TORONTO -- Billie Joe Armstrong swung his microphone around a few times, and that's the only thing last night's Green Day show had in common with the Who.

The California trio is touring their new self-described "punk rock opera", American Idiot, but the super sold-out show at the Phoenix thankfully did not feature any ridiculous outfits, extended solos or mini-Stonehenge props.

It was simply a stellar, arena-worthy performance of an excellent record.

Performing a brand new album in its entirety is a risk few bands take.

But what a way to promo the disc: the excited Green Day fans ate it up, drowning out the opening music with their rapturous roar. The band jumped right into the opening title track, leading the masses to chant, "Don't want to be an American Idiot!" with much enthusiasm.

The album's other tunes, including the five-suite epic Jesus of Suburbia met with an equally positive response. For a record that's been out less than week, there was no shortage of singalongs.

When Armstrong asked, "Can I get another Amen?" he got plenty.

"Welcome to the last, final American Idiot tour," shouted Armstrong. "Remember, we always save the best for last." While the trio, especially drummer Tre Cool, did seem a tad tired or tense at times, perhaps it's part of their new malaise.

After 15 years of making sunny pop punk music, the band has taken a darker turn, and not just in their choice of black and red attire.

There's a unsettling edge to some songs, aided by vocal distortion. But even when the band did power ballads like Wake Me Up When September Ends (dedicated to the late Johnny Ramone) and the moving Are We the Waiting, it was still a punk rock show. (It helped that they kept the guest saxophone player hidden.) When they got to St. Jimmy, with its chugging guitars and fast, hardcore-like tempo, it was moshing time.

The one problem with playing the album straight through was it wasn't always paced for maximum impact.

Right after St. Jimmy, for instance, Novacaine was a downer, perhaps the only tune that was weaker live than on record. And by the big finale, Homecoming, the energy started to wane. Not ones to let the crowd off less than stoked, Green Day encored with its biggest hits, Longview, BrainStew and Minority, then finished with an ironic cover of Queen's We Are The Champions, complete with fake Freddie mustache. You won't see that at Tommy. (More on Green Day)

JAM! Rating: 4out of 5