Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Europe, take cover; Australia and Asia, watch out because you’re next. Green Day is busy perfecting its “American Idiot” sneer in a world tour.

Judging by the shows the Californian band has been playing in the U.K., audiences aren’t likely to have a ball so much as a Super Bowl sized pop celebration.

Punk purists disapprove of the trio’s cartoon goofiness, clumsy politics and Godzilla-sized choruses. Still, get over the teenage lyrics of guys in their late thirties, and the enthusiasm is infectious. Green Day’s live show, promoting the album “21st Century Breakdown,” is probably the most fun you can have with your fake bondage trousers on.

The main set lasts two hours. (Encores inevitably, justifiably, follow.) From the incendiary “21st Century Breakdown” to the rabble-rousing “Minority,” Green Day ensures no boredom for even the most attention-deficient fan.

Drummer Tre Cool pounds with aplomb, wearing a striped- black shirt, gold-and-maroon tie and red baseball boots. Waistcoat-wearing bassist Mike Dirnt keeps things as taut as his tattooed biceps.

Billie Joe Armstrong, the singer and guitarist, is part Johnny Rotten, part anarchic children’s entertainer and total showman packed into black jeans and tight black shirt. He blasts out “Know Your Enemy” with a pitch-perfect sneer.

A child “fresh as a sacrificial lamb” is requested from the audience for a mock evangelical “healing” at the climax of “East Jesus Nowhere.”

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, “Before the Lobotomy” and “King For A Day” all punch their weight. The final encore is signed off with “Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)”.

Rating: ****.

What the Stars Mean:
****       Excellent
***        Good
**         Average
*          Poor
(No stars) Worthless

Green Day played Wembley Arena last night. The tour now moves to mainland Europe, with the first date in Munich tomorrow, with other shows in Austria, Switzerland and Italy.

The band plays across Australia and New Zealand in December. The tour continues with shows in Thailand, Singapore, China, South Korea and Japan in January 2010.

Information: http://www.greenday.com/site/tour.php

(Robert Heller is a freelance music critic who also writes for Bloomberg. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer on the story: Robert Heller in London on roberthelleruk@yahoo.co.uk

Last Updated: November 1, 2009 21:06 EST