Blink-182 - LG Arena, Birmingham - 7th June 2012 (Live Review)
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Written by Gemma-Louise Johnson
It’s been a long 18 months for fans of Blink-182 after the band postponed the original leg of their UK ‘20th Anniversary Tour’ last July to complete their sixth studio album ‘Neighborhoods’ released last September - their first batch of new music to be released since 2003.
The trio made their triumphant return to UK shores last week in Birmingham and played a steady-paced 90-minute set, including all their classics with a fresh brand of new tracks from ‘Neighborhoods’. Judging how responsive the primarily teen and twenty-something throng were at last week’s first show, time away following their 2008 hiatus may have gone in their favour.
The funny thing about growing older and seeing a band like Blink-182 is the instant separation you feel from the thousands of youths stood around you. And although you might still hold a candle for the band, who in the mid '90s (along with Green Day and the Offspring) brought punk to a mainstream ready, it's hard not to feel detached from the now-revived band and their gimmick.
Kicking off proceedings is American hardcore outfit Four Year Strong. The noisy little buggers blast through songs like ‘It Must Really Suck to Be Four Year Strong Right Now’ and ‘Stuck in the Middle’, as a small amount of the crowd at the front jumps up and down uncontrollably, fists pumping the air.
Up next is chart-topping pop-punk quartet The All-American Rejects, who manage to get the crowd geared up for this evening's headliners. Although a little cheesy at best, they still cram in all their hits including ‘Gives you Hell’ and ‘Dirty Little Secret’. Front man Tyson Jitter proves he is more than capable of rallying a crowd and they quickly become putty in his hands.
From the moment the curtain drops, it’s clear tonight’s headliners are on top form and those who had their Blink-182 cherry popped this evening will have noticed how similar the band sound on record to what they do live in concert. Here is a band that has sold over 27 million albums over 20 years and performed together since 1992, all of which distinctly shows through both their virtuoso and rhythm.
A motion picture backdrop metaphorically pairs with the typical British Summer outside, and later on pictures of the band in black and white are displayed as they kick out the jams on stage. “It’s only taken us a year to get here”, offers guitarist Mark Hoppus, “thanks a lot for holding out for us, its muchly appreciated!” Tonight marks the first show of the band’s 14-date UK arena tour and given the turn out, it would appear that a lot of fans may have gone to this year’s Download Festival, because there are gaps in the seating as well as general admission, but nonetheless, the solid musical performance is enough to keep ticket holders sated.
In 2012, enjoying a Blink-182 concert is essentially dependent on whether you like sped-up skate punk, performed by the band that both developed it and still cling to its dissipating shadow. Judging by the reception evaporating from tonight’s crowd, it’s clear that although not exactly one of their signatures, even opener ‘Feeling This’, from 2003’s self-titled, had the vocals of Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus instantly drowned out, while ‘Up All Night’, the first single off ‘Neighborhoods’, fared far better than anticipated.
Quickly delving into hits like ‘Dumpweed’, ‘What’s My Age Again?’ and ‘Man Over Board’, the audience jumps up and down uncontrollably, belting every lyric to almost every song back at the pop-punk trio.
A few songs were dedicated to the ladies in the audience tonight, particularly ‘First Date’, and ‘The Rock Show’. Knowing what the ‘older’ fans want and when they want it, the band made a wise choice with their set list, revisiting tracks from earlier albums, ‘Chesire Cat’ and ‘Dude Ranch’. But unashamedly Blink-182’s biggest hit with tonight’s crowd is ‘All The Small Things’ which sent the crowd into a complete frenzy.
There’s only one hindrance: Despite publicly and emphatically rekindling their friendship after not speaking for over four years, an awkward lack of communication spills from the stage. Although the banter between guitarist/vocalist Delonge and bassist/vocalist Hoppus is hilarious and goes from Hoppus’ inability to tie his own shoelace to Delonge being a let-down for the band (all innocent of course).
Dozens of Blink-182 beach balls sail across the crowd marking the end of their set, to showcase the evenings highlight, sandwiched between classics ‘Josie’ and ‘Carousel’, as drummer Travis Barker engages in a prolonged drum track from his solo album ‘Give the Drummer Some’, pounding the kit with his fists as he combines elements of punk speed with his newly acquired hip-hop style.
Bringing tonight’s “Rock Show” proceedings to a confetti strewn climax, Blink-182 close with the classic double of 'Carousel' and their breakthrough hit 'Dammit', which sends the crowd into mass sing-a-long and thirsty for more, in hope that the punk-rock party never ends, but plectrums and set list gifts handed out to those at the front quickly ensures the party atmosphere lives on.
‘Neighborhoods’ might not have done as well as 1999’s career defining ‘Enema Of The State’, but love them or hate them, they’re still doing what they always do best: effortlessly supercharged, punk rock ‘n’ roll...it’s a blast from the past, with a promising future, welcome back Blink-182.
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The trio made their triumphant return to UK shores last week in Birmingham and played a steady-paced 90-minute set, including all their classics with a fresh brand of new tracks from ‘Neighborhoods’. Judging how responsive the primarily teen and twenty-something throng were at last week’s first show, time away following their 2008 hiatus may have gone in their favour.
