Blink-182 Rocks LCA Detroit, Tickles Nostalgia Bone
If you read this headline to Tom Delonge of Blink-182, he’d probably come up with a dick joke for it.
In the most respectful way possible, that low-hanging fruit / 12-year-old boy humor was more than welcome as the boys of Blink-182 took the stage with their original lineup at Little Ceasars Arena in Detroit, Michigan on Tuesday Night. Something that seemed like a pipe dream years ago when Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba signed up to fill in turned into a reality with coveted tickets in sold-out arenas across the world.
THE JOURNEY TO NOW
There’s been some speed-bumps and hardship to get here. When the band broke up in 2015 (for the second time), it was due to arguments about their future, their recording style, and desires from Delonge on other endeavors. Fast forward to 2021, Mark Hoppus, the band’s bassist and vocalist, accidentally announced his Cancer treatment on Instagram, meaning to share it with his “close friends” circle.
After contacting Hoppus for an unrelated matter, Delonge met with him and Travis Barker (their drummer). Delonge was quoted in by GQ (shared by People): “…we’ve grown, how nothing really matters when it boils down to what we were dealing with in that moment. And so, it wasn’t some big meeting about Blink-182, it was more about brothers meeting and saying, ‘How do we support Mark?'”
After months of treatments, Mark announced he was Cancer-free on September 29, 2021. On October 11, 2022, Blink-182 announced their original lineup and a world tour for 2023-2024.
THE SHOW
PHOTO: AMI NICOLE ACRONYM (IPHONE)
Please note, we were not approved to professionally photograph the show, so the images you’re seeing are shot with an iPhone.
Because of where we were sitting, we got a very unique look at the stage setup, and could see behind the drum kit. This birds-eye view actually ended up being very entertaining and enlightening to see what Travis Barker does behind the rest of the band, as well as moments when Mark and Tom would come side-stage.
They performed a great handful of their hits, some deep cuts that only an OG Blink fan would know, as well as their lead single off their upcoming album called “Edging.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a full Blink-182 show without the banter, and they make note that they’ve been asked if they rehearse what they’re gonna say while they’re up there. They said something to the effect of “You think if we rehearsed this, we’d have better material.”
They also had lots of visuals, including pyro, confetti, video walls with era-appropriate artwork from ‘Take Off Your Pants and Jacket,’ as well as their iconic… let’s just be honest, cracked-out-looking bunny as an inflatable. The stage also had a light-up effect, showing the happy face logo from their ‘Self-Titled’ album.
The band also took a moment to honor Matt Skiba for stepping in when Tom was off discovering proof of UFOs, playing the song “Cynical” in his honor, and “Bored To Death,” just because it is a banger.
As they rounded out the set, after hitting some of their more somber tracks like “Stay Together For The Kids” and “Adam’s Song,” they hit their biggest highlights with “All The Small Things,” “What’s My Age Again,” “First Date,” and ending with “Dammit.” They also have a tradition to mess with someone else’s song toward the end of “Dammit,” and Detroit was graced with Mark’s quick rendition of Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Getting Back Together,” while other dates have gotten songs from The Darkness, TLC, Skee-Lo, and Hanson.
@acronymis #blink182 cover #taylorswift at their #detroitmichigan show #swifties #swiftiesoftiktok
As we know, some Blink fans are getting up there in age. With Mark being 50, and Tom and Travis at 47, it’s safe to say we’re all not young anymore, but that didn’t stop the three from going as hard as they could. Between Travis’s Muppet-Animal level of speed and skill, to Mark running all over the stage with his wireless bass, and Tom… Well, Tom being Tom, it was great to be back at the Rock Show.
SETLIST
Check out the full 25-song setlist here: