Who? Foxboro Hot Tubs, the “secret,” throwback punk and garage pop side project of Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist/vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool. Touring Green Day guitarist Jason White and multi-instrumentalist Jason Freese also play with the new band, which broke onto the web in late 2007 with a free EP download (an A-side preview of forthcoming debut Stop, Drop, and Roll), soon sparking rumors, and eventual confirmation, that Armstrong and crew were behind its creation.
What? A surprise eight-date tour, set to kick off at Little Rock, AR’s Juanita’s Cantina in less than one week, on May 19. The brief outing, also hitting cities like New Orleans, Austin, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, will unveil tunes off the trio’s debut album, Stop, Drop, and Roll, set to be self-released May 20. Tickets for all gigs will not be available until the day of the show, will run $20 cash, and will be limited to two per person. Also, likely due to the band’s “secret” identity, cameras are shunned from all gigs.
Should I go? Yes. If you’re a Green Day fan, this is likely the closest you’ll ever get to the band, or their alter egos, as the outfit — now accustomed to performing in gigantic arenas — play very intimate clubs. And, most importantly, Foxboro Hot Tub’s punk-rock-meets-vintage-garage-rock ass-kickers are worth the $20 and sure-to-be lengthy wait at each and every venue.
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Foxboro Hot Tubs tour dates:5/19, Little Rock, AR (Juanita’s Cantina)5/20, New Orleans, LA (One Eyed Jack’s)5/21, Dallas, TX (The Loft)5/22, Austin, TX (Emo’s)5/25, Phoenix, AZ (The Brick House)5/26, San Diego, CA (Soma / Sidestage)5/27, Los Angeles, CA (The Roxy)5/28, Long Beach, CA (Alex’s Bar)
