Before embarking on this review, I did a quick look-see to refresh my memory on the Not So Silent Night’s I’ve covered in the past. The thing that surprised me the most was how little things have changed since I first started covering the event in 2008. My first review bitched about getting to Oakland in the middle of rush hour, expensive parking, and the poor economy. While parking this year has gone up to $35, kudos to the kind gent that let me park for free cause I was media.
The biggest change to NSSN the past two years has been going with a retro headliner. Last year it was Smashing Pumpkins, this year it was supposed to be Jane’s Addiction. Tragically Jane’s Addiction had to cancel at the last minute because a family emergency. Green Day stepped in to fill the headliner slot just a few hours before the show.
As I watched Green Day play an energetic stripped down throwback set, I was quite amazed that they could put on such a tight show on just a few hours notice. The words “Green Day” had been scribbled on the bass drum with a sharpie, and there was nothing on stage save the three musicians and their three instruments. Billy proudly sported a faded black “Oakland t-shirt” and jeans and was ever the showman as he lead the trio through a rousing set highlighted by “Welcome to Paradise,” “Basket Case,” “When I Come Around,” “Longview” and a medley of old school covers of songs by AC/DC(“Highway to Hell”), Led Zeppelin (“Rock and Roll”) and Black Sabbath (“Iron Man”). The spontaneity of their set clearly thrilled the band and the audience, too. Coming through at the last minute in such fine form for the bay area’s alternative rock radio station and their fans boosts Green Day even higher in my high regard. Well done, boys!
Working my way backwards, we next have another band that’s high on my list of fine musicians with great showmanship and character – Mumford and Sons. This band holds a special place in my heart, as I dragged my two unwilling children into see their set on a toasty Sunday afternoon at Lollapalooza. It was my kids first concert going experience, and I’d chosen Mumford for their rootsy folk-rock music and earnest (and clean) lyrics. Two years and a Grammy later, this band sounds better than ever, and I love being able to watch them perform up close in the photo-pit. It’s the smiles, glances, and energy flowing between these players that make their act more than just an Irish Dave Matthews Band, at least in my book. I saw both bands back to back at the Bridge School in October.
The act I’d been the most excited to see in the days leading up to the concert was Florence and The Machine. I’ve been kicking myself for nearly two years for punting on her show at the tiny Mezzanine. Her voice was deep and powerful, but smooth like butter. She moved her arms and beautifully adorned and manicured hands like a prima ballerina.She kicked off her black stilettos after the first song and swirled and twirled across the stage in a gauzy blur of red, while constantly gazing skyward. There is a fierce peacefulness to her performance, as if she knows that this is where she’s meant to be and what she’s meant to be doing. It’s wonderful to see such joy in a performance, especially after a year of almost constant touring.
Bush never was my thing back in the early 90’s and that hasn’t changed. The music wasn’t much to hear, but lead singer Gavin Rossdale is seriously ripped, especially for a guy in his late 40’s. Hands down Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani are the fittest and most sculpted couple in modern rock.
Traffic prevented me from getting to see more than a minute or two of Young the Giant’s set.
So that’s it, yet another year of Live 105’s always enjoyable Not So Silent Night.
