Good music plus showmanship

I thought that the metamorphosis of Green Day from pseudo-punk California band to an intelligent group of unique musicality in the album American Idiot was simply amazing. Truth to tell, I still get a kick whenever Wake Me Up When September Ends gets played on the radio when I’ve heard the song so many times before. It is a wonderful song. So this should have prepared me for something no less than enjoyable when I came across Bullet in a Bible. It turns out, no, because the CD/VCD release completely blew me away. Here is proof that Green Day is indeed the greatest young band in the world today.

Bullet in a Bible covers Green Day’s biggest concert to date. This was held at the Milton Keynes National Bowl in England for two nights last summer and was attended by 130,000 fans. Now remember, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool presented themselves as punk musicians when they started. Punk started in the UK with the Sex Pistols so they must have felt really proud over the overwhelming acceptance they received from the Brits. At this point in their career though, no one cares anymore if Green Day is punk or pop or whatever. These guys just create good music and as the DVD proves they also have the showmanship to go with it.

The songs from the phenomenally successful American Idiot are the stars of the set, American Idiot, Jesus of Suburbia, Wake Me Up When September Ends, Boulevard of Broken Dreams plus others. But this is also a greatest hits collection and we get live versions of King for a Day, Minority, Longview, Hitchin’ a Ride and other early successes. The end song is a magical clincher. Billie Joe on the guitar performs Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) solo. They should have put a caption on the footage of this one that says this guy is a true rock star.

The musical numbers are interspersed with behind the scenes footage and interviews with the band. The whole thing is very well-produced but I couldn’t help but feel that the results would have been even better had these extras been placed after the show or as an add-on to the concert. But no matter. Bullet in a Bible is one great concert video. Besides, if you do not like watching, you still have the greatest hits live recorded CD to enjoy.

MTV Asia Awards

Incidentally, and it is really no surprise, Green Day is a nominee in the International Category of the MTV Asia Awards. The group is up for Favorite Rock Act alongside Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, My Chemical Romance and Oasis, while Wake Me Up When September Ends is up for Favorite Video with Do You Want To by Franz Ferdinand, Gold Digger by Kanye West, Twisted Transistor by Korn and Helena by Chemical Romance.

The fifth annual MTV Asia Awards will be held at Siam Paragon on May 6 in Thailand’s brand new, state-of-the-art entertainment complex. MTV promises to deliver a top drawer show that will honor Asian and international musicians and provide an unforgettable event to the people of Bangkok as well as viewers across Asia and other parts of the world.

More than 50 Asian and international artists have been nominated and voting began last Wednesday, March 1. Fans from Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines can now vote for their favorites. Nominated for Favorite Artist Philippines are Bamboo, Hale, Kitchie Nadal, Orange and Lemons and Rivermaya. Check out the official MTV website for voting instructions or go to http://maawap.com on their mobile phones. You can even win tickets to watch the awards show live.

Other international nominees: Male Artist: Eminem, James Blunt, Kanye West, Ricky Martin and Robbie Williams; Female Artist: Ashlee Simpson, Kelly Clarkson, Lindsay Lohan, Madonna and Mariah Carey; Pop Act: Gorillaz, Simple Plan, The Backstreet Boys, The Black Eyed Peas and Westlife; Breakthrough Artist: Fort Minor, James Blunt, Simon Webbe, The Pussycat Dolls and My Chemical Romance.

Embassy turns one

Meanwhile Embassy, the hip party place of the moment, turned one year old last Tuesday, Feb. 28. It marked its first anniversary with a high school graduation party for the class of 2006. Guests posed for yearbook pictures in their school uniforms best and were presented with their The Embassy Super VIP Cart as their diplomas.