Blink-182 doesn’t miss a beat
Tight show features perfect vocals, drums, guitars — all uncensored
It was apparent well before pop-punk band Blink-182 took the stage Thursday at NRG Stadium that this was not your regular Rodeo-Houston.
Cowboy hats and shiny belt buckles were replaced by tattoos, T-shirts and skinny jeans throughout the carnival and stadium. Merchandise booths remained busy.
And when Blink-182 finally took the stage before 9:30 p.m. to a crowd of 65,011, thousands of fists shot into the air.
It’s sometimes a challenge for acts to find their footing on the Rodeo-Houston stage. Even country artists sometimes take a few songs to find their groove.
But Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker and Matt Skiba were at full force from kickoff, never missing a beat through “Feeling This,” “The Rock Show” and “Cynical.”
It was one of the tightest shows this season. Drums, guitars and vocals worked in perfect unison.
Skiba, who replaced Tom DeLonge in 2015, took the lead on “Anthem Part Two,” a song that’s long been absent from the band’s setlist.
The trio included several songs from its seventh album, “California.” It was released last year and debuted atop the Billboard 200.
“So how are the Texans gonna do this season?” Hoppus said to a mix of groans and cheers. “All right, we’ll see.”
He teased the crowd throughout the set.
“Next week we play in Dallas. Is there anything you want us to tell the people in Dallas?” he asked, inciting a wave of boos.
“I’ll make sure they know that.”
The crowd rallied, of course, during “What’s My Age Again?” the band’s 1999 breakout hit.
They also sang at full voice during 2003 tune “I Miss You,” which Hoppus said was “for the ladies.”
It was refreshing that the band didn’t censor its songs for the set, including “Dumpweed,” which drops F-bombs in its chorus.
After all, it is rock ’n’ roll.