Basketcase, King For A Day and When I Come Around.

They also took requests and eventually dragged four people on stage to play The Ramones' Blitzkrieg Bop.

"Faster! Faster!" Armstrong yelled at the makeshift group. "When you start a punk band everyone yells at you 'Faster! Faster!' " he explained.

Meanwhile, in the background, Cool christened the group by spray-painting 'The Turds' on a white sheet hanging behind his drum kit.

"They're almost better than Third Eye Blind," Armstrong commented before demanding they individually stage dive back into the crowd.

Green Day also came armed with plenty of props. Everything from wigs to water guns.

And they finished their encore with Dirnt and Cool destroying their instruments before Armstrong returned alone with his guitar to play Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life).

You definitely get the sense they're not just out to entertain the audience, but also themselves.

JAM! Rating: 4 out of 5