After such a triumphant and frenetic performance at the sound ofamerican idiotBillie Joe Armstrong has laid the cards on the table. “Tonight we’re going to dance together, we’re going to scream together, we’re going to do something Damned… noise together.”
Those weren’t empty words.
True to its reputation for rocking anything at concerts, Green Day threw a dizzying punk rock party on the raging Plains of Abraham on Sunday, while the festival d’été should have concluded before the event is extended by one day for Les Cowboys Fringants.
It’s as if Billie Joe Armstrong caught wind of Dave Grohl’s electrifying performance eight days ago at the same venue and decided to rock harder, harder, harder.
The first half hour was hell. Before taking the stage, Green Day first warmed up the festival-goers’ vocal cords with Bohemian Rhapsody, Blitzkrieg Bop and We Will Rock You.
Then they arrived. Billie Joe Armstrong, arms in the air, in conquest mode, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool and the three musicians who accompany them, set the Plains on fire by pitching American Idiot, Holiday, Know Your Enemy while a spectator could call on the stage to better blend in with the crowd, and Boulevard of Broken Dreams, all spiced up with pyrotechnic nozzles.
“Quebec, I love you Quebec!” exclaimed Billie Joe Armstrong, who spent the entire concert addressing the audience, too happy to accept his invitations to let go of his madness.
nothing but success
Wanting the party to never let up, Green Day only played hits, remembering an innate sense of melody that lodges in the brain never to leave.
The older ones therefore had no trouble remembering the lyrics to “When I Come Around”, “Hitchin’ a Ride”, “Basket Case” and “Longview”.
All? NO. “Oh my god, I forgot the lyrics,” Armstrong said after missing the beginning of Longview’s second verse.
As you can imagine, this mistake was quickly forgiven.
She realizes her dream
Billie Joe Armstrong graciously allowed Quebec artist Alicia Deschênes, whose story Le Journal brought to you on our website this weekend, to fulfill her dream of playing guitar with him on the cover of Knowledge of Poison Ivy, which the group plays at all concerts.
Moved, the young woman hugged her idol for a long time when she joined him on stage. She whispered a few words in his ear before grabbing a guitar to finish the song with his favorite group, savoring every second of this touching moment.
She was about to leave the stage when Armstrong asked her to come back. He asked her her name, gave her the guitar and prompted the crowd to sing Alicia.
“We will be back”
Then the party continued. The arrival of a saxophonist in a cover segment, who came in particular to play a few notes from Careless Whisper, was an opportunity to add a dose of humor to the concert, then Jesus of Suburbia and Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) continued. an accent Great exclamation point on this busy evening.
“THANK YOU. “We’ll be back,” promised the high-spirited singer-guitarist.
So, Dave or Billie Joe? A tie is declared. The big winners are the festival goers who witnessed two extraordinary performances during this festival.
Bad Religion: Ideals untouched
Featuring the appearance of American Jesus, a punk bombshell who denounces Americans’ belief that God supports them in all things, Bad Religion has completed two missions in three minutes.
First, the California quintet affirmed that the ideals that have guided them since their inception more than 40 years ago remain at the heart of their artistic approach. Greg Graffin even changed a line in the second verse to include the word Québécois, a nod to one of the regions of the world where Bad Religion has played the most in his career.
It was also a reminder that the band’s hits have stood the test of time, evidenced by inspired renditions of “Do What You Want,” “Recipe For Hate,” “Punk Rock Song,” “Infected,” and “21st Century.” Digital Boy” to name just a few.
There was also something touching to see these sixty year olds (or almost sixty year olds) always show the same sacred fire. A punk heart cannot be lost.
The good news? After the pandemic slowed them down, Greg Graffin promised that Bad Religion, which first made a presence in the Plains of Abraham, would pick up its good habit and land in Quebec every year.
Bad religion on the plains of Abraham, Sunday evening. Photo Didier Debusschere / Le Journal de Quebec
Peanut Butter Sunday: Successful peanut butter campaign
A last-minute call in the 7pm box office on the Plains to lead Meet Me At The Altar, young Acadian punk band Peanut Butter Sunday provided the summer festival’s most entertaining opening act.
Their pop-punk, imported from the 90s and 2000s, does its job very well without being revolutionary. They are, in short, the torchbearers of a genre that is experiencing a resurgence.
On the Plains, it is above all the joie de vivre and bizarre humor of these happy fellows that enable them to win over festival-goers.
“We’re Peanut Butter Sunday. For Quebecers, this is Peanut Butter Sunday. And guess what, it’s Sunday,” vocalist/guitarist Michael Saulnier was quick to point out, having just erupted in a thunderous “Holy crap, I’m sorry, holy FEQ!” see the crowd.
At one point, viewers even started yelling, “Peanut butter!”
They were originally supposed to play on the Découverte stage in front of a handful of people. That’s called taking the opportunity.
Peanut Butter Sunday on the Plains of Abraham, Sunday evening. Photo Didier Debusschere / Le Journal de Quebec