If you've ever seen a band perform twice on the same tour you know what you're getting is usually an act. The same set list, the recycled stage banter in between songs and probably the same opening acts. But if you were lucky enough to make it to both blink-182 concerts in the Northeast this summer (Boston & Hartford) you know that you saw two entirely different shows.
The Boston show, back in early August, was as pop-punk as pop-punk gets. Emo stars Panic! At The Disco and Fall Out Boy opened to a young crowd hungry for the flavor of the week. Though virtually unnoticed, even the boys from Motion City Soundtrack could be seen perusing the venue before and during the show. In a classic fashion, blink owned the stage with their 22 song set.
They hit everything from Josie to Stockholm Syndrome and everything in between. The deafening crowd of 20,000 erupted, drowning out the band during such hits as All The Small Things and What's My Age Again?. Guitarist Tom Delonge was in usual form making fun of his band mates and pledging his love to young boys while bassist Mark Hoppus had a steady line-up of jokes about Boston to deliver.
It was the perfect setting to see blink again. They were dead on with their music. Their comedic performance was stellar, even taking the time to pose for a spirited picture together for the crowd.
Hartford, however, had a much different feel. If the Boston show was Enema Of The State, then Hartford had to be the Self-Titled record. It was much darker and more refined, yet still fun. This had to be due in part to the tragic loss of the band's close friend, Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein, the night before the show.
Though speculations that drummer Travis Barker was not going to play on Saturday flew across the venue, he showed up with the rest of the band to yet another sold-out crowd. After the first few songs Hoppus took the time to vent about the loss. Fighting back tears, he led the amphitheater in a moment of silent in remembrance of Goldstein.
Later on in the set, Delonge spoke from the heart. He explained that the reason everyone was there that night was to use music as an escape, much as he and blink had done when they started the band some 15 years ago, and rounded that out by saying the Hartford show was going to be their escape from their sudden grief. Being up close, you could truly see the admiration in Hoppus' eyes. A great show of friendship and emotion for a group of friends picking up the pieces.
The show itself had a more grown-up feeling. Veteran opening acts Taking Back Sunday and Weezer added to the mix, and blink cut their set list down by four songs. The crowd even seemed older, as if most had been fans of blink since their inception.
The show was still a delight though, one of the best I've personally ever seen. They've been canceling some upcoming dates on tour because of AM's untimely death, so just be thankful our dates didn't get canned. Here are the set lists from both shows. Songs marked with a * denote songs not played in Hartford. All pictures and video courtesy of Backstage Press.
- Dumpweed
- Feelin' This
- The Rock Show
- Easy Target *
- What's My Age Again?
- Obvious *
- I Miss You
- Stay Together For The Kids
- Down
- Always
- Stockholm Syndrome
- First Date
- Man Overboard
- Going Away To College *
- Not Now
- Adam's Song *
- All The Small Things
- Reckless Abandon
- Josie
- Anthem Pt. II
- DRUM SOLO *
- Carousel
- Dammit
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