BLINK 182 w/ RISE AGAINST
SPARK ARENA, AUCKLAND (NZ)
MARCH 2, 2024
What do you do when Blink 182 tours Australia and sells out? Welp, you head to Auckland’s Spark Arena with VIP access, and boy, did it shine!
Devastatingly and at short notice, the Christchurch leg of the tour fell through due to logistic issues just two weeks before the gig and was no doubt a disappointment to many. Christchurch has been plagued with its ability to support tours over the last few years. Blink 182, also disappointed in the critical failure, threw a bit of shade during their Melbourne show, with Rise Against maintaining their promise to push on in Christchurch.
Spark Arena, with a capacity of 12,000, was an ideal venue for the two goliaths of pop punk, just the right size for an intimate gig and the well-controlled spectators; Auckland is nothing but welcoming, with free cans of V being generously served up as a pre-gig energy boost; what hospitality or clever opportunistic marketing. Moving into the venue, merch for Blink 182 was plenty, with Rise Against merch seemingly limited.
Rise Against opened the evening with a high-quality send-off. Chicago Post-punk was formed in 1999. The band is said to be controversial, typical for their upfront addressing of social and political issues, this transcends borders. Rise Against advocates for positive change in their lyrics, encouraging listeners to rise against it. They open with “Prayer of the Refugee”. Their set is not showy or complicated, with the word “RISE” tastefully showcased as the background; several punters have exclusively come for their show, with Blink 182 as the bonus.
Popular tracks, including “Savior” and “Swing Life Away”, of course, made their way to the setlist. The gents put on an energetic and passionate performance that has earned them a dedicated fan base. Four strategically placed platforms enhance stage space, enabling the luxury to step up and project. Bass player Neil Hennessy was a fill-in, replacing Joe Principe—inspirational and empowering, genuine punk — a pleasure to watch.
RISE AGAINST
Blink 182, formed in 1992, consists of Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, and Tom DeLonge; their unexpected reunion wholly dominated, with their trademark catchy pop-punk sound and lyrics dripping with teenage angst and growing up. They haven’t changed. Blink 182 significantly impacted the punk rock and pop punk genres and influenced many bands after them.
Playing a massive 25 tracks with one additional encore, this show did not disappoint. Travelling around the globe, the gents, although well and truly middle-aged, maintained their solid allegiance to their immature, teenage angst philosophy and threw shade in all the right places, including previous venues and countries, amping the crowd. “We’re not here to fuck spiders”, Mark Hoppus states; whoops, wrong country – that’s an Australian saying, mate… He does proclaim that New Zealand and Australia should have intercourse. Some references to Manuka honey ease the non-existent tension if there ever was any. DeLonge confesses that New Zealand has the most beautiful women in the world; too bad they couldn’t be there on the night; with this banter, we know we are in for a great night.
Opening with “Anthem Part 2” and “The Rock Show”, it’s brilliant to see the gents putting in such a stellar effort; plagued with tragedy, they haven’t lost anything. As the show flows seamlessly, the audience travels down memory lane, with Hoppus and DeLonge acting as the unofficial narrators. Hoppus is generous to the crowd and spreads his attention widely, utilising the entire stage often.
Blink 182 breaks their tracks down well, moving into a more emo phase and demonstrating their songwriting range and ability to evolve over the years. What is super noticeable about their selection was the delay in playing their significant hits, saved for the end – this caused a frenzy “What’s My Age Again”, “First Date”, “All the Small Things”, and “Dammit” with a nod to Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was super cool, noting Swift recently concluded her Eras Tour, with visits to the great southern land – New Zealand unfortunately missing out.
As the show comes to an end, Blink 182 throws the expected encore into the mix, “One More Time”, and emotional closure, and I am stuck with the distinct feeling of melancholy; I reckon this will be the last time we see these fine gents together, it seems like a bit of a bucket list send-off of three good mates, with one last go. The photographic collage spoke volumes, as did the chorus, “Do I have to die to hear you miss me? Do I have to die to hear you say goodbye?”.
Overall, it was a phenomenal effort and executed well. Dripping in fun, colourful aesthetics and brilliant pyrotechnics, the gents put on an outstanding show with boundless banter and energy to match.
(Photography by Victoria Love-Rainbow)
Blink 182 Photos
Rise Against Photos
Blink 182 Links
Rise Against Links
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