Blasphemy & Genocide: Unpopular Green Day Opinions, Part 2

[Cris.]

This is going to be the opposite of a fangirl confession.

I went to their show in Arlington last week, and before the show they were going to be at a 7 eleven a couple blocks from the stadium promoting their coffee, so I went there. They ended up arriving at ~3:50 PM and doors of the venue were opening at 4 PM. I was right in front row to see them, if I extended my arm I could have touched them, Trè gave a shirt to my sister, one of them (either Mike, Billie or the Bunny) threw a tote bag straight to my face (I didn't see because it was when Trè was giving the shirt to my sis and I was paying attention to that, and I think it's safe to assume they were not aiming for my face exactly lol). Then I was in a hurry to leave because I just wanted to get to the venue, so as soon as I noticed they were getting ready to leave, I walked to the back to try to leave. But of course they didn't let us out that guarded perimeter until they were driving away in their vans though, but because I started trying to leave when people were still at the front, when they walked around the back to leave I was again in front row, that's when I got Trè's signature. As soon as we were allowed out I walked as fast as my sister would allow to get to the venue, but it was around 4:50 PM when we got there, so doors had been open for almost an hour, so of course we got a shitty spot in the barricade, far out on Mike's side (I still went for barricade because I felt that'd be way easier on my sister who is 20 years older than me and this was her first pit experience ever - but anyways there were already way too many people around the center of the stage).

The point of the story is that, I was living the fangirl dream, being so close to the band and interacting to some extent with them, and yet I felt so calm - borderlining uninterested in the thing, while everyone around me was going nuts. Don't get me wrong, I'd give an arm and a leg for a chance to sit down and have a 1-on-1 conversation with them even if just for 5 minutes, just to talk about their music. But just seeing them up close and having those sort of superficial interactions doesn't do anything for me. In hindsight, I would much have rather be early at the venue and get a better spot for the concert, because that has a lot more value to me. I don't regret going to the 7 eleven thing though, for I didn't know this with certainty before experiencing it (although I had my suspicions), so I would have suffered from some serious FOMO if I hadn't gone, and I got these goodies directly from them + Trè's autograph, which I do appreciate a lot. And the fact that we were further from the center during the concert made it easier on my sister, and everyone around me was very nice and very into the concert, and possibly more relaxed than people at the center because we can get intense there, so it was an amazing experience all the same.

But in hindsight, yeah I would have sacrificed the 7 eleven up close experience for better spots during the concert.

[The Grohl]

2 hours ago, CristhyneS said:

This is going to be the opposite of a fangirl confession.

I went to their show in Arlington last week, and before the show they were going to be at a 7 eleven a couple blocks from the stadium promoting their coffee, so I went there. They ended up arriving at ~3:50 PM and doors of the venue were opening at 4 PM. I was right in front row to see them, if I extended my arm I could have touched them, Trè gave a shirt to my sister, one of them (either Mike, Billie or the Bunny) threw a tote bag straight to my face (I didn't see because it was when Trè was giving the shirt to my sis and I was paying attention to that, and I think it's safe to assume they were not aiming for my face exactly lol). Then I was in a hurry to leave because I just wanted to get to the venue, so as soon as I noticed they were getting ready to leave, I walked to the back to try to leave. But of course they didn't let us out that guarded perimeter until they were driving away in their vans though, but because I started trying to leave when people were still at the front, when they walked around the back to leave I was again in front row, that's when I got Trè's signature. As soon as we were allowed out I walked as fast as my sister would allow to get to the venue, but it was around 4:50 PM when we got there, so doors had been open for almost an hour, so of course we got a shitty spot in the barricade, far out on Mike's side (I still went for barricade because I felt that'd be way easier on my sister who is 20 years older than me and this was her first pit experience ever - but anyways there were already way too many people around the center of the stage).

The point of the story is that, I was living the fangirl dream, being so close to the band and interacting to some extent with them, and yet I felt so calm - borderlining uninterested in the thing, while everyone around me was going nuts. Don't get me wrong, I'd give an arm and a leg for a chance to sit down and have a 1-on-1 conversation with them even if just for 5 minutes, just to talk about their music. But just seeing them up close and having those sort of superficial interactions doesn't do anything for me. In hindsight, I would much have rather be early at the venue and get a better spot for the concert, because that has a lot more value to me. I don't regret going to the 7 eleven thing though, for I didn't know this with certainty before experiencing it (although I had my suspicions), so I would have suffered from some serious FOMO if I hadn't gone, and I got these goodies directly from them + Trè's autograph, which I do appreciate a lot. And the fact that we were further from the center during the concert made it easier on my sister, and everyone around me was very nice and very into the concert, and possibly more relaxed than people at the center because we can get intense there, so it was an amazing experience all the same.

But in hindsight, yeah I would have sacrificed the 7 eleven up close experience for better spots during the concert.

I'm soooooo jealous you were able to go to a Punk Bunny event! That's so cool! But I understand your point. I think if I was dead set on getting the barricade at the show, I would give the 7-11 event too. Get get so much more face time with the band during a show. Plus you may get a bonus like a pick or even a high five from one of the guys! If you had seats, then it'd be different.

[Cris.]

31 minutes ago, The Grohl said:

I'm soooooo jealous you were able to go to a Punk Bunny event! That's so cool! But I understand your point. I think if I was dead set on getting the barricade at the show, I would give the 7-11 event too. Get get so much more face time with the band during a show. Plus you may get a bonus like a pick or even a high five from one of the guys! If you had seats, then it'd be different.

Yeah if I had seats I'd definitely choose the 7-11 thing every time 😂 But it's not even about face time with them or getting a pick or drumstick, though that is super cool too. It's also not about the possibility of getting on stage, because I'm terrified of stage diving so I haven't even tried to volunteer for that (although the girl he brought on stage at this show didn't have to stage dive... I guess maybe the distance between the catwalk and barricade was too big? If I had known that beforehand I would have wanted to go on stage lol).

It's hard to explain, but it's like being first row right in front of the stage, first you catch so many details that you wouldn't otherwise, how they interact with each other, how they respond to something happening, etc. So to me it feels much more personal and genuine than a Punk Bunny type of event, even if you are further away and more like an spectator. Then you also feed off their energy so much more, even if I know Green Day can make people in the worst nose bleed seat feel like a front row, but being in front row you feel almost like you are part of the show, and you can kind of feel them feeding off your energy as well. I don't know, it's like something magical happens there. Also I'm so into Green Day because their music speaks to my soul, which I know is also the case for 99.9% of the fans, but so them as individuals in the way you see them at these Punk Bunny Coffee type of events it's not the huge turn on for me that it is for many other people. In that context, to me, they are just these 3 middle age guys discussing coffee (sorry!!!). I understand the hype, I just don't feel it. It was something similar when Billie stood right in front of my section when he was waiting to be handed the giant hat. The girl next to me was screaming her lungs out for the excitement of having him right in front of her, while I was not like "oh my gosh, Billie is right in front of me!!" I was more like "how amazing it is that this moment is happening right in front of me and I can soak up every detail?" On the other hand, if they had played like just 1 verse of a song at the 7-11 thing I would have probably just dropped dead. If I had 5 min just to chat 1-on-1 with any of them I would also dropp dead... if it was with all 3 I'd die even faster 😂

[Rumpelstiltskin2000]

11 minutes ago, CristhyneS said:

Yeah if I had seats I'd definitely choose the 7-11 thing every time 😂 But it's not even about face time with them or getting a pick or drumstick, though that is super cool too. It's also not about the possibility of getting on stage, because I'm terrified of stage diving so I haven't even tried to volunteer for that (although the girl he brought on stage at this show didn't have to stage dive... I guess maybe the distance between the catwalk and barricade was too big? If I had known that beforehand I would have wanted to go on stage lol).

