Recap of the "Day of Green Day" at South By South West
By Jimmy /Mar. 16, 2013 / Comments
Green Day at SXSW yesterday
From what we've heard the day went off without a hitch and both documentaries were a success. Many fans got choked up at the Paramount Theatre during Broadway Idiot saying that the documentary was extremely touching.
Billboard.com was at the screening and caught up with the director of Broadway Idiot, Doug Hamilton, during the day for a short interview.
"We wanted to get at this issue and we wanted to put Tom and (director) Michael Mayer and Billie together talking about the music. We explore the music and Billie Joe's roots in music, with Tom talking on the keyboard musician to musician. In one of the interviews, (Armstrong) talked about how he trained as a little kid to sing Frank Sinatra and George M. Cohan songs. We didn't have a place to use that until I found footage of Billie at 14 singing some holiday carols. I cut that in and Billie said 'I think it works, but I think I can do better for you.' Couple weeks later I get an email from Billie saying 'I'm sending you something.' He had gone to his cousin's and gotten footage of him singing 'Send in the Clowns' when he was 11. It was perfect. It was Billie's willingness to let that stuff out there."
Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter has a review of Broadway Idiot on their site which you can read by clicking here.
Head on over to this album of our Picture Vault to see some pictures from the screening.
A few hours after the screenings had ended, Green Day took the stage just a few blocks away at the Moody Theatre. The band played a twenty-six song set which included rarities such as "Christie Road, "Coming Clean," and "Disappearing Boy" alongside seven new songs from the trilogy. You can see the band's full set list by clicking here.
Rolling Stone's David Fricke, the same journalist who interviewed Billie Joe for his recent cover story, was at Green Day's show and posted his review online.
"there was no missing the gratitude in that agitation, in those antics. "Ah, welcome back," Armstrong said in a deep, exhaling voice, at one point during the Big Country-style bagpipe-guitar charge of "Stay the Night." He was addressing the loving, frenzied crowd, mostly comprised of local fans and ticket-lottery winners. He could have just as easily been talking to himself."
Another review of the band's performance can by read over on Mercury News' site.
Interested in seeing a few photos from Green Day's show last night? We have over fifty photos calling your name in this album of our Picture Vault.
Were any of you guys able to experience the "Day of Green Day" yesterday at South By South West? If you were tell us all about it in the comments!
