August 14th, 2016 was a date that I, along with many of my peers were waiting for patiently. Blink-182, the legendary pop-punk trio, were releasing a new album and announced a new tour along with All Time Low, The All-American Rejects, and A Day to Remember. Not only was the band taking in Alkaline Trio singer, Mat Skiba, as their new guitarist and singer, but they were also replacing founding member Tom Delonge.
I, along with a few other friends, decided to get our tickets ahead of time for the PNC Arts Center date. We were excited of course, Blink-182 was a big part of our lives and to many other fans. Their music was filled with lyrics that were tinged with introspective thought, teen angst, and potty mouth humor. The one thought that was lingering in everybody's mind was how Mat Skiba would fit in the band when for years we were used to the unique style of Tom Delonge.
The day finally came. We arrived at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel NJ about an hour and a half before the show. After grabbing parking and making the hike to the lawn for general admission we laid out our blanket and waited patiently for the concert to start.
All Time Low and A Day to Remember's sets flew by but were nothing short of awe inspiring. It was a sold out show, with fans as far as the eye can see spread across the lawn and filling up the theater that was down below.
One thought that really struck me amidst the crowd and noise was the fact this one group, Blink-182 had impacted and influenced everyone in the crowd. Not only that, but Blink-182 also influenced all of the bands that were on the bill. A Day to Remember and All Time Low would not be the kind of artists they are today. They both cited Blink-182 as a major influence in their musical lives.
Once Blink-182 erupted on stage, it was a concert environment that I was not used to. It was the kind of thing you'd see in a 60s or 70s flick. Everyone was rocking out, singing along, and having a good time while sprawled across the ever expansive lawn.
All around us people were drinking, playing makeshift games of pong, and playing catch with playground balls and footballs. Now those same people converged to watch and enjoy the concert that was going on below.
I have never quite enjoyed a concert like this before. It was a long set, filled with an extremely high attendance. The air was filled with a sense of nostalgia, along with cigarette and marijuana smoke, but one thing was for sure: everyone felt a sense of belonging and happiness.
We all spent a special set singing some of our favorite songs from our favorite band while growing up. We even got to hear some of the new jams off of the band's new album California. It was a night to remember that's for sure. It was also an even more satisfying way to start to wrap up the summer with an amazing concert memory.
