Last night was Blink-182’s reunion night at the Bell Center. For the first time since August 2011, the Californian pop-punk group with their formation of Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge was back in the metropolis. A long-awaited return that matched the image we’ve always had of the group: festive, intense and comical.
Tom DeLonge’s return with Blink-182 for the first time in over seven years made headlines in the fall of 2022, but not for the right reasons. Yes, it was an almost unexpected reunion for Mark and Travis, who had continued activities since 2015 with guitarist Matt Skiba. With the latter they also came to the Bell Center in 2016.
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
But it is above all the very high ticket prices that make people talk. In fact, we charged over $200 in the grandstand and over $500 for a seat on the floor! On the internet, several music lovers said they ruined themselves not to miss the return of the Californians, who made it rain and shine in the late 1990s.
It is based on the well-known melody by Richard Strauss, Also Sprach Zarathustra, op. 30, the trio can be heard entering the stage at the beginning of the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. There was already a lot of excitement and noise among the 17,000 spectators.
Montreal’s support
The group’s two leaders, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge, positioned themselves at the front and began as if they had never left each other.
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
“You know what I like about Montreal? It’s not a fucking Toronto,” DeLonge said to cheers from the crowd.
Mark Hoppus further shared how much encouragement the Montreal audience had given the band since their debut. “In 1994 or 1995 nobody came to see our concerts in the United States. But we came to Montreal to play the Warped Tour and there were thousands of people there. »
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
It was a step back over 20 years for the thousands of viewers who could hear a total of 13 songs from Blink-182’s two most popular albums: Enema of the State (1999) and Take Off Your Pants and Jackets. (2001) .
The heavyweights at the end
Behind the three musicians were two vertical screens that showed us close-ups of Mark, Tom and Travis. A huge central screen projected various animations throughout the evening.
With no sense of humor, the members of Blink-182 poked fun at Tom DeLonge, who had made waves for his UFO research in recent years. “I was right about the aliens! DeLonge launched before continuing with a very fitting 1999 title: Aliens Exist.
Photo QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
In total, there are more than 25 songs that the members of Blink-182 have served their fans in Quebec. Although the band played a few early gig hits, including The Rock Show and Feeling This, they saved their hits for last: I Miss You, Adam’s Song, What’s My Age Again?, First Date, All the Small Things and Dammit .
turnstile
In the first part, we didn’t want to miss the performance of hardcore punk band from Baltimore, Turnstile. With their excellent third album GLOW ON, the band landed in several year-end charts in 2021.
After seeing them in Osheaga last summer we already knew the musicians wouldn’t disappoint. In fact, we were treated to a very energetic performance, led by unleashed vocalist Brendan Yates, who didn’t hesitate to yell into his mic and walk across the stage.
Despite some initial sound issues that left the first few songs somewhat cacophonous, Turnstile probably won new fans at Bell Center with the intense songs MYSTERY, BLACKOUT and HOLIDAY. I can’t wait to return to Montreal in a smaller room!