https://www.instagram.com/p/BON18ChBJnI/
Fresh off a massive tour with FIDLAR, Bay Area punks SWMRS canceled a New York show earlier this week in favor of performing a hometown show to benefit the victims and families of the recent Ghost Ship fire tragedy. They took to Instagram to post the show’s flyer, along with the following caption:
First, we are extremely extremely sorry to anyone who had plans to see us in NYC this Sunday. We never cancel shows and we promise to be back as soon as we can. We truly hope you understand our last minute decision! There is no accurate way to describe the hole that is forever left in our scene and our city by this devastating catastrophe. We are putting on this show for our hurting community and the loved ones of the people we lost, and the DIY spaces that bred us that are now at risk of forced dissolution. This Sunday we are playing a very small show in Oakland at 7 pm with RICKY LAKE (feat Young Ocean), JAKOB DANGER, and some very very very special guests playing with us… you don’t want to miss any of this. Minimum of a $20 donation to get in. There will be a supply drop for all of the victims of the Ghost Ship Fire… please bring toiletries, clothes etc. All of the money raised will be going to the link in our bio so if you can’t make the show try and donate!!! we love you all and we will see you Sunday. Get there early!
Given the drummer of SWMRS and the frontman of Jakob Danger are both Billie Joe Armstrong’s sons, it was pretty clear that the “very very very special guests” would, indeed, be special. When SWMRS were six songs into their headlining set, Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt climbed onto the tiny stage to front the band for a selection of mostly pre-American Idiot Green Day songs. According to a post on the 1-2-3-4 Go! Records Instagram page, the benefit raised over $3,000 for the cause, which they claim is “no small feat for a venue this size.” Billie Joe also took to Instagram the evening after the show, writing:
amazing emotional night last night.. Me and Mr Dirnt got a chance to sit in with smrs. a benefit for the ghost ship folks. i’m playing with my babies.. Jakob and Joey..
Check out fan-shot videos of the surprise set, as well as a photo the full SWMRS set list including the Green Day interlude, below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOMTp6ygPC4/?taken-at=3823545&hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOMA61JF12D/?taken-at=3823545&hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOMK79rhMbl/?taken-at=3823545&hl=en
