Word and Live Photos: DJ
Myglobalmind and Screaming Digital Productions
After nearly a year of waiting, we finally got our chance to see Blink-182 live. The pop-punk legends were originally slated to headline the second day of South Star Festival last year, but Mother Nature had other plans when inclement weather forced the festival’s cancellation. Sometimes good things come to those who wait, and Sunday night at the Orion Amphitheatre proved that patience pays off.
Scowl Opens With Unbridled Fury
Hardcore punk outfit Scowl kicked off the evening with the kind of raw energy that makes you remember why live music matters. Led by the absolutely electric Kat Moss, the band delivered a blistering set that had the amphitheatre buzzing from the first chord. This was our only opportunity to shoot from the pit that night, and it was absolutely worth fighting for that spot.
Moss is a force of nature on stage – her charismatic presence and infectious energy had the crowd eating out of her hands within minutes. Her stage antics were nothing short of mesmerizing, whipping the audience into a frenzy with each song. There’s something special about watching a frontperson who genuinely lives and breathes their music, and Moss embodies that authenticity. Scowl put on a great set that served as the perfect high-octane opener for what was to come.
Alkaline Trio: Punk Veterans Show Their Stripes
Next up were the punk veterans Alkaline Trio, a band we’ve covered over the years at various festivals but had never caught for a full headlining set. While photo restrictions kept us to the front of house, their production values made for compelling viewing even from a distance.
The stage lighting was particularly impressive – high-value fixtures that painted the trio in dramatic hues throughout their performance. Behind the kit, Atom Willard provided the thunderous backbone that fans have come to expect. The former Social Distortion and Offspring drummer brought his signature style to classics and newer material alike, his powerhouse playing serving as a welcoming sight for longtime followers of his work.
There’s an interesting connection here with the headliners too – guitarist/vocalist Matt Skiba served as Blink-182’s guitarist for several years following Tom DeLonge’s departure, making this pairing feel like a natural fit. Alkaline Trio delivered a solid set that worked perfectly as a warmup for the main event.
Blink-182: The Boys Are Back
While I’ve been a fan of Blink-182’s older material since my high school days in the early 2000s, I’d never actually caught them live. Our only previous photo opportunity with the band dates back to 2017 in England, making this long-overdue encounter all the more special. Even with photo restrictions keeping us back at the soundboard, it was impossible not to get caught up in the energy.
Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus fell right back into their trademark crude banter, trading jokes and jabs that might seem childish in retrospect but felt perfectly on-brand. The humor worked especially well given the diverse audience – fans my age reliving their youth stood alongside high schoolers and even younger kids representing a new generation of punks who may have never seen the band live before.
The band opened with the classic one-two punch from Take Off Your Pants and Jacket – “The Rock Show” flowing seamlessly into “First Date” – immediately setting the nostalgic tone for the evening. What made this tour special was the inclusion of several deep cuts and rarities that longtime fans had been waiting years to hear again. “Josie” was a particular highlight, marking the first time the band had played the Dude Ranch favorite since 2018, and incredibly, the first time Tom DeLonge had performed it with the band since 2014. The crowd’s reaction was electric – you could feel the collective intake of breath from the longtime fans who recognized those opening chords.
The setlist struck a perfect balance between eras, featuring newer material from their 2023 comeback album ONE MORE TIME… like “TURPENTINE” and “MORE THAN YOU KNOW,” alongside classic crowd-pleasers like “Feeling This,” “Down,” “Stay Together For The Kids” and “I Miss You” that delivered the full nostalgia package. Perhaps most impressive was hearing “Online Songs” – played for the first time since 2001 – proving that even after all these years, Blink-182 can still surprise their most devoted followers.
But let’s talk about Travis Barker. While he might be the quietest member of the trio personality-wise, his drumming spoke volumes. Barker’s stylistic approach is tight, fun, and absolutely captivating to watch. Even during his solo drum segments, he commanded attention with precision and flair that reminded everyone why he’s considered one of the best in the business.
The production values were superb throughout, featuring backdrop pyrotechnics that punctuated the bigger moments and an intricate lighting apparatus that kept the visual interest high. The most striking element was the wall behind the band – a thoughtful homage to iconic punk bands of the past that served as both backdrop and tribute to the genre’s rich history. It was a high-value touch that showed respect for punk’s lineage while celebrating the present.
The show culminated with the expected but no less thrilling trio of “What’s My Age Again?,” “All The Small Things” and “Dammit” before closing with the title track from their latest album. By the time “Dammit” rolled around – complete with a snippet of “Ice Ice Baby” thrown in for good measure – the entire amphitheatre was on its feet, proving that some songs never lose their power to unite a crowd in pure, unadulterated joy.
Sometimes the wait makes the payoff that much sweeter. After missing Blink-182 at South Star Festival due to weather, getting to see them in the controlled environment of the Orion Amphitheatre felt like the universe correcting itself. From Scowl’s pit-worthy fury to Alkaline Trio’s veteran professionalism to Blink-182’s nostalgic energy, this was a night that reminded us why live punk rock still matters in 2025.
The amphitheatre proved to be the perfect venue for this particular bill, offering great sightlines and acoustics that did justice to each band’s distinct sound. For those of us who grew up with these songs, it was a trip back in time. For the younger fans discovering these bands live for the first time, it was an education in what punk rock passion looks like on stage.
Worth the wait? Absolutely.
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