Green Day made sure fans at Innings Fest had the time of their life at Tempe Beach Park

Green Day played their first live show of 2023 at Tempe Beach Park, headlining a sold-out Saturday at Innings Festival.

And they could just as easily have played the exact set in 2009.

The newest songs were from “21st Century Breakdown.” They’ve released five albums in the 14 years since then. And those are all good records filled with tracks that would've sounded right at home surrounded by their greatest hits.

Even the onstage antics have become a greatest hit. They brought a fan on stage to play guitar, the way they've done for years, on Operation Ivy’s “Knowledge.” I even found a review from 2002 in which I talked about it like a thing they always do.

We got the donning of the crown during "King For A Day," which gave way to a cover of the Isley Brothers' "Shout" the way it did in 2002. Their touring saxophonist even drifted into "Careless Whisper" like he did the last time I saw Green Day.

On more than 10 occasions, Billie Joe Armstrong chanted "Waaaay-Oh" at the fans, who chanted "Waaaay-Oh" in response (a trick he borrowed from the Kinks).

If you've seen Green Day even once (or twice or 20 times), this was the Green Day concert you expected going in.

So why was it so entertaining?

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Well, for one, because they're just that good at being Green Day.

Armstrong is a total ham who never met a shtick he couldn't milk for all it's worth. That's why it works. You get caught up in his enthusiasm, which becomes its own reward. The man was born to entertain.

He even cracked himself up when he adlibbed a lyrical change in "Longview" to "I sit around and watch the phone, but I don't like TikTok-ing." But his Paul Stanley imitation during Kiss' "Rock and Roll All Nite" was even funnier.

And he had an amazing assist at Innings Fest from a fan named Jordan, a young woman plucked from the crowd to play the Operation Ivy song. She was fully invested in the moment, clearly thrilled and overwhelmed to be there and yet confident enough to leap off the drum riser. And the look on her face when Armstrong told her she could keep the guitar she'd been playing was more than priceless. Here's hoping she keeps playing.

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As for Green Day, there are those among us who will never want to see our favorite artists settle into churning out the greatest hits. But Paul McCartney plays more Beatles songs than solo cuts. It's just the nature of the beast. And there's no reason to pretend that's not exactly what most people are hoping to see when they purchase a ticket.

It doesn't hurt that Green Day's greatest hits are truly undeniable, from "Basket Case" and "Longview" through the "American Idiot" highlights to the "21st Century Breakdown" songs they played.

And they powered their way through those songs with the reckless abandon required, thanks in large part to the age-defying performance of drummer Tre Cool, whose fills could feel like someone trying to finish what they had to say before the doors closed on a subway car, and the thundering presence of bassist Mike Dirnt, an amazing rhythm section for this type of thing.

They've fleshed things out a bit since "Dookie," with touring guitarist Jason White excelling in a role he's held since 1999. At times, his post-Chuck Berry leads recalled Dave Davies of the Kinks, which only added to the power of those songs.

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Green Day at Innings Fest felt like a grand slam

Green Day opened their set with the title track to "American Idiot," the six-times-platinum comeback album that made critics reconsider the men who gave the world "Longview," having dropped the ball on "Dookie," like the fools most critics are.

"American Idiot" dominated Green Day's set at Innings Fest, suggesting that it has become their "Tommy," the album that finally convinced the unwashed cognoscenti that the kids who got in on the ground floor with those early Lookout! records were alright all along.

That may be why their current show stops with the album that followed "American Idiot."

It would be nice to think a band this good could capture lightning in a bottle one more time, but like the Rolling Stones before them, there's a point at which you step up to the plate and give the people what they want.

And having seen it? I would say it felt more like a grand slam than a bunt.

After bringing the set to a spirited climax with a double shot of "American Idiot" standouts "Wake Me Up When September Ends" and "Jesus of Suburbia," they signed off with a beautifully understated version of "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)," sending the crowd on their way with "I hope you had the time of your life."

And there's no reason to believe that's not exactly how people felt, from the young kids seeing their first Green Day concert to the 50-something "Dookie" fans in cargo shorts.

Green Day 2023 setlist

"American Idiot"

"Holiday"

"Know Your Enemy"

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams"

"Longview"

"Welcome to Paradise"

"Hitchin' a Ride"

"Rock and Roll All Nite"

"Brain Stew"

"St. Jimmy""When I Come Around""Waiting""21 Guns""Minority""Knowledge""Basket Case""King for a Day""Shout""Wake Me Up When September Ends"

"Jesus of Suburbia"

"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"

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Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Green Day rocked the hits at Innings Fest in their 1st show of 2023