Blink-182/ Green Day

Billie Joe rocks the crowd during The Pop Disaster Tour at the Tweeter Center.

Performers: Blink-182, Green Day, and Saves The Day

Where: The Tweeter Center

When: Tuesday, May 28th, 2002    7:30 PM

     Summer has become synonymous with outdoor rock shows.  On May 28, Saves The Day, Green Day, and Blink-182 officially christened the summer concert season in the Philly / South Jersey area with their Pop Disaster Tour at Camden’s Tweeter Center.  Although the best punk shows are experienced in small clubs, Green Day and Blink-182 were able to spread some punk love to the nearly sold-out crowd.  However, I must confess that the evening was somewhat of a let down.
     Chris Conley (vocals), Bryan Newman (drums), Eben D’Amico (bass), Ted Alexander (guitar), and David Soloway (guitar) of Saves The Day were unable to captivate the crowd early on.  Although some kids could be heard singing the words to “At Your Funeral,” the majority of the crowd seemed uninterested in the Vagrant rockers.  Ironically, the only special effects during their set were the words “Jimmy Eat World” flashing behind them.  Perhaps a sign of whom the crowd really wanted to see?  I don’t know.  But in all honesty, I think Saves The Day is just one of those punk bands that can be experienced and enjoyed only in true punk fashion at a club show.
     Green Day was up next.  Billie Joe, Mike, and Tre played a kickass set of over ten years’ worth of material.  The whole crowd sang along to favorites such as “Welcome To Paradise,” “When I Come Around,” “King For A Day,” and “Minority.”  They even played the cover of Operation Ivy’s “Knowledge.”  The Green Day boys also went back to their ’91 release, Kerplunk, and broke out with “2000 Light Years Away” for their “old school Green Day fans.”  They definitely kept the crowd entertained with jokes and water guns and by allowing three kids to come up on stage and play their instruments.  However, a little less crowd interaction and more songs would have made their set flawless.  After lighting their guitar and bass on fire and destroying their drums, Billie Joe took the stage alone and concluded their set with “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life).”
     Mark, Tom, and Travis then opened with “Anthem Part Two,” followed by “The Rock Show.”  Although Blink-182 usually puts on an amazing show, something was definitely lacking this time.  I don’t know if the guys were sick or maybe just tired, but the Blink energy simply wasn’t there.  However, they were able to appease the crowd by playing “What’s My Age Again,” “All The Small Things,” “Adam’s Song,” “Stay Together For The Kids,” and “First Date.”  Before breaking out with “The Grandpa Song,” Mark confessed that all the reviews were going to say that Blink did nothing but curse and offend people.  That’s not entirely true!  The boys did use their fair share of crude language, but they certainly didn’t offend the kids.  In fact, they complimented the crowd by stating, “you guys are really fuckin’ good looking” and “you’re ten times cooler than fuckin’ Connecticut.”  Soon after watching Travis and his drum set spin 360 degrees multiple times while suspended in the air, Blink concluded with the familiar “I guess this growing up” lyrics of “Dammit.”  I’m hopeful the Blink and Green Day guys, who are all pushing thirty, will never outgrow their fans or punk rock roots.
     All in all, it may not have been the best show ever, but “dammit” – it was a punk show!  And no punk show could ever totally suck! -Kristal Austin

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Blink-182     Green Day     Saves The Day

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