It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Blink-182, on a Thursday night, at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA, two hours away. Ok. Maybe didn't seem like that good an idea.
But, my favorite band, which already broke up once (Van Halen is my other favorite band, by the way), on a relatively close to home on a very limited tour. There was a little hesitation in our decision when my friend suggested it a few weeks ago, but we decided we had to go.
It did not seem like a good idea, though, as we drove up route 222 in a torrential downpour, or as we had been sitting in a traffic jam around Harrisburg, or on a construction-choked exit ramp 2 miles from our destination. It did not seem like a good idea as we had dinner at the pub at the casino and were already exhausted.
It did not seem like a good idea a few minutes before 10:00pm, when Blink-182 still had yet to take the stage.
However, from 10:00pm until approximately 11:30, it was a spectacular idea. Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and especially Travis Barker put on a great, high-energy show for the fans, most of whom were younger than me. Blink-182 played a mix including most of their biggest hits from each album but also mixing in considerable material from their last full-length album, Neighborhoods (2001) and their more recent EP, Dogs Eating Dogs (2012). (Full setlist here). I've been a Blink-182 fan since college, and when they fired to huge confetti cannons at the end of "Dammit", their first big hit, to close out the evening, I definitely felt like I had gotten my money's worth. Great idea!
(L to R: Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, and Tom DeLonge of Blink-182)
I suppose I could say that it didn't seem like a good idea as we drove home, got back to my place at 2:00am, and then had to get up at 6:30 for physical therapy. But I'd be lying.
It was still a great idea. What's my age again? 37. But that's not too old for the occasional stupid punk rock adventure.
