jason 
Wednesday, 16th of September 2009 at 12:00:34 PMThe second band I saw this summer was Green Day (Wikipedia) at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. I had pretty good seats. Since the floor was general admission (standing), I didn’t go for it due to my continuing recuperation. I am elated that the arena will be gone in a year or so. It is 46 years old and showing its age. While the stainless steel dome is really neat, the inside is a Pittsburgh embarrassment. The new Console Energy Center will be replacing it.
Green Day was awesome. I have never seen a band that encourages the audience as much as they do. Front man Billie Joe Armstrong engages the crowd with the enthusiasm of a five year old. My introduction to Green Day was only a couple of years ago with their iTunes exclusive cover of I Fought the Law [iTMS] which preceded their now infamous American Idiot [iTMS] album. Of course, I’m hooked. You can’t help it with such a great band. Next time I see them, I will pay for the best seats. It would have been worth it! The opening act was The Bravery; they were good, but not my thing.
The final band I went to see was Blink-182 (Wikipedia). This was the concert I was waiting for. I have wanted to see them, again, like Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, since 1999. It was the summer that I was working the evening shift at an Internet service provider (Penncom Internet Company, Warren, PA) as a UNIX system administrator. During the day I would watch MTV back when they still played videos.
As the date to the concert was approaching, I was dreading the three warm-up acts. I mean, who in the hell has three warm-up acts!?!? The concert was at the Post-Gazette Pavilion, about 35 miles from the City of Pittsburgh. I had never been there before, so it was an interesting experience. I do NOT like the fact that it is owned by Live Nation, the concert ticket people. For a $240 VIP ticket, you get a seat in the 4th seated row. There was a very small general admission area in front of the seats. You also get a t-shirt and poster, but only if you remember to email them to get them. Also add on about $35 for VIP parking. Admission to the VIP lounge was supposed to be included in the ticket, but I think I entered at the wrong gate. It was super expensive but so worth it.
Blink-182’s show was absolutely fantastic. I could not have wanted anything more. They are entertaining and haven’t lost a beat after being on hiatus for almost four years. I was surprised that they were touring without having put out a new album. Even with that they packed in a full crowd of 29,000 people just outside of Pittsburgh.
Blink’s warm-up acts were all good. I did not know any of their material, but they were all great bands. Fall Out Boy is the best known of the three, but I just don’t like that kind of music. I find it just a tad too hard/harsh for my refined palate. Panic at the Disco was the same thing for me. Now, Chester French, the least known of Blink-182’s warm-up acts really struck a chord with me. I love them! I see them going places fast.
Green Day had the pyrotechnics, Blink-182 had the visual effects, and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack had the perfect show for a small venue. They all put on the most entertaining shows but from very different perspectives. As the eternal pessimist, I didn’t expect much from any of the bands I saw this summer, but I was wrong. The summer of concerts was worth the money, time, and expense. Assuming that I’m able, I will do it again next year.
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