48. Ray Castronovo Discusses Green Day, American Idiot

You, Me and An Album

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This week’s guest, Ray Castronovo — frontman and guitarist for Streetwise and the founder of DayQuest Records — joins me to dig into Green Day’s 2004 rock opera, American Idiot. We talk about what appeals to Ray about Green Day and this album in particular, as well as his recent return to a music career and the musical roots he developed growing up in Brooklyn.

I had mentioned that I had seen an interview of Steve Vai where he talked about auditioning for Frank Zappa. I couldn’t find the video that I saw, but I did find this one where he essentially tells the same story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx1RguHA4XE

I did recall correctly that Rick Beato made a What Makes This Song Great video on Boulevard of Broken Dreams. It’s definitely worth 19 minutes of your time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSy8JbvNYCM

Follow Ray and Streetwise on Instagram at @streetwisenyc!

You can also keep up with Streetwise at their website, streetwiseny.com.

Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.

0:59 Ray joins the show

1:17 Ray talks about his decision to put his music career on hold for 30 years

6:59 Ray names the musicians who influenced Streetwise’s “music stew”

9:09 Ray talks about his connection with Warren Cuccurullo and Frank Zappa

13:02 Al’s ignorance of 2000s rock led him to overlook the impact of American Idiot

14:38 Ray explains why Green Day, and American Idiot in particular, have impressed him

17:11 Should the shorter bits on American Idiot have been expanded into longer songs?

Track-by-track breakdown

22:35 American Idiot

24:00 Jesus of Suburbia

28:07 Holiday/Boulevard of Broken Dreams

32:17 Are We the Waiting

33:43 St. Jimmy/Give Me Novacaine

37:29 She’s a Rebel/Extraordinary Girl/Letterbomb

41:49 Wake Me Up When September Ends

44:18 Homecoming

45:57 Whatsername

50:41 Ray admires how “in the pocket” Green Day is

55:48 What’s next for Streetwise?

Outro music is Live For the Moment by Streetwise.

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