On September 24th, 2016, the Blink-182 crew swung into Phoenix. Performing at Ak-Chin Pavilion, the band managed to sell out the entire venue (for a late 90's punk rock band, that's pretty impressive to say the least). The night consisted of rowdy moshing, binge drinking, recreational drug use and, most of all, rocking out.
The night started with two openers to get the crowd warmed up. All Time Low and A Day To Remember put on amazing performances that boosted the energy in the venue so that we were pumped once the headliner came on. Then, right as Blink-182 took the stage, the energy was absolutely insane and everyone went ballistic. Grown men with goatees and arms full of tattoos were on the verge of crying. Teenagers were whipping out their smart phones trying to catch the opening chords of the first song. Heck, moms were raising their kids in the air, trying to get the bands attention (I highly advise against this).
The night went exactly as I thought it would: rough but enjoyable. It's a rock show, so I wasn't expecting people to be sitting down and sipping on wine during the show. For the most part, those who are fans of Blink-182 are a bit more tougher and edgier than most normal people. Although it was still a bit shocking to see so many hard rockers in one area, it wasn't surprising to have drunk people tumble into me or have my best friend have a cup of beer splattered all over her. But, I feel that is all part of the Blink-182 experience. They're punk rockers.
The music on the other hand was absolutely amazing. Mark Hoppus did a great job on the guitar and Travis Barker slammed his heart away on the drums. I didn't seem to catch any mistakes but then again, I was head banging and rocking out like everyone else around me.
The only negative aspect of the show seemed to be the fact that the entire original band wasn't there. Tom Delonge is no longer an active member in the group, so they had to replace him in order to have the show go on. This was a bit off-putting because he sang most of their tunes, so it didn't sound as genuine (or good) when his back-up had to sing his parts. Other than that though, the performance was spot on.
Any advice for those who are interested in attending a show in the near future?
Please do not bring your children. From crude humor to blunt sexual innuendos, this concert was far from family friendly. Especially with the type of people that attended the show, it isn't exactly something you want to expose a five year old to.
Over all, the show was phenomenal. Despite their old age, these guys still knew how to rock and amp up the crowd. From epic guitar riffs to outrageous drum solos, you would think they were still in their early twenties. It was amazing going to a show and seeing how music can bring all kinds of different people together. It's truly magical and something I'll never get tired of.
