Before they took the stage these three crappy punk rockers (hey, their merch said it!) had the crowd going wild. It had been years since fans both old and new were able to see Mark Hoppus, Tom Delonge and Travis Barker all together on stage. And the combo of post broken-friendship, the tragic plane crash which Travis was involved in, and the recent passing of DJ AM was enough to make the filled amphitheater set off the Richter Scales with sympathetic and excited emotions.

The stage wildly lit by strobe lights and a set of six huge circular screens flashing their new and improved dancing jack rabbit psyched the mood for the guys’ entry. They opened with “Dumpweed” the opening track off of 1999’s Enema of the State. From the get-go they (mostly Tom) were making the infamous awesomely inappropriate jokes and lyrical adjustments.

Through the set the three were as lively as ever. Tom and Mark hopped around stage, in between songs throwing friendly banter back and forth. It was clear the two had reconciled and their good old buffoonery was genuine. They even took a moment to tell each other how much they loved one another (in the usual homoerotic ways of the old Blink 182.)

The band rocked through about an hour and a half performance of their best including a beautiful play of their platinum single “I Miss You.” This fan favorite ended with Tom & Mark on their knees while Travis, twirling sticks effortlessly between his fingers blasted the drum outro. The set also included favorites like “The Rock Show,” “Josie,” “What’s My Age Again,” “Man Overboard,” and even the hilarious “Blow Job.” Right before a vindictive “Anthem Pt. 2” Mark exclaimed “this might be our last song, but it all depends on you guys.” No more than thirty seconds ticked away before an eruption of seat slamming in the mid section of the crowd took over the amphitheater’s sound waves. Chants ranging from “encore!” “one more song” to a continuous chant of “Blink! Blink! Blink!” echoed simultaneously from all ends of the crowd. The lights flickered, cheers burst from the seats, and a spotlight focused on Travis’ drum set. The scene to follow was something words can’t really describe (Luckily we videoed it!). A lifted, rotating, suspended stage sent Travis up into the air to show off his top drumming talent. It took the crowed over five minutes to cease their praise and the encore finished with Cheshire Cat’s “Carousel,” and the most hyped up performance of all, the band’s legendary hit “Damnit.”   

As of one of the most surprising, and unbelievable tours of 2009, the Blink reunion tour proved to be a piece of history. Though the band has been through numerous downfalls and tragedies, even as we speak, their passion for music and love for their fans is as obvious as their love for... your mom? Almost fifteen years into their career Blink 182 remains one of the world’s favorite punk trios and live acts. Now all we need from this reunion are some new jams…