Blink 182 at Dublin Kilmainham ,27th August 2024

After a morning of flash flooding and poncho panic; it’s turned out to be the sunniest evening ever and we’re in high spirits for the massively long-awaited, once-rescheduled Blink 182 show in Dublin. We are overheated but smiling profusely.

The story so far

The story so far is the supporting act for tonight. The lead singer greets the audience by saying “Slainte” and later questions, “Did I say that right?” Some of this unsure energy is carried into their set.

They’ve been a band since 2007 and are legendary in their own right but this led to what felt like a pedestrian performance.

The sound starts off ropey; instrumentals overshadow the lead singers voice.

Long chords and pauses in rhythm lead us to hang onto what’s next but the set was much of the same.

The atmosphere is overly chilled for a pop-punk/rock show. Shadows of birds are flying across the monitor and other open-air distractions make the crowd unengaged and chatting amongst themselves throughout; it’s the last outdoor show of the summer and the audience lacks enthusiasm during songs but applauds loudly in between instigating they want more; or that they’re subconsciously aware of cues.

Their newer songs emit angsty energy. Blue strobe lights are lost in the sun’s rays. The sound issues have been rectified and the lead singer’s voice and stance are more powerful, but he stays in stagnant placement for the duration of the set.

There is more movement from the rest of the band with jolts of synchronicity while playing instruments and bopping heads in unison, they’re jumping but in the same positions on stage and don’t alternate at all.

Vocals echo to the back of the field. Riffs become heavy. Sharp high-pitched guitar notes invoke our senses. The faster-paced songs are received best.

Their energy is growing with the more time spent on stage; drawn out shouting of the American dream.

Striking the guitars harder, two loud low bass twangs and we’re into full instrumental genius and punk rock precision. The sun’s reflecting their fun.

Unenthusiastic swaying hands are in the air. Band energy ignited; crowds are unsure and at times dwindling.

They changed our minds towards the end of the set but by the time we’re invested, they’re onto their last two songs.

It’s clear they’re very talented and experienced but the crowd did not respond to the efforts given and it made such a large outdoor venue feel very flat; there was too much space to fill for all of us to be so still.

Blink 182

We’re just getting used to the relaxed and almost peaceful atmosphere of the sun setting into an orangey-yellow sky; when the stage lights unexpectedly turn off and the screens behind and surrounding them turn on. We hear a clock chiming paired with suspenseful music as a count down, pink smoke envelopes the stage in masses and projected onto the screens we see Blink 182’s entrance to the venue documented on a hand-held camera. We follow their journey intently as they exit a car and walk through the backstage area, up and down makeshift ramps, getting closer and closer to us, Travis is swinging his drumsticks, and Mark is high-fiving venue personnel. We’re bursting with excitement and suspense.

They enter the stage one by one; but unified, enthusiastic middle fingers raised in the air addressing all sections of the crowd. They have cheeky grins and boyish expressions on their faces and it seems they’re as happy to be here as we are to have them.

They start strong with “Feeling this”. Their talent and musical wisdom are accentuated by insane pyrotechnics, purple lighting tentacles and laser beams which sear through the crowd.

They harmonize beautifully; different waves of combined vocal melodies scratch our brains. Mark and Tom move around the stage like they’re still teenagers, Travis grounding their madness on his drum kit. They’re completely complimenting each other’s musical creativity. It’s an effortless and unmatched composition.

Huge smoke canons are placed in front of the and fireworks are limited to the stage; they go off sporadically highlighting Blink’s energy. You can hear everything through these billowing effects which seem to emphasize their sounds. Colourful backdrops are paired with gut-wrenching lyrics. Bursts of flames matching quickly strung chords. Their sounds are bouncing off the clouds.

After 32 years in this band as “brothers and friends” stated Mark, they sound vocally the exact same in terms of youthfulness but with more strength and confidence. They create an energy which makes us lose our inhibitions and graces.

Tom is noticeably sick; you can hear it in his voice and he takes numerous nose-blowing breaks throughout the intervals of songs. He still sounds like himself just a bit more gravely. Mom jokes are peppered between changing tempos. He still put his whole heart and soul into the show.

There’s no way they could fit all their classics into one set but they did a good job of trying.

Familiar guitar intros are played to perfection by Tom and everyone knows what they lead to. However, their set is full of improvisational surprises. It’s a spontaneous performance and we feel well equipped for anything. No vocals were isolated as we sang along with pure adrenaline and ecstasy. Not a single person doesn’t clap on command. The crowd keeps the same energy as when they first arrived on stage throughout their set.

There’s so much depth to this unique performance, emo sadness and childish jokes, the perfect balance of comedy, empathy and nostalgia.

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Mark asks for the stage lights to be dimmed, phone lights to be out in full swing and songs of broken homes and not fitting in are echoed throughout the night, they raised us. They’re relatable in their authenticity.

Mark announces “We’ve released two new songs from the deluxe, this isn’t one of them” We have the complete privilege of hearing “Can’t Go Back” live.

There’s a special atmosphere in the air and such consistently exceptional moments throughout.

The shared highlight from the show was when they went from playing “Baby Shark” to “I Miss You” possibly the greatest interlude to a sad song ever. Tom’s part was screamed and mimicked joyously. Never heard a crowd sing along to anything quite as loud. I’ve heard reports it was heard from across the city.

They played a mash-up of Plus 44, Boxcar Racer and a Travis Barker solo, it had us all in tears. Travis is mesmerizing to watch on drums. We realize we are here for them as individuals, as much as we are here for their music. They’ve been through so much as a band and so much individually. They’ve expressed all they’ve overcome through their music.

They created an “unofficial encore” where a montage of their journey is shown on the large monitors. “One more time” sums it all up. We pass around tissues where our tears and Tom’s cold collide. We are the ones blowing our noses now to ‘tadpole’ shaped confetti falling from the sky.

Blink 182 encapsulates our youth and puts growing up into words with the catchiest hooks; which we can all inevitably relate to. Memories fade but the music lasts forever. We now feel so old and cold but our inner teenage healing has been levelled up.

We feel inspired leaving this show and the one thing we can take home from tonight as well as the memories…is that they still don’t give a fuck, in the best possible way.