Blink 182 / Weezer

live in Camden (2009)

Derek

I'm going to man up and be "First to Admit to Going to the blink-182 / Weezer Concert" guy. I waited 11 years to see the most influential bands in my life play together. This isn't to say they've remained my favorites over the years, but they were crucial in developing my musical tastes to the Orgcore I currently live for. Earlier in the week, I was in the pit for the Bouncing Souls / Lifetime / Tim Barry show at the Trocader -- a crowd larger than could fit on the Troc's floor welcomed me before I even got through the gates. I couldn't help comparing the attendees to the Poison / Def Leppard concert I'd been to earlier in the summer, only instead of 35-year-olds in cut-off Dokken shirts and 15-year-olds in tight jeans, there were 35-year-olds in fading "Jumping Bunny" shirts and 15-year-olds in, well, even tighter jeans.

I missed the openers (Chester French and Taking Back Sunday) due to Philly rush hour traffic, but I'm not losing any sleep over it. After a video played with drummer/guitarist Pat Wilson showing off his favorite sights in Philly (think cheesesteaks and the Rocky steps), Weezer came out with their new setup: Brian Bell on guitar and keyboard, Scott Sharp on bass and Wilson on guitar, with a new drummer and Rivers Cuomo acting as a "frontman." They opened with "Hash Pipe," then launched into "Troublemaker." I knew I wasn't at a typical Weezer show when the crowd response was greater for "Pork N Beans" and new single "(If You‘re Asking If I Want You To) I Want You To" than for Pinkerton gem "The Good Life" or "Perfect Situation," which I feel is their best song released this decade. "My Name Is Jonas," was performed with rotating vocals by the whole band except Rivers, who was off stage until the harmonica solo at the end. The roles were reversed for "Island in the Sun," with Rivers performing a bit of the song on drums, bass and guitar, which was then looped until the rest of the band joined at the end of the song. Cuomo had a lot of energy throughout the set, running around the stage and even singing while jumping on a trampoline next to the drums. Yeah, a trampoline. They closed with "Buddy Holly" and a cover of the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go," but I would've much rather heard something off Maladroit, which was completely ignored.

Set list:

  • Hash Pipe
  • Troublemaker
  • Undone
  • Surf Wax America
  • Perfect Situation
  • Say It Ain't So
  • My Name Is Jonas
  • Pork N Beans
  • The Good Life
  • Island in the Sun
  • (If You're Asking If I Want You To) I Want You To
  • Beverly Hills
  • Buddy Holly
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go

    With "Everybody Wang Chung Tonight" blasting on the speakers and two spotlights on blowup dolls on each side of the stage, it was time for blink-182. The curtain dropped and the opening chords of "Dumpweed" were blaring before it even touched the ground. After a quick welcome, the band launched into singles "Feelin' This," "What's My Age Again" and "The Rock Show." Tom and Mark used these songs to tease me into thinking it would be a greatest hits set before launching into a number of songs off their last album, much to my displeasure. Tom DeLonge, sporting an Angels and Airwaves shirt, proved he has yet to repeat his in-studio performances, messing up high parts in "Obvious" and "Always" while just ignoring lines in "First Date." For every sub-par song they played ("Not Now," "Stockholm Syndrome"), they'd pull out an unexpected treat ("Josie," "Going Away to College," "Man Overboard"), keeping me dancing and reliving my middle and high school years. They closed their set with "Reckless Abandon" and "Anthem Part Two" before the most talented member of the band, Travis Barker, came back out to do his "flying drum solo." If you caught them on the Pop Disaster Tour, it's pretty much the same thing he did seven years ago, only going side-to-side instead of in loops. The encore of "Carousel" and "Dammit" made up for the pretty average set list.

    Set list:

  • Dumpweed
  • Feelin' This
  • Rock Show
  • What's My Age Again?
  • I Miss You
  • Obvious
  • Stay Together for the Kids
  • The Fallen Interlude / Stockholm Syndrome
  • Always
  • First Date
  • Going Away to College
  • Man Overboard
  • All the Small Things
  • Not Now
  • Adam's Song
  • Josie
  • Reckless Abandon
  • Anthem Part Two
    -----
    Travis drum solo
  • Carousel
  • Dammit

    As a college graduate and working professional, I can finally move on from middle school having seen this show. When the opening chords to "The Good Life" hit, I was instantly transported back to 7th grade. Mark and Tom's onstage banter was funny, but so is 2000's The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show. If you're still living in denial that you ever bought the Green Album or Enema of the State, then you can go back to hating Tom DeLonge and saying Weezer was only ever been average at best. If you're looking for $70 worth of nostalgia, though, go check this out when it comes to your town and you'll leave with a smile.