It's hard to explain, but it's like being first row right in front of the stage, first you catch so many details that you wouldn't otherwise, how they interact with each other, how they respond to something happening, etc. So to me it feels much more personal and genuine than a Punk Bunny type of event, even if you are further away and more like an spectator. Then you also feed off their energy so much more, even if I know Green Day can make people in the worst nose bleed seat feel like a front row, but being in front row you feel almost like you are part of the show, and you can kind of feel them feeding off your energy as well. I don't know, it's like something magical happens there. Also I'm so into Green Day because their music speaks to my soul, which I know is also the case for 99.9% of the fans, but so them as individuals in the way you see them at these Punk Bunny Coffee type of events it's not the huge turn on for me that it is for many other people. In that context, to me, they are just these 3 middle age guys discussing coffee (sorry!!!). I understand the hype, I just don't feel it. It was something similar when Billie stood right in front of my section when he was waiting to be handed the giant hat. The girl next to me was screaming her lungs out for the excitement of having him right in front of her, while I was not like "oh my gosh, Billie is right in front of me!!" I was more like "how amazing it is that this moment is happening right in front of me and I can soak up every detail?" On the other hand, if they had played like just 1 verse of a song at the 7-11 thing I would have probably just dropped dead. If I had 5 min just to chat 1-on-1 with any of them I would also dropp dead... if it was with all 3 I'd die even faster 😂

At the Broadway show some fans would forgo their tickets to stand outside for the best chance of meeting Billie after the show or leave the show halfway through. I never understood it. I love this band but I was there to see the show if that makes sense. Even when I met Tre in the hotel where I was staying it felt kinda of awkward. 

[Cris.]

10 minutes ago, Rumpelstiltskin2000 said:

At the Broadway show some fans would forgo their tickets to stand outside for the best chance of meeting Billie after the show or leave the show halfway through. I never understood it. I love this band but I was there to see the show if that makes sense. Even when I met Tre in the hotel where I was staying it felt kinda of awkward. 

Yeah I'm with you, I would never do that.  Also, the people leaving early to beat traffic 😱 The pit was half-empty by the time Good Riddance finished.

On the other hand meeting Trè at the hotel I'm staying... I imagined Trè walking into the elevator where I am and me struggling to get a single word out of my mouth 😂 

 

[Rumpelstiltskin2000]

39 minutes ago, CristhyneS said:

Yeah I'm with you, I would never do that.  Also, the people leaving early to beat traffic 😱 The pit was half-empty by the time Good Riddance finished.

On the other hand meeting Trè at the hotel I'm staying... I imagined Trè walking into the elevator where I am and me struggling to get a single word out of my mouth 😂 

 

It was actually me that came out the elevator  Tre was sat there on a couch with what I assume was his security because he told me no photos "that's the rules". Tre had just started using Gretsch drums and so I blurted out how great they'd sounded at the show. He asked me what other shows I was going to and after telling him I wanted the floor to swallow me up it was so awkward. When I went back to the elevator he was still there and grinned at me. If I saw him again I don't think I'd speak. I don't know where I found the courage to open my mouth the first time

[AlissaGoesRAWR]

On 9/17/2024 at 12:47 PM, Rumpelstiltskin2000 said:

It was actually me that came out the elevator  Tre was sat there on a couch with what I assume was his security because he told me no photos "that's the rules". Tre had just started using Gretsch drums and so I blurted out how great they'd sounded at the show. He asked me what other shows I was going to and after telling him I wanted the floor to swallow me up it was so awkward. When I went back to the elevator he was still there and grinned at me. If I saw him again I don't think I'd speak. I don't know where I found the courage to open my mouth the first time

This is why I’m sort of at peace about never meeting any of them. Closest I got was them high-fiving me on the red carpet barricade before the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and a professional photographer capturing the moment (forever my cover photo). It’ll probably never get cooler than that for me — and I didn’t have to worry about actually speaking. I know I would be so awkward and honestly I wouldn’t know what to say. 

I couldn’t even carry on a conversation with Kevin when I met him earlier this month in the floor seats in Pittsburgh. My husband finally was just like “congrats on the baby, we had a baby the same week!” to help me through it, hahaha. And Kevin loved to hear that and we talked about how cool it is being a parent for a bit. He was a genuine, kind person and I couldn’t even handle that. Totally opposite of your experience. He was like “I’m sorry, I don’t have anything to give you guys except a couple guitar picks” (there were five of us) and we were like “oh no we aren’t expecting anything, we just wanted to say hi!”  

[jengd]

That sounds great, and natural.  I’m always surprised they want to give fans stuff, I would want to tell them they gave me so much already but would probably say “ smrgh…noffrd….garnf” 😂😂😂