More than anything else, I was scared. First of all, one third of Blink-182 wasn’t even going to show. Travis Barker hasn’t managed to get over his fear of flying after surviving a plane crash in 2008 (who can blame him?) but it was a shame. Sure, he was being replaced by Brooks Wackerman (Bad Religion, Tenacious D) who is a beast in his own right, but Blink-182 without that sweaty, human canvas bashing away in the background… well, it isn’t really Blink-182. And secondly, their Mark, Tom and Travis Show tour in 2001 – when I was 12-years-old and at the peak of my Blink fandom, and they were 26 and at the peak of their Blink beingdom – was the closest I’ve ever come to having a religious experience. How could Blink circa 2013 ever compare?
I don’t know if this is just the nostalgia speaking, but Mark and Tom don’t look or sound like they’ve aged a day. Blink-182 is the embodiment of late ‘90s pop punk, and they are legends at what they do. The live energy they brought to that soggy bowl was enough to bring everyone out of their no-Travis funk as soon as the opening chords of Feeling This hit. Wackerman, while sitting raised and centre on a pedestal obviously designed for Travis, was more than capable of filling the most tattooedest of shoes; not a beat seemed to be missed. The chemistry of Blink-182 has always been in the relationship between Mark and Tom, and their banter is still as hilariously vulgar as it’s always been – even after all the Angels and Airwaves, +44, and Boxcar Racer bullshit.
The set list was a little post-2003 heavy, but all the hits were there, as well as an amazing acoustic performance of Dick Lips and various adaptations throughout the night of frat house classic, Blow Job. There was something oddly resigned in the last few lines of Dammit, screeching out across the post-adolescent pop-punkers of the early naughties. “Well I guess this is growing up”, we all screamed at each other as the rain finally broke free from the threatening clouds. Before we even had a moment to process life, growing up, and what it all means, we were hit with the final song: Family Reunion. It was sick.
BY KATE MCCARTEN
Photo credit: Nick Irving
LOVED: Feeling 13 again.
HATED: Feeling 13 again.
DRANK: The rain.
