It’s been said more than enough times, but I’m going to say it again. I am so grateful for my job and the opportunities that come with it! The latest gift I received was a pair of tickets to see Green Day at Fenway Park. I know in my last concert post, I did some bitching about Fenway, but that doesn’t mean I’m not thankful for the experiences. I planned a bit better for this journey and I think it paid off. This was a much better time.
I have been a fan of Green Day, practically since I was in the womb. My mom has always been a fan and I’m so glad she passed that on to me. I’ve been listening to them for as long as I can remember and it has been a dream to see them perform live.
After learning the lessons from the last travel journey, we went to the Wells Transportation Center to leave on the 12:25pm train. That was a cool experience on its own, to be honest. I haven’t been on a train in a very long time. I forgot how fun that is! We grabbed a couple of snacks and drinks from the dining car and relaxed for the two hour trip. Once we arrived at North Station, we hopped on the green line towards Fenway. Getting off at the Kenmore stop was a great choice, because we accidentally ended up in line for a great restaurant. We thought we were just following the crowd to the stadium, but I guess not. However, it was a beautiful mistake.
After ending up in this accidental queue for Cask ‘N Flagon, we decide to go through and see what they had for food. Our original intent was maybe just a drink and appetizer. But after looking at the menu, we decided it was dinner time. We both ordered the Steak Gorgonzola Fettuccine. What an incredible choice that was. I don’t think I’ve ever had a meal so tasty. Our appetizer of their Street Corn Dip with chips was also phenomenal. Our bellies were full and we were ready to go listen to some music. We timed this journey so much better, as we didn’t end up standing in line for an hour and a half. I was grateful for that. They checked our bags and tickets without any wait and we went to find our seats.
The seating was much different from my last show. We hiked up the stairs, ramps, and elevators to find ourselves at the tip-top of the bleachers. While it seemed a bit daunting at first, it was actually a fantastic view. The audio was a bit off, in my opinion. I think these venues must do that to the openers on purpose, but I can’t confirm that.
When we got to our seats, The Linda Lindas were starting their performance. They were young and had so much energy. I miss that. They were singing, playing, and dancing with their whole souls. It was inspiring. Their performance was great.
Next up was Rancid. They also brought such a good energy to the crowd. Their audience engagement seemed to be so genuine. It seemed like they really wanted to connect with the listeners.
Smashing Pumpkins was the final opener. They rocked hard! I didn’t realize how many of their songs I already knew. I’m horrible with remembering titles, but there were quite a few songs that I was able to sing along to. Their portion of the show was so entertaining.
Finally, it was time for the main act: Green Day. We made one final trip for a beverage and the restroom so we wouldn’t miss the beginning. At this point, I had a headache and wasn’t super excited. This was a very similar feeling to last time. I was tired and ready for the show to be over, but I wanted to see Green Day so bad. The crowd came into sync once Bohemian Rhapsody came over the speakers. It sounded like every single person was singing along. That really brightened my mood. Once the crowd was rallied, the big show started. It was amazing. There’s no way to describe the way it feels to hear and see these people you’ve dreamed of for years. I didn’t even know their opening song, but it resonated so well. I could feel the music going straight into my soul. I still had a bit of a headache, but it didn’t matter anymore. I was enveloped in the music.
Once 10pm hit, it was time to catch the trains home. We rolled into the driveway around 2:30am and it took me a while to be able to fall asleep. Today, I’m sitting at work exhausted but thrilled. Not everyone gets these chances and I’m stoked to be able to share these stories. As always, I’m so grateful for the shows I’ve been to. It’s such a blast to be able to experience new shows, new music, and new places. Here are some photos from the day!
Phoebe Dyer Portfolio 