The California pop-punk icons’ Van Andel Arena show wasn’t about vocal perfection but about raucously re-living songs that served as anthems for a generation of fans.
Raucous and Nostalgic: Blink-182 unleashed “All the Small Things” and much more on Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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The raucous sounds of crashing drums, over-driven guitars and fast BPMs that comprised Blink-182’s set at Vandel Arena were a reminder that the band’s decades-spanning catalog and unmistakable sound was at one time – and evidently still is – an anthem of youth.
Blink-182’s music reflects tales of break-ups and hook-ups, of loneliness and of being misunderstood, all tied together with crude humor and zeal.
‘Brohemian Rhapsody’: Blink-182 serenaded fans in its own way on Wednesday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
For many, the pop-punk band’s songs were the soundtrack during angstsy, formative teenage years — way to release, or to rebel, or revel.
On Wednesday night, when the iconic band brought it’s national headlining tour to a packed Van Andel Arena, it was all of the above.
When the black curtain draped in front of the stage fell, it revealed the band onstage, flooded with lights in the foreground while giant letters that spelled out the word “F—-K” hung in the background … on fire.
After rocking through 2003’s “Feeling This,” the trio — bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist/vocalist Matt Skiba and drummer Travis Barker — dove into the popular and instantly recognizable “What’s My Age Again.”
Skiba and Hoppus equally shared lead vocal responsibilities. Some songs featured strong and confident vocals, while others left something to be desired. If much of it was pitchy, loud and nasally, the band was able to pull it off given the nature of the genre, which doesn’t call for pristine vocals.
Overall, that duo held its own, though not without drawing attention to the biggest and most demanding void: the absence of co-founding frontman Tom DeLonge.
SONGS HEARD FOR YEARS ‘COMING TO LIFE’ ON STAGE
“I loved hearing songs I’ve heard for years and years come to life. I work in the concert business, and shows become a dime a dozen sometimes, but tonight was special for literally everyone in the audience,” insisted Jeff Napolitano of Grand Rapids.
“Travis crushed. Mark crushed. New guy crushed. But that was it, new guy wasn’t Tom. Mark carried the team hard, but it wasn’t 100 percent complete. Maybe one day the complete lineup can give me something to compare. But as a first time Blink concertgoer, I was thoroughly satisfied and had the best time.”
High-Energy: Drummer Travis Barker on stage at Van Andel Arena. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Overpowering vocals and drums permeated the arena on Wednesday night, leaving electric guitar and bass a backseat to shouting vocals and crashing drums (which were enthralling to watch, with Barker behind the kit).
“Stay Together for the Kids” saw one of the best vocal performances of the evening, and one of the best songs of the set, a passionate and sincere sentiment.
“Alright, I want you to lock yourselves in your bedroom in 2002 and tell your parents “F—— you…you don’t get me,” Mark Hoppus said, before belting the chorus out along with fans.
A handful of brand new songs from the band’s most recent release, “California,” also made an appearance during the set, such as “San Diego,” which left the crowd equally enthused.
Rowdy Fans: The near-capacity crowd on Wednesday night. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
A feeling of unrelenting excitement propelled fans throughout the evening, with dozens crowd-surfing in a scene played out like an amusement park ride: one brave soul after another taking turns to ride the wave atop fans to the front of the stage, where they were then received by a welcoming line of security guards and escorted to the side of stage before being released.
Near the end of the night, the band performed an engaging rendition of “I Miss You” in unison with thousands of voices from the audience, who matched every word.
After finishing the main set, the band returned with glow-in-the-dark guitars to play “Carousel,” “Brohemian Rhapsody,” “Dammit” and of course, “All the Small Things.”
Released 17 years ago, the band’s most popular song remains as exhilarating and refreshing as it did years ago. Amid the dazzling lights and an arena filled with shouting voices, the band carried on, dwelling on the song’s familiar and fitting refrain as the evening drew to a close:
“Say it ain’t so, I will not go, turn the lights off, carry me home.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Blink-182, A Day to Remember, All Time Low
Photos by Anthony Norkus
