Show Notes: OC Register: "Officially, Blink-182 and Green Day are 'co-headlining' the Pop Disaster Tour, which opened the 2002 concert season at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine this past weekend. This suggests that the two California pop-punk trios are more or less on equal footing, but clearly, some co-headliners are more equal than others. Blink-182 has taken up semi-permanent residency in the modern-rock charts for the past few years, while Green Day is close to becoming a nostalgia act, its last real hit being the mawkish prom theme Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) in 1997. As the hotter band, the boys of Blink get to close the show, relegating Billie Joe Armstrong and his mates to the role of 'opening headliner.' Still there was no doubt who the star was Saturday night. From the moment he took the stage, Billie Joe was the ringleader, the master of ceremonies, the guy in charge. Dissatisfied with a tranquil and thinly populated mosh pit, he commanded fans to move down from their seats and demanded that security let them through. The crowd-surfing could then begin in earnest, as the band launched into Longview. Moments later, Billie Joe was the enforcer, stopping midway through Welcome to Paradise to stare down a brawling fan. 'Look at me!' he ordered. 'Stop fighting!' With the show firmly in his control, he led his band through a briskly paced set that mixed the expected hits (Brain Stew, Basket Case, When I Come Around) with a few surprises (the Green Day oldie Disappearing Boy and a quick take on the Isley Brothers' Shout.) Looking very much the early '80s power-popster in short-sleeved black shirt and skinny white tie, Armstrong also appeared trimmer - and a bit more sober - than he has in past performances. He had energy in abundance, regularly climbing atop stacks of speakers to deliver his solos, which kept the near-capacity crowd on its feet. Billie Joe even affirmed the DIY ethos of punk by inviting three members of the audience to sub for the band. While the amateur drummer was found wanting and kicked off the stage - even in punk, you've gotta have standards - the fans who played bass and guitar acquitted themselves well."

Opening Band(s): Blink-182, Jimmy Eat World

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Tour Statistics: Pop Disaster tour
Show Reviews: 0