Dylan Novacek
Last updated on May 24th, 2023 at 01:01 pm
“Two years ago, I was starting chemotherapy,” reflected Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus. “Now, tonight, we’re starting our world tour.”
As Blink-182 kicked off their latest reunion tour to a sold-out Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, a feeling of triumph filled the air. Although the band has been back and touring since the latter half of the 2010s, releasing two fantastic albums without Tom DeLonge, this latest run is something special.
Following their two headlining Coachella performances with DeLonge back in the lineup, Blink-182 is the year’s top must-see rock act. Here are five things you can expect from this tour.
Classic Blink Humor
It’s not a Blink-182 concert without dick jokes and nonsense.
“There is so much sexual tension on this stage that you could cut it with a butter knife,” Tom DeLonge remarked.
The chemistry between the trio feels as fresh and funny as ever. Their authentic humor and perpetual immaturity are hilarious. They even pulled out their classic comedy songs “Happy Holidays You Bastards” and “Family Reunion.”
Hard Hitting Drum Solos
Travis Barker is a modern-day rock legend. His relentless energy never once let up. At one point, his drum kit even levitated above the stage. Truly amazing!
Some Emo Sh*t
The setlist for this tour is perfectly laid out. But be warned: they play some of their most emotional songs back-to-back. Hearing “Down” and “Always” one after the other almost broke me.
The crowd lit up their lighters and cell phones for “Adam’s Song,” and “I Miss You” sounded studio perfect.
In addition to their emo punk classics, fans will be treated to their latest single, “Edging,” and some surprising tracks from Blink’s 2016 album California. I was so glad that “Bored to Death” was not forgotten.
A Thriving Scene
Supporting the tour are Turnstile and Beauty School Drop Out.
While Turnstile is best seen in smaller venues such as Varsity Theater, seeing them share a stage with Blink is very validating. Their hard-hitting sound quickly got the back of the arena on their feet, surely earning them more fans in the audience.
Beauty School Drop Out was a surprisingly great act. I had never heard of them before and was impressed with their unhinged energy.
Previously, Blink was touring with Lil’ Wayne in 2019. I am glad to see them giving a platform to bands so clearly inspired by their iconic sound.
Not Just a Comeback, a Celebration.
Going into this tour, I rejected the idea of this as a reunion tour. As I mentioned, Blink-182 was active and doing well between 2016-2019. But I’ve realized this is one of those bands that needs all three members.
For example, what would Fall Out Boy be without all four members? Although I still consider Blink-182 with Matt Skiba just as valid, there is no denying that DeLonge’s collaboration with Hoppus and Barker is unique.
Additionally, with Hoppus celebrating his cancer recovery, I am thrilled to see him happy and healthy.
While this scene never went away for me, this entire tour is clearly a celebration of a moment when emo and punk re-entered the mainstream.
Seeing Blink-182 kick off their reunion tour felt like a cultural reset. If you have a chance to see them on this run, you had better get tickets now. It’s totally worth it!
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