It has been a long time since Australia has seen any Blink 182 action on our shores, their last visit was during the 2013 Soundwaves and was minus drummer Travis Barker who was unable to attend due to his fear of flying after surviving a horrific plane crash in 2008. In 2015, the band announced a line-up change and recruited Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio to replace Tom Delogne. In 2016, the new Blink 182 line up released the album California which went certified Gold in Aus and peaked at number two on the Aria chart a world tour followed but still the band were unable to tour Australia.   

So, when it was announced that Blink 182 would be doing their first-ever Las Vegas rock residency “Kings of the Weekend” at the newly renovated Pearl Concert Theatre, we at SCENEzine knew we just had to go and check this out. Opening night was Saturday night but we couldn’t make it until Sunday night.  I really had no idea what to expect from a residency show from a pop-punk band known for their inappropriate tales and nonsensical antics being that it is Vegas should I expect Showgirls? Will they change their sound to be more like the Rat Pack? Will someone get married on stage? And most importantly, what would the set list be like. 

The Pearl Concert Theatre at The Palms is a beautiful venue, think 19th century in looks and texture but with all the modernisation of the 21st century. Looking around I really can’t see a bad seat in the house, but I didn’t come all this way to be seated. I am down on the floor, front of stage, ready to see these Pop Punk Kings of The Weekend. This show is strictly a Blink 182 show, no support act. An announcement comes over the speakers that Elvis is in the building and they weren’t joking, opening things up is a tiniest Elvis I have seen with a big ole loud voice belting out “Viva Las Vegas“. I now know the type of show we are in for and when they burst out the gate with Feeling This, What’s My Age Again and Rock Show I felt all the fun and energy of the old Blink.

Travis Barker really is the best at what he does and seeing him live again up this close is just mesmerising there really is no substitute for this man. Not seeing Tom up there is honestly a little weird at first but you get over it. I am an Alkaline Trio fan but even if you’re not what Matt adds to the new songs is fantastic and what he sounds like on the old songs is great. Mark is as fantastic as ever, always the crowd talker and forever the joker. Together these three musicians played an unforgettable version of I Miss You that will stay with me for the rest of my life.    

I’m not sure the Pearl had mosh pits and crowd surfing in mind when they invited Blink to have their residency, but hey the music called for it as they belted thru all their classics plus the best of the new stuff. At one point the mosh was full of inflatable poop emoji pizza and blow up dolls, yep these guys were as classy as ever but it wouldn’t all be that way, the guys really showed their skills with an acoustic set. I watched in awe as Mark, Travis and Matt slowed things down a bit playing Home Is Such a Lonely Place, Wendy Clear and California.  Things would build back up again with Reckless Abandon and before the nights’ end we would all sing along in a Brohemian Rhapsody before having to say goodnight Dammit.

Blink-182 are truly are Kings of The Weekend, a band that crosses over multiple genres and transcends many generations of music lovers. Vegas is the perfect place to catch them if you miss them as much as I do, be it you’re from Australia or anywhere else in the world this show is truly quite remarkable and captured everything I love about this band and more.

Review – Chad 

Photo Gallery – Christian Ross 

Tickets for blink-182: Kings of the Weekend are (U.S) $59, $79, $99, $109, and $169, plus applicable fees. All show times 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at blink182vegas.com or Ticketmaster.com. For exclusive ticket pre-sale information connect with Palms Casino Resort on socials @Palms.

blink-182’s “Kings of the Weekend” 2018 dates:

• May – 26-27

• June – 8-9, 15-16, 23-24

• October – 26-27

• November – 2-3, 9-10, 16-17