Blink-182, Weezer, and Taking Back Sunday rocked out at Fiddler’s Green.
In 2005, punk rock band Blink-182 went on an indefinite hiatus, all but abandoning their vast fan base. However, after four years, the band has decided that it is time to get back to work. According to their website, “We’re back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again.”
Blink’s reunion tour started on the 24th of July, and since then, they have played shows all over America, and even Canada. On September 6th, they played a sold out show in Denver at Fiddler’s Green.
The band has acquired somewhat of a cult following, and it was evident by the crowd. The line for Blink merchandise was almost as long as the line to get into the venue.
At 6:30, opening band Chester French took the stage. The band was what you might call ‘eccentric’, relying on vulgar lyrics, mediocre instrumentals, and even employed an out-of-place tambourine in their songs. The singer’s voice was nothing short of annoying, and the band behind him wasn’t anything worth paying attention to, proven by the preponderance of folks ignoring Chester French. Oh, did I mention that the name of the band was Chester French? Because the singer found it necessary to remind the audience of their name at least five times between every song they played. It was no surprise to see that no one was heartbroken to see them walk off stage.
Next up was Taking Back Sunday, a band much better and more widely known than Chester French. When Taking Back Sunday came out, the majority of the crowd was on its feet, and a number of them were singing along. To me, they seemed better in the studio than on stage, yet their sound was clear and the vocals were decent. They weren’t anything special, but I wasn’t blown away; a typical opening act.
Weezer, however, did not disappoint. They sauntered out onto the stage in matching white track outfits to roaring applause. Their reputation as a peculiar and goofy band preceded them, and it was incredibly entertaining to watch. They played hits such as The Sweater Song, Buddy Holly, Island in the Sun, Beverly Hills, and Pork and Beans, while the crowd sang along. The singer’s antics were crazy, jerky, and hilarious to watch, alternating between jamming out on the rhythm guitar and jumping on a mini trampoline. The crowd was energetic, to say the least, and the band was having a great time up on stage. Weezer received very loud applause as they finally walked off stage, but that was absolutely nothing compared to the deafening bellow that the crowd gave Blink.
The very second the house lights went down for Blink-182’s entrance, the audience erupted in a roar louder than any I’ve ever heard. To say that the spectators were excited to see Blink would be an understatement; to say that they were completely insane with exhilaration would be much more accurate. It was instant pandemonium. The band leaped into their set, playing song after song, including I Miss You, Carousel, Always, What’s My Age Again?, The Rock Show, Reckless Abandon, and so many more, with well over three fourths of the crowd singing along.
The band was compelling, and between every song there was a new ‘your mom’ or other crude joke. They were often hilarious, somewhat vulgar, and, to my surprise, absolutely incredible live. I’ve always been skeptical about Blink and their music, never too impressed, and frankly convinced that they weren’t as good as they were made out to be. However, my opinion changed just as quickly as the crowd exploded. The best part of the experience, in my opinion, was not the music they played, or the epic hip-hop drum solo of Travis Barker on his trademark spinning platform, but the sidesplitting behavior of bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus and guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge. Not only were they joking with each other, they were prancing around like high school pranksters.
But why is this so important? Bands form, fall apart, and get back together all the time. What makes Blink different from the others? The answer is clear: the vast number of fans, and the complicated history between the three friends turned punk idols. Blink began in 1992 when Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and Scott Raynor got together in high school to make music. They were signed in 1994 and released their debut album, Cheshire Cat, in that same year. After moderate success with their second album, Dude Ranch, drummer Scott Raynor left the band. There is speculation on whether he quit or was kicked out due to drinking problems, but it was not long until Travis Barker took his place. The band stayed together for ten more years, but after growing tensions, a side project leaving Mark behind, and other disagreements, Tom left the band. He went on to start the band Angels and Airwaves, and Mark and Travis remained together in a new band named +44.
But fate desired a Blink reunion and through a series of unfortunate events, the band was pulled back together. The most horrific of these was when Travis Barker’s Learjet lost control on the runway, crashed, and burst into flames, killing four people. Travis barley survived, and the three friends put aside the past and put together a reunion tour.
Despite their spotty past, Blink is back and they made a believer out of me. The concert was great, and I expect their new album to be just as great.
