Green Day

A Hella Mega Look at the New Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer Songs

/ James P. Crowley / Leave a comment

Prepare to party like it’s 2005.  With the leaked news of the upcoming Mega Hella tour, many adults who grew up with pop-punk and emo tastes and also probably entered junior high between 2004 and 2007 collectively shat our pants.  The confirmation that it was real in a midday webcast was like waking up from an amazing dream and realizing that it wasn’t a dream at all.  Yes, Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer (with support from The Interrupters) will indeed tour together next year.  Continue reading →

Telethon-Hard Pop

/ James P. Crowley

It’s been a longtime since there’s been a pure, feelgood rock record that’s really offered to dominate the summer.  That’s not to say that there haven’t been great rock records released in the summer, but none are quite as catchy or uplifting as Telethon’s Hard Pop.  The Midwestern band is equal parts Green Day, Jeff Rosenstock, and Van Halen-ambitious, experimental, and shredding.

Continue reading →

Insignificant Other-i’m so glad i feel this way about you

/ James P. Crowley / Leave a comment

If you were a tumblr user and fan of bands like The Front Bottoms and TWIABP in 2015, it’s near impossible to not have heard of Insignificant Other.  Lead vocalist and songwriter, Sim Morales has been releasing covers with some originals via bandcamp for last half of the decade, but the recent release of i’m so glad i feel this way about you paints a picture of a triumphant pop-punk band with a Brooklyn-sensibility despite their Alabama by way of Gainesville location. Continue reading →

Green Day: XFINITY Theatre (Hartford, CT 8/29/17)

/ James P. Crowley / Leave a comment

Green-Day-Hartford           Even though, Green Day shows have become largely repetitive, there is still something to be said about standing in the pit at one.  Energy radiates off the stage.  Even wearing earplugs, standing close enough to hear the explosions from the pyrotechnics hurt your ears is incredible.  Despite all three core members being in their mid-40’s, they perform with the same youthful energy rivaling so many of their much younger peers. Continue reading →

Old Menaces: How To Abandon Your Fanbase, While Still Making Millions

/ James P. Crowley / 1 Comment

 

281x211

The date is October 4, 2009: Blink-182 has recently reunited.  They’re finishing up a massive tour with Fall Out Boy opening for them at New York’s Madison Square Garden.  Before FOB launch into their signature closer, “Saturday,” Pete Wentz declares, “This is the death of the emo haircut,” before handing his bass to a stagehand.  Mark Hoppus enters the stage.  Wentz sits down, and Hoppus shaves his head.  Wentz jumps up at his cue, and screams his parts in “Saturday” like he always does.  You could say this is the moment that everything went wrong.  You could say Blink-182’s original breakup was the moment it all went wrong.  You could also say Green Day’s American Idiot was, or even Dookie, or New Found Glory releasing “It’s Not Your Fault,” but for the sake of argument, Mark Hoppus shaving Pete Wentz’s black locks was the moment that ruined it all. Continue reading →

Drake-More Life

/ James P. Crowley / Leave a comment

4672f8523e0fbf7f7848185256e946f4-1000x1000x1            Remember, in 2012, when Green Day put out three albums within a six-month span?  Uno, Dos, and Tre had a total of 37 songs, and it’s widely regarded as one of the band’s biggest blunders.  Nonetheless, when you’ve been making music for over 20 years, you’re allowed to make a few ridiculous blunders.  The band will talk about how releasing so much music in such a short time span was a large mistake.  Drake should take note.  Drake’s past three solo releases have all clocked in over an hour each, and none are bearable to listen to in a single sitting. Continue reading →

Coffee Date: Oakland Coffee Works-Gardenista Blend

/ James P. Crowley / Leave a comment

Coffee Date is a new column that features discussions of beverages stemming from leaves and beans.  Whether you brew your own or need a hip barista pouring it in front of you, we’ve got you covered for brands to try at home, coffee shops with some personality, and what you should try or avoid from your regular coffee chains.

Green Day’s Mike Dirnt doesn’t hide his passion for food.  This became obvious when he bought and opened Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe in Oakland.  When he teamed up with Oakland Coffee Works, it should have been no surprise.  Somewhat similar to Green Day’s recent Revolution Radio, the Gardenista Blend from Oakland Coffee is a pretty solid, reliable formula.

This particular blend has organic beans from Honduras and Colombia, and it’s pretty good.  There isn’t anything that stands out about this coffee, whether it’s drank black or with cream (as I prefer), but it’s still solid.  It is a little dry tasting, which is very nice in this case.  This was the company’s medium roast blend.  I’d be more interested in tasting a different blend, as it seems they change them up relatively frequently, but this was fine.
Gardenista feels like “Bang Bang” or “Revolution Radio” from Green Day’s most recent album.  They sound and feel good, but they’re not “Still Breathing,” and they’re certainly not Dookie.