Green Day Surprise Fans With Secret Sydney Pub Gig

Just a few hundred fans were treated to a surprise pub gig by punk rockers Green Day at Sydney’s Captain Cook Hotel last night as the band caused a frenzy when they tweeted details of a surprise free gig, just an hour before it was due to start.

“hello Aussie! Green Day is playing tonight at a club called Captain Cook Hotel TONIGHT in Sydney. I repeat, TONIGHT! Feb 20th around 11:00pm,” tweeted the band at 10.17pm, giving fans lucky enough to see the tweet just under an hour to make their way to the Paddington venue.

According to the Daily Telegraph, plans for the gig were hatched just an hour earlier by the band, Captain Cook Hotel owner Darren Wood, Inferno Music instrument-supplier boss Tim Davy and author of My Sydney Riot blog Ray Lalotoa.

“We got a call today and had to keep it on the down low,” Mr Wood said. “It happened in all of about five minutes. Green Day came and checked it out and said ‘this is going to work, we’re 99 per cent going to play’, and just said ‘don’t tell anyone about it’.”

Those who managed to manoeuvre their way into the packed out pub witnessed Green Day blast their way through an hour-long, 12-song set. The band ripped through both old and new material in front of an intimate 200 people, even taking requests from the rowdy crowd.

Those who couldn’t make their way into the pub, had to settle for watching the show through the windows, while others climbed trees to get a view inside. Check out images of the gig, a video and the setlist below.

Green Day are in the country to headline the Soundwave Festival that kicks off in Brisbane this Saturday.

Gallery: Green Day Play Surprise Sydney Show

Photos: Ashley Mar

Watch: Green Day – Secret Sydney Gig

Setlist:

99 Revolutions

Know Your Enemy

Nice Guys Finish Last

Holiday

Rusty James

Stuck with Me

Burnout

Chump

Longview

Brain Stew

St. Jimmy

Encore:

American Idiot

hello Aussie! Green Day is playing tonight at a club called Captain Cook Hotel TONIGHT in Sydney. I repeat, TONIGHT! Feb 20th around 11:00pm

— Green Day (@GreenDay) February 20, 2014

GREEN DAY ARE PLAYING A CLUB IN SYDNEY TONIGHT AT 11PM I REPEAT THEY ARE PLAYING AT A CLUB AT A CLUB AT A CLUB GREEN DAY TONIGHT

— ANgiE (@anggiiex) February 20, 2014

@kassulke @beckodotcom @TripleMSydney captain cook is rammed. Kids in band tees. Time will tell….

— Ryan McKinnon (@_RyMac) February 20, 2014