San Francisco, CA

• Recordings from this show can be found here
• Neva Chonin: "Green Day nailed the mood at Saturday's annual Vans Warped Tour by opening its set with the punk anthem "Welcome to Paradise". For one day, Piers 30-32 in San Francisco were paradise for punks and alterna-teens looking for the spirit of '93, or '84 or '77 - anything but the corporate rock doldrums of 2000.

Green Day guitarist-vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong surveyed the roiling mosh pit with satisfaction at the song's close. "You make me proud to be from the Bay Area," he told his giddy fans. Their cheers returned the compliment. If Papa Roach accelerated the crowd's mood, Green Day threw it into overdrive. Tots who looked no older than 5 rode on their spiky- haired parents' shoulders as all chanted back the well-loved lyrics of Geek Stink Breath, When I Come Around, Brain Stew and other songs from the band's five-album (and then some) repertoire. Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool matched the audience's enthusiasm. The freshly blond Armstrong was especially euphoric as he announced that the next day would be his wedding anniversary. 'My wife thinks I'm a pain in the ass,' he said, looking proud and happy. 'She's right. And these are my two other wives,' he added, bowing to his band mates. Over the course of a 35-minute set, Green Day proved that it's lost none of its goofy, ebullient charm, sounding as fresh and irresistibly pugnacious as it did when the band became the tiny Gilman Street club's first major-label breakthrough back in the early '90s. In a confirmation of the DIY ethos, Armstrong invited a fan onstage to play guitar -- which she did, quite impressively. Get this kid a contract, somebody. Green Day's much-anticipated new album is tentatively slated for October, and if Saturday's performance is anything to go by, it should be worth the wait. Cool topped off the show by dousing his drum set with lighter fluid and igniting it with a match. It burned merrily in the setting sun while masses of sunburned faces beamed happily from the mosh pit, cheering on a punk rock conflagration that's 25 years old and still kicking."

• "Green Day's show in San Francisco this weekend was short and sweet. I got there early and had to go through the tons of bands before them. They went on at 5:45 and played a short 30-minute set. I watched from the V.I.P. area, (I pulled this off by showing them my cast and telling them that I cant go in the pit) and was standing comfortably behind a rail. Billie took the time to point me out and the "leisure" time I was taking. I waved my cast and flipped him off while he had the crowd yell "fuck you" and gave me the bird at the same time. It was a great experience. The 30 minutes ended and Green Day was gone. They went out with flames and destruction. They kicked every other bands ass, and played all the classics. The set list went something like this: Welcome To Paradise, Hitchin A Ride, Geekstink Breath, Longview, Brain Stew/Jaded, Knowledge, Basket Case, When I Come Around. I was hoping to hear something new but I guess I'll just have to wait. I'm still stuck with this cast (and had to type this with one hand) but it did get me the best seats in the house."