Call me biased, but having been fortunate enough to attend concerts in various cities around the world, very few come close to competing with Cape Town when it comes to the full package for a day of fun.
We decided to head through early to grab customary pre-drinks at the V&A Waterfront. After a stint in some stinking traffic entering the Waterfront complex, we found parking and headed over to Kapstadt Brauhaus near the Clock Tower... which was packed with enthusiastic punk rockers and concertgoers of all ages.
I won't lie, it was a struggle to get drinks, as the poor wait staff were being pulled all over the show. I also won't lie when I say that the first sip of a cold beer before an event like this always hits different. It definitely did.
The next step was to grab a bite to eat at the food court before making the festive walk up to the stadium, past an overflowing Time Out Market, Ferrymans, Mitchells and Cause Effect. We really are spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink options before a stadium event, which speaks to my earlier comment on it being the 'full package'.
To say Cape Town was ready for this concert would be an understatement.
Upon reaching the stadium, we were ushered through the gates and led under the stadium towards the standing zones. As a big fan of both Green Day and The Offspring, I wasn't going to skimp on tickets and ensured I was as close as possible to the action. The money spent would prove to be well worth it in the end.
The sounds of Fokofpolisiekar greeted us as we made our way into the bowl. They never disappoint live and showed that South Africa too has talent which can rival the best out there. Although Noodles from The Offspring may need to work on his promotional skills for the band after calling them, "F**ked Up Police Car". Their classic self-titled hit transported me back to the dance floors of 2006, back when Edward Street was a go-to destination for the youth of the era.
The Offspring were up next and they brought the perfect dose of nostalgia with face-melting performances of Self Esteem, Want You Bad, All I Want and Staring at the Sun. Their set was the ultimate blend of their discography and brought back a lot of childhood memories for the people around me. I must commend the sound guys as the performance was crystal clear.
Then came the main attraction; the legendary Green Day. Hit after hit gripped the crowd with a tightness I haven't seen since Metallica's last tour of the country. These guys have also not lost an ounce of their enthusiasm for their craft, proving why they are still so highly regarded.
The band took the crowd on a tour of their catalogue; they basically showed off how good they have been for going on four decades. American Idiot featured a change of lyrics which took a swipe at a certain South African-born billionaire, while classics such as Basket Case, When I Come Around, Minority, and Welcome To Paradise sent an electric vibe through the crowd.
Wake Me Up When September Ends was another crowd favourite, while the set was capped off beautifully with a hair-raising rendition of Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life).
Again, kudos to the sound guys and Cape Town Stadium, it was brilliantly put together.
The highs of the concert were quickly met with the lows of navigating our way out of the stadium and the Waterfront. The traffic really is a nightmare after a big event, but I'll be honest, it was a small price to pay when you have just been treated to the amazing night that was Calabash 2025.
Big Concerts, if you're listening, can we get Blink-182 on the line-up for next year, please?