Pace Press

Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Jason Aglietti Green Day rocking the house at their free show

A large crowd had assembled itself on a crossroad across from City Hall Park. Protected by armed guards and countless numbers of NYPD, it was apparent that this was something big. At 5:31 p.m., the crowd roared and cheered at the sight of someone coming out on stage-it was the stage crew.

The popular band Green Day was supposed to be starting about now but was nowhere to be found. As minutes went by, more reporters and more people showed up to this sectioned off area of lower Manhattan. These restless fans inhabited both sidewalk paths and three quarters of the street. "At least 2,500-4,000 people have gotta be here," one police officer said.

More than a dozen businessmen and women watched this crowd out of their office windows wondering what these kids were doing. Most of the people who were there, probably between the ages of 16-21, had the punk look going for them, and to match it, several people had their hair colored with shades that you wouldn't even see in the neon signs at Times Square.

By 6:15 p.m., most of the fans were upset that they were forced to wait so long. Few people left; most just waited it out in hopes that the guy who just said, "Green Day will be on in a few minutes" wouldn't be wrong (even though he said that 15 minutes before this announcement). Finally at 6:24 p.m., almost one hour late, the members of Green Day walked out on stage and began the show with their hit song "American Idiot," from their new album that just hit stores a few days before.

Immediately, almost 20 college-age men started to push and shove each other in the crowd in an attempt to form a mosh pit. Obviously these guys were not smart enough to get into college, which would explain why they lacked the common sense to not mosh when there were many young girls in the crowd, who were only 12 or 13 and probably at their first concert ever. They failed to realize that they were not at the Roseland Ballroom or Irving Plaza where young girls probably wouldn't be present. This is why a few young girls sustained some type of injury.

Despite the ignorant members of the crowd, Green Day performed a rather impressive show for their adoring fans. In addition to "American Idiot," some of the other songs that they played were: "Jesus of Suburbia," "Holiday" (off their new album), "King for a Day" and "Minority." Their full set lasted slightly more than 45 minutes ending with the Queen song "We are the Champions."

Green Day's performance was excellent that night. They held the crowd in the palm of their hands and made the crowd feel as if they truly cared about every fan that was out there. The only flaw of the evening was not the band's fault entirely. The crowd needed to be disciplined more by the police or the band themselves. They should not have been allowed to crowd surf openly like they did. But nonetheless, this free concert, put on by K-Rock and J&R Music World, was very entertaining for all.

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