Growing up, every kid loves McDonalds, but at some point in our lives we all grow out of it. I remember that time being in my mid-twenties when I had gone on a health kick and lost a significant amount of weight. One day going into McDonalds specifically because it was the only restaurant on the highway. What I experienced after digesting it was something I would not even wish upon my most hated nemesis. However, every once in a while I do find myself enjoying an original Chicken Sandwich and those magnificent golden fries
however only in Europe. I know it seems like an oxymoron to eat McDonald's only in Europe, however, more often than not, I'll chow down McD's specifically due to time constraints. You can't sit down anywhere in Europe and be out in 45-minutes. I dare you to even try it. Such was the position my wife and I were in while in Brussels last year. There was a concert venue across the street from our hotel and on a particular night where we had nothing planned other than dinner-we saw Good Charlotte was performing. I'm not a huge fan by any means but wanted to experience a concert on foreign soil. Brian Wilson and Jesse Malin were a few weeks off and I'd be back in the States by then, so I would have to settle for Good Charlotte. We had 45-minutes to kill before show time and we were starving. Any sit down meal in Europe is minimally a two-hour affair and our time was severely limited, therefore, we wound up at McDonalds. As I was ordering my wife's Royale with Cheese, it occurred to me that Good Charlotte and McDonalds had something in common; I would never consume either of them back home. That is not meant as a diss to Good Charlotte in any way, it is merely a fact that I never would have paid to see Good Charlotte if I were at home in the same way that I would never go to McDonald's unless it was the only restaurant on a few hundred mile stretch of a lost highway. Since I'm a believer that everything happens for a reason, synchronicity came into play as to why Good Charlotte and not Brian Wilson or Jesse Malin coincided with my trip.
The venue was designed better than a typical American club and when you walked in, you immediately felt like you were attending the AC/DC "Thunderstruck" premiere. My wife even began to hum the opening chant of that particular stadium anthem. With the house lights on, it appeared like any other rock concert that I would attend in Chicago, but then the lights faded and the insanity began. I always was envious of watching home videos where bands perform to fields of what seems like millions of people and see these people losing their minds, hoisting themselves onto people's shoulders and in short, at times
acting like mutants. When I saw this all I could think about is how badly I wanted to be a part of it as it didn't look painful, but glorious and the way rock n' roll should truly be experienced. Granted, Good Charlotte was performing in a club and not a stadium but that would not derail the fanatical following they have built overseas.
They hit the stage and surged into a series of instantly recognizable songs (even if you don't want to admit it); "Misery", "The Anthem" and "Walk Away" found the Belgian crowd fanatical and uninhibitive manner. I love Chicago and feel they have the best crowds in all of America, but there's something wholly unique about experiencing a concert in Europe. The club was a tenth the size of the venues they would play in America and yet this place was ten times louder than any crowd in America would have been. As much as I would like to credit the European crowd for this fantastic experience, I have to give Good Charlotte credit, they rocked and warranted the swelling mass of people who surged towards the stage in fervent love.
They did appear to be a little too cool for school, but I'm not here to judge a book by its cover or who the lead singer is dating. What's vital is that the excitement in the crowd was genuine and ecstatic. It is almost as if they have more credibility on foreign soul, kind of like Jerry Lewis in France. Good Charlotte has a polarizing affect on most music lovers I know but as I gazed around the sold-out room and saw the aggression, physical engagement and music soar with smiles all around, I began to wonder if my impression of this band is profoundly flawed?
One of the most disquieting or miraculous aspects of European shows is the crowd's interaction singing along to every song and very often carrying the song with their voices. How is this? Most of these people don't speak English and yet sound as crisp and clear, just like Ozzy. If they spoke English as well as they sung it I wouldn't have gotten lost on two separate trams in Antwerp. Maybe I should have asked directions while humming "Boys and Girls". Witnessing this display of vocal affection made me wonder if there is a secret conspiracy in Europe where everyone speaks English and they just don't want to help the American tourists. Is it a secret joke? During "I Just Wanna Live" I become convinced there is a conspiracy against Americans as these people are singing every word crystal clear in a fashion that would shame most US audiences who are too busy checking their Blackberry's or talking on the phone. This was an event, they knew it and they relished every last minute of it.
"Hold On" proved to be an authentic cell phone moment that gave great meaning to the term "music for the masses". I greatly appreciated the minimal stage set up as it allowed me to focus on the music. This concert was about proving that music, no matter what continent you may be on, is universal. During the song "March On", I peered over to my left as a hippie guy who looked like a lost refuge from the 60's but was rocking out like it was 1985 and I thought one of two things was happening he was either A) really stoned and thought Phish had reunited or B) he was sincerely loving the music and was letting his body sway to the music. My gut feeling is the answer is "B". There appear to be fewer clichι's and divisions of genres and social classes here in Europe. Heck, there's even a guy in the balcony rocking out that is the spinning image of Tony Iommi circa 1970, you would never see this in LA or New York. Good Charlotte is not revolutionary and it's unlikely you'll witness something you've never seen before at one of their shows, but they have crafted some top tier pop punk songs and in concert, these little pop ditties excel and become rock anthems and as I saw the crowd continue to radiate a blissful lack of self consciousness as they rocked out, I thought to myself who am I to argue with this? They give the fan a good bang for their buck, leave them with smiles on their faces and in the end, does anything else really matter? Arm waving anthems are loved in every nook and cranny in the world. It's a lot like McDonalds. It's almost as if there is a larger force at work in these performances. They shouldn't work, but they do!
The encore was equally engaging as it was practically a second opening. "The River" is an anthem and a crowd pleaser that I'm not sure I understood the meaning to, but it didn't matter because no one else did either. All I do know is that the crowd is becoming more hyper and interactive with every song as their voices soar higher and louder.
The evening came to a pre-mature close with "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". The show was only 80-minutes, which is the only negative thing I could say about this experience. Love them or hate them, they came; they saw, they attempted to speak Flemish and they rocked. Big chanting anthemic choruses are as universal as the Big Mac
with billions and billions served worldwide.
Anthony Kuzminski is a Chicago based writer and can be found and contacted at The Screen Door
