Green Day [ tickets ] has experienced more mainstream success than most any other punk-rock band, and with huge popularity sometimes comes a bit of the "Tall Poppy Syndrome": some old-school punk loyalists claim the band's music is not that original--or not punk at all. Whatever one says about the group, though, there's no question the trio has worked hard to reach the top.

All that success doesn't seem to have spoiled the group. Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool still do things like bringing fans on stage to perform with them, and still turn up in small venues to play unannounced shows. A few days ago, the band was seen checking out the grand opening of Freight & Salvage, a new venue in downtown Berkeley, CA.

Fans can catch Green Day on the road through November, touring in support of their new album, "21st Century Breakdown." LiveDaily's Tim Mosenfelder caught up with Green Day in Sacramento, CA, on Monday night (8/24), and here are some of his best shots.