Blink-182
Qudos Bank Arena, February 16
Reviewed by JAMES JENNINGS
★★★½
When Californian trio Blink-182 emerged in 1995 with a debut album full of snotty skate-punk and puerile humour, they hardly seemed like the kind of band that would be packing stadiums worldwide nearly 30 years later.

Yet here we are at the first of four shows at the 21,000 capacity Qudos Bank Arena, the first three of which are sold out, the band now bona fide pop-punk royalty.

Although myriad personal changes have occurred over the years – singer-bassist Mark Hoppus has recently beaten cancer; singer-guitarist Tom DeLonge’s UFO disclosure advocacy has led to the US government admitting there are unexplainable things in our skies; and drummer Travis Barker is now tabloid fodder after marrying a Kardashian – the band itself has remained much the same.

From the opening one-two punch of Anthem Part Two and The Rock Show, to the encore 90 minutes later, the band play with a blistering intensity, summoned by Barker in particular – surely one of the best rock drummers on the planet, who still manages to bash his kit with precision even after Hoppus wraps his head in a towel for half a song.

What also hasn’t changed, even as the band members proceed into middle age, are the juvenile jokes and profanity dispersed with the glee of a teenage boy discovering swearing for the first time; a litmus test, perhaps, for whether Blink-182 are your thing or not.

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Although some of Blink’s biggest hits, like Dammit and What’s My Age Again? – both of which get a rapturous reception – at least offer a knowing wink to the group’s grappling with maturity (or lack thereof), there are still moments where acting grown-up looks good on them.

The rather sweet First Date is Californian pop perfection worthy of the Beach Boys, and encore One More Time is a touching ode to Blink’s brotherhood amid band break-ups and other hardships: a reminder that acting like a kid is sometimes the best way to deal with life’s pressures, even if that means telling juvenile jokes with your mates in front of thousands of adoring fans.

Blink-182 play at Qudos Bank Arena on February 17, 23 and 24.