The Green Day frontman’s all-covers side project announced a surprise concert in Berkeley on Wednesday
Billie Joe Armstrong has always worn his influences on his sleeve, since cover songs have been a mainstay of Green Day concerts since their earliest days. Those influences were front and center Wednesday night when he performed a secret show with the Coverups, an all-covers band that also features Jason White, who plays guitar with Green Day live, at the Cornerstone in Berkeley, California.
The group reportedly performed a 30-song, hit-filled set that included several songs Armstrong has sung with Green Day, as well as some new ones. Highlights, as seen in fan-shot video, include Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust,” and Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69.”
The rest of the set list, according to Setlist.fm, included Nirvana’s “Drain You,” the Strokes’ “Last Nite,” the Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat,” Misfits’ “Where Eagles Dare,” and Cheap Trick’s “Surrender.” Although there was some crossover with songs Green Day have covered, Armstrong & Co. favored songs his other band hasn’t performed as frequently and notably omitted their oft-performed rendition of Operation Ivy’s “Knowledge.”
Armstrong formed the Coverups in 2018 with Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt, who played guitar in the band, with White, audio engineer–cum-drummer Chris Dugan, and tour manager–cum-bassist Bill Schneider. Dirnt has not performed with the group since 2019. The Coverups have played at least one gig a year, with the exception of 2020, since forming.
The band announced the Berkeley concert at 3 p.m. the day of the show on its Instagram page. The Coverups are scheduled to perform as part of Notes & Words, a benefit concert, at Oakland’s Fox Theater on May 2, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
