GIG REVIEW: Hella Mega Tour of Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer lands in Marlay Park

On the edge of Dublin, Ireland thousands smarmed on a special pilgrimage towards Marlay Park as the call to rock irresistibly beckoned. Long lines formed as buses and cars delivered fans and those looking to experience three of the biggest alt rock bands in the world perform in the beautiful natural arena. The vendors surrounded the outskirts of the allotted area serving the forty or so thousand attendees. Looking around it was a smarming sea of humanity from young to old, male, female and everything in between, people from all different backgrounds, views, philosophies, religions and none. All were tied together inexorably through the love of music, and tonight specifically through Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer.

As the Weezer stage was set up and revealed the crowds started moving closer towards the stage in expectation.  The anticipation was growing and then with total swagger and to the delight of everyone on came Brian Bell, Rivers Cuomo, Patrick Wilson and Scott Shriner. Weezer had appeared and began with a vengeance as they pumped out the rocking “Hash Pipe” and with that everyone was as one singing along. Belting out “Beverly Hills”, “My Name Is Jonas”, “Pork and Beans”, and “A Little Bit of Love” they had full command of the immense crowd that were completely caught up in the music. Weezer had them all in the palm of their hand and endeared themselves even more when Brian called out to the audience in Irish and shouted “What’s the Craic? Its Weezer time!” The atmosphere was electric  and 40,000 people became one, if they were not standing next to friends or family, they were standing next to friends they had not yet met. The sense of oneness was inescapable. “Records”, “All My Favorite Songs” and the classic “Undone – The Sweater Song” rolled off the stage as all around 40,000 voices sang along pushing their vocal cords to the max especially during the catchy pop punk choruses. The thing about Weezer is that their songs are fun, light-hearted but with a punchy rock rhythm and captivating nostalgia as each song is filled with easter eggs for every kid born in the 70’s or 80’s as they floated back to their teenage angst ridden nerd filled days of being misunderstood. Weezer songs are anthems to those days, much like Stranger Things has captivated so many because of the nostalgia. It must be noted though, nostalgia has been used to smooth over cracks, the fact that Weezer have no cracks in their skills or repertoire stands as a testament to how professional and well oiled they are in performing. They then tapped into even more of the sense of fun and respect with and incredible cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” before hitting home with “Feels Like Summer”, “Island in the Sun” and the viral cover of Toto’s “Africa”. Not once was there an inkling of anyone wavering, neither Weezer nor the audience, the two were one. Then a very shortened “California Snow” before they completed their show with “Say It Ain’t So” and the iconic “Buddy Holly”. The crowd were now totally pumped and yelled their absolute approval of what they had just been lucky enough to witness. Weezer were just incredible.

After a short change of set, some food and energy drinks the crowd were once again ready to be entertained as Fall Out Boy took to the stage. The cheers went up and must have been heard from miles away, as the 40,000 strong audience were high on music and they just wanted to get higher. There were not to be disappointed.

Starting with “The Phoenix”, “Sugar, We’re Goin Down”, “Irresistible”, and “Uma Thurman” Fall out Boy, Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman, Pete Wentz, Andy Hurley, were there to rock. And rock they did. The audience were thrilled with the music rolling down of the stage and taking them away on a journey of pure joy.

And the journey had only just begun as they pumped out “Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy”, “Save Rock and Roll”, “The Last of the Real Ones”, “Dance, Dance” and “A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More “Touch Me””. All the while the audience lapped it up as Patrick and Peter Wentz whipped them into a fever pitch chatting with the audience, shouting at the audience and making the crowd just go wild. They were consummate performers and knew what was expected, though they delivered way above expectations. There were continual set changes, flame bursts from the stage and beside the stage, flaming pianos and   that kept the hype train at top speed. The band even acknowledged the number of mosh pits all going at once all the while there was a crepe van serving people. They were stunned at the fervour for rocking out the Irish have.

Then they followed on through theo end of their set with “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race”, “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)”, “I Don’t Care”, “Thanks for the memories”, “Centuries”, and “Saturday”. The crowd went even wilder when Peter made a quick change into the Ireland Football shirt all the while in a black leather kilt. There was just pure love emanating from the band and the audience. It was a totally experiential thing that meant it was incredibly special to be there and witness it.

And with that Fall Out Boy had finished and were off for a well-earned rest.

As if the crowd could not get any more hyped there was a palpable hair-raising moment as with almost one voice (40,000 people will never entirely sing in sync) they raised their voices to sing along with “Bohemian Rhapsody” as it blared out across the sea of people. It was a beautiful moment that just felt perfect. Then came on The Ramone’s “Blitzkrieg Bop” and to the absolute joy of everyone there out came the wired up and hyper Green Day bunny to warm up the crowd, but it was more like the bunny was trying to be a lightning rod to focus everyone. He bounced around like a mad man to the rapturous cheering of the crowd.

Within a moment the bunny was gone and there in front of everyone was Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool. There on stage was Green Day.

They had no thought of keeping the good songs to near the end, their problem was what great songs to drop as they couldn’t fit everything in. It was a real flex when they kicked off with the utterly iconic “American Idiot”. “Holiday”, “Know Your Enemy”, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, “Longview”, and “Welcome to Paradise”. Each one a classic and Billy Joe just being the consummate performer, working the audience. During “know your enemy” he paused to ask, “Who knows the words?” as he repeated pointed this way and that to a roar from the crowd each time. That was until one audience member was hauled up onto stage and had the tale of a lifetime as he sang with Green Day for a few short moments, but, oh, they moments that will be handed down.

Billy also took a moment to remind everyone “It took us two years to get here, so dance, sing and make some noise!” And dance sing and make noise they did. Along with a fan dressed in a blow-up T-Rex costume, which also got the Green Day seal of approval for the madness that was morphing in front of them.

There were moments the audience sang the traditional singalong chant of “Olay, Olay, Olay, Olay”, which Billy Joe playfully kept going nodding approval with his trademark mischievous grin. All along Green Day just rode the wave of joyous rapture, steering it this way and that. This was a euphoric live experience that was unique to that night and the 40,000 or so people there to witness it. The crowd went completely wild as at one stage Billy Joe jokingly taunted the crowd saying, “Did Ireland just get louder than England?” – nothing like a little rivalry to turn the noise up to 11.

On they went with “Hitchin’ a Ride”, an incredible rendition of KISS’s “Rock and Roll All Nite”, “Brain Stew”, “St. Jimmy” and “When I Come Around”. Each song seemed to have been etched on 40,000 hearts and souls as they joined along with every bit of might they could muster. “Waiting”, “21 Guns”, “Minority”, a cover of Operation Ivy’s “Knowledge” and “Basket Case” just kept the crowd working out.

“King for a Day” and the Isley Brother’s “Shout” kept the audience hooked on every word, sound and movement of Green Day. Finishing off the set was “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “Jesus of Suburbia” before they did a magnificent emotionally charged encore with “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”.

To have even one of the bands on their own would be an event in itself, but to have all three on the one stage was sheer magnificence that will be difficult to ever equal. The enthusiasm of each band and how they connected with the audience proved why they were on top of their game. It was a complete experience, nothing was out of place and the stars seemed to have aligned. The Hella Mega tour is not to be missed.

The Hella Mega tour continues and you can find out where they are appearing on the tour website at https://hellamegatour.com/#dates