Blink-182 rocked the Save Mart Center with their “Rock Show” Monday evening, part of their “One More Time” tour promoting their recent album. Hot Milk and Pierce the Veil joined them as supporting bands.

The legendary trio, comprised of Mark Hoppus (bass/vocalist), Tom DeLonge (guitars/vocalist), and Travis Barker (drums), defined a generation with their music. Their anthems, representing adolescence, growing up or lack thereof, relationships, alienation, and teen angst, personified the fanbase that I’ve been a part of. Their songs are a nostalgic reminder of high school.

The concert was a spectacle for millennials, many of whom donned their concert shirts and Hot Topic attire for the occasion. Surprisingly, there were also younger attendees excited to see the lineup. The circular stage, set up close to the middle of the venue, allowed for excellent viewing from all seats.

Opening Acts Impress

Hot Milk started the night off. The English pop rock band from Manchester impressed the crowd. They’re a newer band, but they were loud and no-holds-barred that delighted the Fresno spectators. Everyone in the band put on great performances but it was the lead singer, Han Mee, that wowed everybody. She exudes rock ‘n’ roll charisma. This band has a bright future.

Next up was Pierce the Veil. Mariachi music permeated the venue to excite the crowd as the rockers from San Diego bolted to the stage and never let up. They were an opener, but they performed like they were the headliners. It seemed like every song they played the roar of the crowd would grow louder and louder.

In a very sweet moment, lead singer and guitarist, Vic Fuentes, dedicated a song to his wife who was at the show. Didn’t mean things were going to slow down. The momentum they started was continuous.

If their music doesn’t appeal to you, their performance will win you over. The energy of the bass player, Jaime Preciado, was infectious. He has to be running on magnesium or some other supplements or substance because he was going 100% through the whole set. He dashed around the circular stage so much that there wasn’t one inch that he didn’t conquer. He earned his sweat for sure.

Being a former drummer, who captivated me the most was their percussionist, Loniel Robinson. He may not be Mike Fuentes, who co-founded the band with his brother Vic, but man, was he electric. He pounded those drums like a boxer unleashes fists on a punching bag. Whatever zone he was in, it was amazing to see.

Their seminal single is “King for a Day,” and their show proved that they were.

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Blink-182 Takes The Stage

Then there was Blink-182. They used the gothic theme music from the wrestler, The Undertaker, to get the crowd all riled up. Once they took the stage and broke into “Feeling This” the excitement was unrelenting. It didn’t matter what they jammed to, whether it was classic or newer material, the crowd was into it from the get-go. The band has had a couple of instances in their history where they broke up and got back together, so it was sentimental to see the trio altogether.

They’re credited as being a seminal punk band that initiated pop-punk’s second mainstream rise in the late ’90s and early 2000s. No one in the audience will dispute that. The punks from Poway have been going strong since they streaked their way to recognition back in 1999.

Just because they’ve gotten older doesn’t mean that they’ve lost their touch or absurdity. Their sophomoric, frat boy, toilet humor and dirty joke-telling was on full display in-between songs. And their skater and surf style were still intact.

Rolling Stone has referred to Travis Barker as “punk’s first superstar drummer,” and one of the 100 greatest drummers of all time. The way he banged those drums showcased why he still claims that title. He sat behind his kit, shirtless while showing off his famous tattoos, like it was his throne and everyone there should bow to the majesty of his drumming. He proved that point as he was on a levitating platform that was held together by strings and unleashed a tornado of solos that were absolutely mesmerizing.

A Night to Remember

The stage crew deserve some credit as well. The band isn’t really known for being a theatrical act, but their production was stellar. They had pyrotechnics, smoke shooters, a light show, and video projectors that made it an extravaganza.

There were plenty of highlights throughout the night, but the best ones were with audience participation. There was a moment where the crowd raised their cell phones with the lights on and swayed them in unison. The band delved into “I Miss You” and everyone shouted together “Where are you?!” while the echo roared throughout the venue.

The band played the classics later in the set like “Rock Show,” “First Date,” “What’s My Age Again?,” “All The Small Things,” and “Adam’s Song.” The audience was showered with confetti at the conclusion of the show.

It was a night of memories and reminiscence as their music provided the soundtrack to the lives of their fans, including me. It was definitely a “rock show” that the people who were there will remember “forever and ever.”