Blink-182’s rescheduled T-Mobile date proved it only takes 30 years to get good at this

blink-182. // photo by Eli Ralls

blink-182
with Alkaline Trio and End It
T-Mobile Center
Saturday, September 27

On a night that was dominated early by Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, and later by the group’s return-to-form ONE MORE TIME…, blink-182 spiraled into descension with quick quirks from frontmen Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus.

“It was better when Tom quit the band,” replied Tom, after Mark went on and on and on about having sex with other people’s moms, an often-played-up joke throughout the 80-minute sprint.

Prefacing the short, yet tight set was a video where a UFC ring announcer, Bruce Buffer, introduced DeLonge, Hoppus, and drummer Travis Barker, including full-on, make-believe stats for the trio, like a 69-0 all-time record for Hoppus in the ring.

Some of the more major highlights were the trips down memory lane to the more mature self-titled endeavor from 2003. “Feeling This” lifted the packed crowd into an utter state of nostalgia, while the subsequent “Down” and the later inclusion “I Miss You” found DeLonge taking a seat in front of Barker during blissful instrumentation sections.

End It. // photo by Eli Ralls

The punk/hardcore Baltimore outfit End It began the evening with a 17-song, 30-minute set, with songs ranging from one to two minutes. Frontman Akil Godsey preceded DeLonge’s absurd ramblings with some of his own.

“I usually don’t have a mic stand in front of me because I’m an asshole,” he said, after the seventh or eighth song 15 minutes in.

Later reflecting that he had no business in Iowa and that he was wearing a JV football coach outfit, Godsey did what a simple opener should always be expected to do: set the vibe. Noting that the guitarist and bassist to his right were filling in on this run of shows, it was all the more impressive that this sprint across the finish line sounded so good (especially with earplugs).

Alkaline Trio. // photo by Eli Ralls

Alkaline Trio’s foray into a quieter, more uplifting sound was received warmly. The 12-song, 45-minute greatest hits sets found stability from older cuts from Crimson and Good Mourning, along with some brand new ones from last year’s shocker Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs (such as “Versions of You”).

Eyeballs, along with 2018’s Is This Thing Cursed? (which sadly received no traction here), brought a sense of revival to a band who is now celebrating 30 years as one of pop punk’s giants. Before Blood’s “Bad Time,” Skiba gave a fair assessment to the nearly sold-out crowd.

“This song’s about Monday. It’s called ‘Bad Time.’”

They dedicated the penultimate offering “This Could Be Love,” off Good Mourning, to the members of blink-182 before closing with “Radio.”

Guitarist Matt Skiba, who sadly did not make an appearance during blink’s headlining set even though he replaced DeLonge during his leave of absence for two records, kept everything afloat to provide this killer double bill. Openers were not made to be this good.

Blink’s cancelled 2024 appearance at T-Mobile Center did not go unnoticed by the boys (and I mean boys). DeLonge recognized the debacle before going into “Dumpweed,” stating that he sadly “missed all the barbecue.”

blink-182. // photo by Eli Ralls

DeLonge prefaced ONE MORE TIME… hit “Dance With Me” by saying it was a song about meeting another woman and immediately wanting to have sex with her. And even though I feel like I already knew that, the confession felt a bit forced and unnecessarily open. Like I said, it was a theme. My first time seeing them, but my guess is that this routine has developed into a mainstay for years.

After an autism joke went bad (and even Hoppus recognized it), the finale came from “What’s My Age Again?,” “All the Small Things,” and “Dammit.” A giant middle finger laced with fire appeared behind the stage during “Dammit,” further cementing the group’s motto and satirical messaging. When they took a bow before leaving the stage, they did just that: flip everybody off.

Above everything else, it was DeLonge’s Freudian slip turned joke that the group had finally gotten better after 30 years which was the most memorable. Their recently released 17-song nostalgia trek (and eight incredible B-side tracks) brought it all back for the group following DeLonge’s return. They joke, but they know when to be serious. Let’s hope it wasn’t a singular occasion.

All photos by Eli Ralls

blink-182

blink-182 setlist
The Rock Show
First Date
Josie
Anthem Part Two
Online Songs
M+M’s
FUCK FACE
Dumpweed
Feeling This
Down
TURPENTINE
CAN’T GO BACK
Wishing Well
Stay Together for the Kids
Roller Coaster
DANCE WITH ME
I Miss You
MORE THAN YOU KNOW
Hope (Descendents cover)
What’s My Age Again?
All the Small Things
Dammit (with “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift inclusion)

Alkaline Trio

Alkaline Trio setlist
Private Eye
Calling All Skeletons
Bad Time
Versions of You
Oblivion
Mercy Me
Cringe
Sadie
Blue Carolina
Time to Waste
This Could Be Love
Radio

End It