So on Thursday, 8-20, I had the privelege of seeing Blink 182 at the Verizon Wireless Ampitheater in Indianapolis, IN thanks to Island Records. First of all, let me express the fact that I despise this venue. Parking is in a muddy grass and gravel field, with very poor lighting, and the venue itself has a rather miserable lay out. That, however, is neither here nor there. Just a personal assesment that I felt the need to express.

The evening immediately started off with a bang, as a 9 (maybe 10) year old boy in front of us was consuming a 20 oz beer right off the bat. Though slightly amusing, it was rather off-putting, especially when a VWA worker stood right in front of the kid, looked at him, basically watched him take a swig and walked away. Acceptable? Not really. We would have turned the kid in (along with his older brother the supplier) but after he finished it off he didn’t have another so we had no actual proof. Such is life.

The show itself started rather early at 6:30, with a band/group/guy? named Chester French. Needless to say, they were very disappointing and all I really remember is talking through their noise. Panic! At The Disco was next, and while they were very impressive (loving the new line-up even if it is temporary) the crowd was not impressed.

Fall Out Boy as next on the bill, and as always they delivered a great show. The only problem at all was the crowd. Through all three opening acts they were the deadest crowd I had ever had the displeasure of being part of. No one was excited, singing along, or dancing. Well, there were a few exceptions (us being two of them), but I was disgusted by the number of people booing and complaining.

Once FOB was finished, it was finally starting to get dark (this is the midwest in the summer, darkness doesn’t fall until around 8:30) and it was time for Blink 182. I had high hopes that maybe the crowd would finally get into the music. I was sadly mistaken. I suppose in reality that this was due in part to the fact that the majority of the crowd was seventeen or under. Not to say that teenagers can’t enjoy a show, but for the most part you could tell by scanning the crowd that the people who were truly there for the music? Were the people who had experience the band in their prime. Depressing, but true.

Despite the horrible crowd, and despite the overabundance of ridiculous acting 15 year old boys? Blink 182 delivered. They weren’t quite as stage savvy as they had been in their hayday (Mark, Tom, and Travis Show anyone?), but they put on the show that we all came there to see. They played all of their hits, and a few other songs that many of us old school fans were familiar with, and that was what I had came for. I didn’t come because Travis Barker was on that MTV show, or because Pete Wentz is hot, or because I liked that song I Miss You about Jack and Sally. I came because I went through my middle and high school years with Blink 182. I went through my college years with Fall Out Boy. I came because music is what I know, and love, and at the end of the day?

I know my reasons for being there, and the rest of the crowd? Well, they aren’t my problem. I had fun, I heard great songs, and I went home with a sense of happiness one only gets from rattling bass lines and mumbled lyrics. Thanks, guys, for making it turn out good.

Set lists:

If you wish to know the set lists from this show for any of the bands (besides Chester French, because I took a nap not gonna lie), feel free to leave a comment and I’ll be sure you get it!