Green Day, Weezer & Fall Out Boy Give Emo New Meaning at Hella Mega Tour in Texas

By Rachael Gerron
Web Content Contributor

 

Green Day, Weezer and Fall Out Boy kicked off their long-awaited Hella Mega Tour in Dallas, TX on July 24. And this might have been the biggest rock show since the beginning of the pandemic, with nearly 40,000 fans in attendance- fittingly, it happened in Texas!

 

Green Day opened their set with “American Idiot,” which resonated more than ever after a year like 2020 when the ‘redneck agenda’ was in full force. 

 

However, the main sentiment of this show was clearly gratitude. After a year and a half of being on lockdown due to the pandemic and experiencing constant turmoil in this country, we are finally able to get back to enjoying things that bring us together. And nothing does that better than live music. 

 

Green Day’s lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong asked to bring the house lights up and said to the crowd, “Take a look around you. This is human contact. We cannot be locked up anymore. We need to be together.”

 

They played all their classics like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Brain Stew,” and “Basket Case.” But it was their 2021 release, “Pollyanna,” that really reflected this attitude of positivity and togetherness with lyrics like, “Share your bread with friends you don’t know,” and “It’s wonderful to be alive.”

 

This show was definitely sentimental, and how could it not be when these rock legends are performing for thousands of people for the first time in almost two years?

 

The biggest sign of the times during the concert was when Armstrong asked if a vaccinated audience member could play guitar with the band on stage. In seconds, fans were eagerly waving their vaccination cards up in the air. This was a funny reminder that we’re not back to normal- this is just our new normal. 

 

Fall Out Boy was also super interactive with the crowd, and bassist Pete Wentz expressed his gratitude several times throughout their set. The band played their early 2000’s classics like “Dance Dance” and “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” as well as more current hits like “Centuries” and “Uma Thurman.” 

 

After seeing their set, I’m convinced Fall Out Boy’s songs were written with pyrotechnics in mind. During songs like “The Phoenix” and “My Songs Know What you Did in the Dark,” fireworks went off with almost every beat drop- even their piano was on fire!

 

Weezer was the first of the headliners to perform, and their set was way less energetic than the others. But regardless of their lack of stage presence, hearing some of my favorite songs like “Island in The Sun” and “Say it Ain’t So” live was a surreal experience. 

 

While they didn’t exude rocker energy, they definitely had the look. Lead singer Rivers Cuomo surprised fans with his new mullet, which perfectly fit the vibe of their latest 80’s rock-inspired album, Van Weezer. 

 

In addition to their classics, Weezer played their 2021 release featuring AJR, “All My Favorite Songs,” for the first time ever in front of a live audience. The band also covered “Africa” by Toto, which got a great reaction from the crowd. 

 

I went into this concert most excited to see Weezer, but my post-concert euphoria can mostly be attributed to Green Day’s performance. This show graduated me from just being a listener to now being a Green Day fan. Their passion for music and genuine excitement for being on stage was so transparent throughout the whole show, and it gave me a whole new love for the band.

 

Green Day ended their set with a heartwarming rendition of “Good Riddance,” With phone flashlights in the air, the crowd cheerfully sang along. This song came out before I was born, yet it was still so nostalgic. No matter when we started listening, we were all experiencing it together, and there was something so special about that. 

 

And the feeling was mutual. Armstrong said, “I’m gonna remember this night for the rest of my life because this is pure joy and pure friendship, and everyone is happy right now.”

 

Overall, it’s safe to say that this tour lived up to its name. These bands delivered a triple dose of serotonin in the form of punk rock classics, and I couldn’t think of a better way to get back into live music.

 

Featured image provided by Rachel Furlich