- by Jenn Zweig -
If you're ever been to the Centrum in Worcester, it's overwhelming. The place is huge! Security is also a pain. It takes two escorts, one elevator and three guards to get backstage, which makes it more like a maze os endless grey corridors, than a plush place to kick back.
Already on stage are the Riverdales. Their songs are simple and catchy, with added sure fire pop. Many people compare them to the Ramones, which they feel is a compliment. With the music thundering, everyone is having a good time; kids everywhere are crowdsurfing and dancing in their chairs.
However, when the Riverdales get off stage, the atmosphere is not as gay. "That was the worst crowd ever", mutters lead singer Ben Foster. "A bunch of jocks and meatheads." Green Day try to remain indifferent, but Mike Dirnt giggles "I bet their dads are all cops".
Someone laughs, "What did you expect?" After all, punk rock is mainstream, "the alternative to alternative". Ben ponders this for a moment, recalling the era of Screeching Weasel [his former band that lasted from 1986-1994]. He knows the days of playing small intimate clubs are over. Tre, the drummer of Green Day, doesn't seem to mind. "Hey, what song is this [playing on the intercom]?" As he strains to listen for the non-existent music, he is distracted by what's being put on the "designated" catering tables.
When asked if they at least enjoy the travelling, Danny, the bassist of the Riverdales, claims: "There's usually not much time to go explore. It's a constant schedule, a continuous process of loading and unloading, and getting to the next destination". Ben continues, "It's a job like anything else. Some people pink up a briefcase, I pick up a guitar".
Green Day doesn't seem as jaded. Rather, they look bored. Mike and Billie Joe sit cross-legged on the floor, taking turns picking at the carpet. Billie Joe runs his fingers through a mop of freshly-dyed magenta hair. He shows us his new tattoo, which happens to be the Riverdales logo (punk rock local 27).
Finally, it's show time. During the set, Mike head butts the microphone and Billie joe instructs the crowd to watch out for one another, "When someone falls down, pick them up! And no, I'm not saying this because I have a kid now, okay?!" Yet, the crowd still thinks it's "punk rock" to trample one another.
Green Day plays songs from all four albums. They interact with the crowd as much as possible, even if it only means flashing a spotlight into the nosebleeds or spilling water on the front row.
For Green Day, it's just a matter of time before the inevitable comes, the momentum encore. This time Mike and Tre return first, with ball caps pulled low over their faces. They sing the faux-hick song "Dominated Love Slave". Later, Billie Joe runs out to join them, only now, he has no clothes on. With his guitar strategically placed, he is perfectly at ease. He sings "When I Come Around". Last, before saying good-bye, BJ smirks at the crowd. He turns around and flexes his buttocks. Backstage, in a towel, he shrugs his shoulders, "I had to give them something to remember. The Replacements are one of the first bands I ever saw play", says Billie Joe Armstrong, he of the non-stop arm motion guitar technique. "I saw them play the Fillmore when I was 15. My sister got me into them when I was really young, and I actually got a chance to meet Tommy Stinson. Paul Westerberg, I wouldn't have a thing to say to him. He's a fucking genious."
"I really like them musically, but with me they're more of an influence attitude-wise", says Mike Dirnt. "Those guys were fucking shit up for a while there, just drinking a lot and smashing things."
"Yeah, they created an art form around drinking, really", says Billie Joe.
"And there's a silly element, too, that I think's really necessary in music", Mike rejoins.
"The thing that's great about the Replacements is they didn't stick to a certain format", adds BJ. "They went straight from "Stink" to "Hootenanny" - and "Hootenanny" is just incredible. It's like a compilation of different bands in one record. And the funny thing is they were playing sort of punk rock, but it was like one guitar player was listening to Abba, and the bass player was just this little brat, and Paul was, you know , a janitor, and the drummer was [long pause] Chris Mars!"
"It should've been the Replacements who made it and not the Goo Goo Dolls. I'll tell you that right now."
I'd be willing to wager that a lot of you out there don't like Green Day much. However, the Replacements influence in their music is fairly obvious, and it's good that they give credit where it's due.