What could have been possibly the best show Darien Lake will see all summer, Blink 182, A Day to Remember and All Time Low played in front of a whopping 18,000 people this past Wednesday night. The first band up on the bill were All Time Low led by charismatic guitarist Jack Barakat. The band was very energetic and powered through an up-tempo and fun set of power punk tunes. They got the show off to a great start. Immediately when the band took the stage, a few bras were thrown up and then more were thrown up throughout the 40 minute set. At the end of the set, Barakat took off his shirt, placed the bras on his head and danced around the stage. It also was guitar tech Danny Kurily’s birthday. The band forced him to come out as they gave him a cake and toasted to it.
Next up was A Day to Remember. I do remember (no pun intended) seeing them for the first time at Warped tour a few years back. They were raw and had a lot of potential to become a great live act. Well, fast forward a few years later and voila. These guys tore it up and it was, by far, one of the best live performances I’ve seen in 2016. The stage setup reminded me of Rush. There was a lot going on but did it make sense? There were clocks, what looked to be giant reel-to-reel tapes, a huge wall of amps that turned into video screens and other eye catching aesthetics as well.
The band took the stage accompanied by a number of beach balls. So it was chaos right from the beginning. Vocalist Jeremy McKinnon picked up a small handheld camera for “It’s Complicated” and walked around filming the band in action, including himself. When I was walking out of the pit from photographing the band, McKinnon handed me picks to give to a very young fan (maybe 8) and made a remark that he liked seeing the young fans into metal. He dedicated “Have Faith in Me” to the ladies in the audience. He encouraged them to get up on people’s shoulders to enjoy the song. Before “All Signs Point to Lauderdale,” McKinnon pointed to a guy wearing a Fu*k You from Florida shirt with Mickey Mouse on it that Disney stopped them from selling. He gave the fan props for being a hardcore fan. The band played a new song off the upcoming record titled “Bad Vibrations.” That song was called “Paranoia.” This is a hard track that has some melody to it, making it interesting to see what direction the band will take for the new record.
Headlining the set was Blink 182. This marks the band’s first Western New York appearance since playing Darien with fall Out Boy in July of 2001. There is a big change since the band last played here. Exit co-founder, lead guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge and enter Matt Skiba (Alkanine Trio). Some fans can’t look past the departure but since I have never seen the band live, I have no attached feelings either way so I’m starting off a fresh slate.
The band took the stage and wasted no time going into “Feeling This” from their self-titled album released back in 2003. The stage had giant letters that spelled out the word FUCK and the letters were lit on fire making for an interesting choice for an opener and backdrop. I think that by doing this, the band was sending a message that they were there to kick ass and take names. I can say the way Barker plays the drums is ferocious and with a take no prisoners attitude. He drives the beat very hard and is the most eye catching of the trio.
They played one of their most successful hits right of the bat with “What’s my Age Again?” following the opener. The band is on tour in support of their latest effort “California” that just came out in July of 2016. Obviously, the band wanted to focus on new material and focus on new material they did, playing seven new tracks on the 24 song setlist.
I felt throughout the hour and half set that Skiba fit in with both Barker and bassist Mark Hoppus. He may not sound like DeLonge but he made up for it with his performance. The show was great for what the band is currently trying to do and Blink 182 is moving forward with the current lineup.
Blink 182 setlist:
Feeling This
What’s my Age Again?
Family Reunion
The Rock Show
Cynical
First Date
Down
I Miss You
Bored to Death
Built This Pool
Dumpweed
Stay Together for the Kids
Reckless Abandon
San Diego
Not Now
Violence
Kings of the Weekend
Dysentery Gary
Happy Holidays, You Bastard
Los Angeles
Encore:
Carousel
All the Small Things
Brohemian Rhapsody
Dammit
We would like Ashley Ball from Livenation for the credentials to review the show.
