Review: Green Day's Broadway Show "American Idiot"

Every once in a while there is a band that seems to ALWAYS be there in EVERY stage of your life. A prom song, a “I just got dumped” song, “I’m angry at the world” song, “I love him with all my heart” song, a bang your head side to side like a rocker song, and then a song that pretty much sums up your generation. This band that has played all of these songs and more is Green Day. I’ve been a fan for years & without fail when I ask “Hey it’s been a while, did Green Day come out with a new album yet?” the answer is most probably Yes!

But they took it up another notch and now have a Broadway show called, “American Idiot” and it was absolutely AMAZING!! I’ll be honest with you that I never thought of going to see it even tho I’m a big fan. Money is tight lately & I’ve never been hit with the Broadway Show Bug but my eyes glazed over when CJ’s Mom surprised us with two tickets to a show WITH BILLY JOE in the cast for CJ’s birthday. I think I blinked a lot when she told me because I was in shock. I’m ever so happy we went.

One thing before I tell you about the show...if you plan on seeing it familiarize yourself with their album, “21st Century Breakdown” beforehand. The show is 95 minutes without an intermission and there is tons of stuff going on all over the stage so listening for every word of every song is impossible. If you know the music you can just hold on and enjoy the ride.

I wish I could have taken some pictures but above are some stock photos of the show cast. I’m not going to give away the end of the show but the story revolves around 3 men setting off to take life by storm with their guitars in hand and dreams on their shoulders. But…then the 21st century basically hits them directly in the face. A time of war, drugs, misjudgments, broken dreams, out-of-sight love, growing up, coming back to reality and then waking up to your decisions all shoves it’s way into these three guy’s lives. There is something for everyone in this show. Whether you personally can relate or you knew someone that had trials and tribulations in the past 10 years you will be standing up with the rest of us clapping when the cast bows at the very end.

What really was the most Awesome part of it all was that Billy Joe himself was in this showing. CJ and I kept looking all over the madness of the cast dancing & industrial-feel set waiting for him to appear. Then BAM! There he was singing along with the cast. I think he has an awesome voice that doesn’t need auto-tuning at all. It’s a natural talent. I cried at the part when he himself sang “Last Night on Earth”. That’s CJ and me’s song so it was like Omg OMG he’s SINGING IT!!! If him and I get married it’s going to be our wedding song. =)

“I hope you had the time of your life…”

The show was a big hit in my book and I’m very happy I got a chance to see it. It really makes you think to about yourself and the generation you live in too. If you’re a Green Day fan you’ll be excited to see this & if not you might be a fan by the end of the show. =) This show will definitely be something CJ & I remember always!! =)