Live Review: Blink-182 - The O2, London 11/10/2023
Blink-182's first night back at London's O2 Arena was a nostalgic rollercoaster of pop-punk mayhem.
For many years, it has felt like every time we heard from Blink-182 would be the last. From a hiatus to a plane crash, to line-up changes and the big C, to say it's been an eventful thirty years since their formation would be a massive understatement. Now, almost exactly a year on from their first release since their second reunion, the legendary Californian trio came together for a high-octane performance that was both an exploration of nostalgia and an exhibition of timeless pop-punk prowess.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric as The Story So Far, also Californian pop-punk rockers, kicked things off with 'Keep This Up', setting the tone perfectly for the night that was to come. The tracks that followed included the lyrically ingenious 'Out of It' and the melodic riffs of 'High Regard' as well as a cover of Millencolin's 'No Cigar' in a set that was relentless, save for the relatively mellow respite of 'Upside Down'. It must have felt like a bit of a fever dream for the four-piece, playing to an audience of that magnitude for the first time and opening the show for their heroes, no less. Their new single, 'Big Blind' and title track of 2018 album 'Proper Dose' helped bring the set to a close, leaving the crowd suitably pumped.
As the lights dimmed and 'Also sprach Zarathustra' (of 2001: A Space Odyssey fame) came blaring through the speakers, the iconic smiley face logo appeared, stroke by painstaking stroke, arrow by arrow, until the complete image that is now undoubtedly permanently inked onto many a forearm set a dramatic backdrop for the band's entrance. The sound of deafening cheers was quickly drowned out by 'Take Off Your Pants and Jacket' hits 'Anthem Part Two' and 'The Rock Show'.
No Blink-182 set would be complete without 'Family Reunion’, whose barrage of expletives (that's literally the entire song) culminated with celebratory streamers and sparks shooting up behind drummer Travis Barker, who is a spectacle in his own right. With the stage awash with red light, he delved into 'Violence' with a fervent intensity made even more thrilling when bassist Mark Hoppus draped a towel over Barker’s head, leaving him to hammer away blindfolded, religiously not missing a single beat.
As any seasoned fan would know (and there were plenty in the 20,000-strong crowd), it's the raunchy jokes and juvenile humour that make a Blink-182 show, a Blink-182 show. There was no shortage of that on stage tonight between Mark and guitarist Tom DeLonge, whose absence was deeply felt the last time Blink graced the O2 in 2017. It may not have been to everyone's taste, but the exchanges between songs underscored the enduring chemistry that has characterised their performances for years. "You must always lubricate between songs" was Tom's sage advice following 'Aliens Exist', although what exactly required lubrication remained unclear. 'Happy Holidays, You Bastard' put the crowd in a.. festive spirit, with not one but two renditions - first in normal time, and then again at double speed with the stage lit only by the peppering of many, many flames.
Back with a bang and hell-bent on showing it, the band clearly spared no expense in the production department. Pyro, lasers, confetti, CO2, fireworks, an 'Enema of the State' themed floating ambulance, and a giant rabbit emerging from a screen that split in half all made for an impressive visual experience.
Although they had a plethora of tracks from multiple multi-platinum albums to choose from, three of their new singles broke up the favourite-filled set nicely - 'MORE THAN YOU KNOW’, 'EDGING', and 'DANCE WITH ME' offered a tantalising taste of the highly anticipated upcoming album. Even 2016’s 'Bored to Death' from the Matt Skiba era earned airtime tonight amongst all the deep cuts.
"Are you having fun? That shit comes to an end right now because it's emo time,” warned Mark as phone lights illuminated the arena for 'Stay Together for the Kids’, while 'Down' saw Travis' riser being lifted above his bandmates, where he stayed suspended, and at times tilted or spun around, for a further three songs. Emo time continued as Mark's poignant introduction to 'Adam's Song' detailed his harrowing diagnosis and battle with stage IV lymphoma in 2021. "This song saved my life a long time ago. And then again a few years ago. There were times I didn't know if I was gonna be on stage again. The doctors cured my cancer but I was shitty and empty inside." His candid display of vulnerability, which gave us a glimpse into the calamity that sparked this reunion was lightened briefly when he quipped "I got cancer, I didn't even try. I was really good at it."
As the evening drew to a close, the band delivered a series of knockout hits, sprinting through 'What's My Age Again?', 'First Date', 'All the Small Things' (with Tom cheekily sneaking in "watching, waiting, masturbating" into the lyrics), and 'Dammit', in which Mark even threw in a snippet of TLC's 'No Scrubs'.
Sentimental title track 'ONE MORE TIME' off the upcoming tenth studio album (due October 20th) was perhaps an odd choice for the encore, considering the explosiveness on stage just moments before, but it was a particularly apt and meaningful one that perfectly encapsulates the band today. "Strangers into brothers, from brothers into strangers once again... Older but nothing's any different... I don't wanna wait to do this one more time" - the lyrics beautifully emphasised their bond and history.
They've been here before a few times. But this reunion tour wasn’t just about the return of Tom DeLonge, it was a celebration of everything Blink-182 have endured and achieved over the last three decades, a testament to their enduring legacy in the world of pop-punk. Tonight was a reminder that no matter how much time has passed, some things never change - and that’s not always a bad thing. As Mark, Tom, and Travis took their final bow, only one line echoed the sentiment felt by the fans here and everywhere else - let’s start this again, for real.
Words by Abigail Shii
