Green Day brought down the house at Coachella 2025, living up to high expectations in their long-waited Coachella main stage debut. The iconic punk rock pros then hit the stage for a blistering hour-and-a-half long set. They enthralled audiences by playing their whole catalog, running through OG jams and curve ball covers alike. Lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong really seized the platform as best he could to say really important political statements that the crowd really ate up.
As the band’s encore performance started with “American Idiot,” Armstrong proceeded to add a memorable lyric twist. Reagan’s original line “I’m not a member of a redneck agenda” became “I’m not a part of a MAGA agenda.” The audience erupted with one of the biggest cheers of the day. That laid the political tone for the night, as Armstrong kept threading political commentary throughout the night’s setlist.
Concertgoers went crazy when Armstrong brought Brooke on stage. The musicianship on display from the band was spectacular, paired with their clear commitment to continue addressing urgent issues today. As the night went along, Armstrong’s most lasting and galvanizing moment proved to be on “Jesus of Suburbia.” He changed the lyric “runnin’ away from pain when you’ve been victimized” to “runnin’ away from pain like the kids from Palestine, tales from another broken home.” This drastic change provoked an equally drastic response from the conference goers. It indeed was a testament to the band’s phenomenal capacity to connect music with life-altering social injustices.
The crowd was dynamic throughout the performance, jumping, dancing, and singing along as Green Day played through their extensive catalog. Armstrong’s professionalism shone through particularly during a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” which he launched into with enthusiasm. He self-deprecatingly recognized his elite ability on the court. Even I couldn’t help but sing along,” he acknowledged as he cruised through the perennial favorite.
Green Day treated fans to a cover of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin,’” further diversifying their setlist and keeping the energy high. As the show came to a close, Armstrong picked up his guitar for an encore. It flashed me back to the band’s peak, phenomenal heyday ’90s. The show concluded with a rousing acoustic rendition of “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life). One particularly brazen fan jumped on stage, convinced that he could shred along on guitar.
Green Day will be performing on the second weekend of Coachella on Saturday, April 19. Fans can expect their signature high-energy performances, along with expected political commentary.
