Billie Joe Armstrong has long been transparent about his musical influences, as cover songs have consistently featured in Green Day's performances from their inception. This connection was prominently highlighted on Wednesday night when he delivered a surprise concert alongside The Coverups, an all-covers band that includes Jason White, who plays guitar live for Green Day, at the Cornerstone in Berkeley, California.
The ensemble reportedly delivered a remarkable 30-song set that was filled with hits, featuring several tracks Armstrong has previously performed with Green Day, in addition to a selection of new covers. Fan-shot videos captured numerous highlights, including renditions of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust,” and Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69.”
According to Setlist.fm, the remaining songs 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.” While there were some overlaps with songs that Green Day has covered, Armstrong and his band predominantly chose tracks that his primary band has performed less frequently, notably excluding their commonly covered version of Operation Ivy’s “Knowledge.”
Armstrong established The Coverups in 2018 alongside Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt, who played guitar in the group, along with White, audio engineer–turned-drummer Chris Dugan, and tour manager–turned-bassist Bill Schneider. Dirnt has not performed with the band since 2019. Since their formation, The Coverups have held at least one performance annually, except in 2020.
The concert in Berkeley was announced on the day of the show at 3 p.m. via the band's Instagram page. The Coverups are also scheduled to participate in Notes & Words, a benefit concert at Oakland’s Fox Theater on May 2, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
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