Review: Blink-182 is no joke as it delivers powerful evening of pop-punk

Between the genitalia jokes, bountiful swear words and off-color comments about “your mom,” Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus got serious with the massive crowd at the SAP Center in San Jose as he talked about his battle with cancer and how thrilled he was to be back up onstage again.

“It means so (expletive) much to me that all of you are here,” said the vocalist-bassist, who underwent chemotherapy and is reportedly now cancer free. “This next song is about finding light in the darkness and it goes out to every single person here tonight. I love you.”

The pop-punk trio — which also includes vocalist-guitarist Tom DeLonge and phenomenal drummer Travis Barker — then launched into “Adam’s Song,” with its lyrics addressing depression and suicidal thoughts taking on new meaning in the context of what Hoppus had just told the crowd.

“Tomorrow holds such better days,” Hoppus sang. “Days when I can still feel alive, when I can’t wait to get outside. The world is wide, the time goes by. The tour is over, I’ve survived.”

Hoppus played the entire 90-minute-plus show like a man who was getting a second chance at living out his dreams, tackling each of the 26 selections with a mixture of joy and enthusiasm. And the rest of the band followed suit, making the San Jose stop on this unexpected reunion tour — marking DeLonge’s long-awaited return — feel like so much more than just a cash grab. Instead, it felt important, justified and, indeed, needed.

The result is one of the hottest tours of the year, packing arenas across North America with fans who grew up enjoying Blink’s patented combination of juvenile humor and sturdy pop-punk hooks.

The show got off to a quick start as the trio took the stage and kicked off the festivities with a double shot of “Anthem Part Two” and “The Rock Show” — two of seven songs featured off of 2001’s double-platinum “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.” The fans sang along to “The Rock Show” with such familiarity — and ownership — that they might as well have been reading right out of their own diaries.

“Hanging out behind the club on the weekends,” some 15,000 voices shouted in unison. “Acting stupid, getting drunk with my best friends. I couldn’t wait for the summer and the Warped Tour. I remember it’s the first time that I saw her there.”

Hoppus and DeLonge both sounded strong as they traded vocals throughout the night, moving steadily through such ditties as “Feeling This,” “Reckless Abandon” and “Up All Night.” And, of course, the between-song banter did not disappoint fans who were hoping that the two front men would still come across as pop-punk’s version of Beavis and Butt-Head, slinging locker-room insults back and forth, telling sex jokes and discussing “your mom” in ways that your dad probably wouldn’t approve of. Despite all the years and all the money, Blink-182 is, at heart, still very much the band that titled it’s first major tour — the PooPoo PeePee Tour — in 1998.

The show featured some cool special effects, including lasers, pyrotechnics and a five-song segment when Barker and his drum kit were hoisted high into the air. Yet, none of that meant as much as the pure fun that the three members were having onstage.

For example, one of the best moments of the night was when they played “Happy Holidays, You Bastard” — twice. The first time through was at standard speed and the repeat was the Red Bull version, played at a much faster tempo.

“Travis, play it as fast as you want and we’ll try to follow along,” DeLonge instructed Barker.

Why would they play the same song twice? For kicks. And because they can.

And because they have Travis Barker.

“You want to see stuff that is (expletive) awesome?” Hoppus said. “Watch Travis.”

Barker was a monster on the kit throughout the night, thundering through each and every song with gusto. His arms were a blur, never missing a beat as he still managed to add much flare to his playing. One of his best moves is when he does the windmill maneuver with one of his arms, a la guitarist Pete Townshend (ask your parents).

The band saved some of its best for last, bringing the show to a close with such favorites as “First Date,” “What’s My Age Again?” and “All the Small Things” and sending fans home with enough good memories to last until Blink-182 brings “The Rock Show” back to town next time.

The group was also due to perform Friday (June 23) at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

Setlist:

1. “Anthem Part Two”

2. “The Rock Show”

3. “Family Reunion”

4. “Man Overboard”

5. “Feeling This”