Live: Blink 182 in Indy

With a second record under their belt since their return a few years ago, Blink 182 has hit the road to support California- a record many fans are saying could be their best yet and blows their return- Neighborhoods– out of the water; and they\’ve brought All American Rejects and A Day to Remember out with them. When the tour hit Indy\’s Klipsch Music Center, the sold out crowd couldn\’t have been more ready for a party and that\’s what they got. All American Rejects kicked things off early for a short and sweet set, loaded with nostalgic classics that took most of the fans down memory lane while letting them get rowdy at the same time. The party had begun and things were only going to get crazier when All American Rejects took over. They\’re by far one of the hottest bands in all of rock and metal right now- and they had a new record release the week of the show so the energy was even higher. As soon as they started their set, gigantic beach balls found their way from the stage into the crowd. Later on in the set, they covered the crowd with rolls of toilet paper, letting the fans throw the rolls all over the amphitheater. If you wanted a party, you had come to the right place. If that wasn\’t enough insanity and destruction for the fans, things were about to kick up even higher when Blink 182 finally took the stage. As the giant curtain dropped, there they were- the almighty Blink 182. The giant “Fuck” sign was lit fire and stage three of the celebration had begun and it was glorious. Their set was loaded with fan favorites and numerous songs from California, making for a perfectly-balanced attack and one that gave everyone something they wanted. They opened with “Feeling This,” which led right into “What\’s My Age Again?,” which was met with a deafening sing-along from the capacity crowd. It\’s hard to believe the band has been a mainstay for over 20 years and still going strong. For those who still weren\’t sold on Matt Skiba stepping into a major role in the band, they were sold within the first few songs- and rightly so. He\’s a perfect fit for the band. The band was firing on all cylinders and it was like the 90\’s all over again. It was like no time had passed since the beginning. For those who were on their 20th Blink show, they walked away just as blown away and impressed as those who were seeing the legendary band for the first time. If anything was learned and proven at this show and with this tour it\’s that Blink 182 has been at the top for so long for a very good reason. -Reggie Edwards