Blink-182 Lights Up Tampa with Punk Nostalgia and Pyro Mayhem
Tampa, Florida(August 29th, 2025)
On a humid Florida night, Blink-182 turned the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre into a time machine, a carnival, and a comedy club all at once. For nearly two hours, the trio — Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker — delivered a setlist that reminded fans why they’re still one of the most beloved bands to crawl out of the late-90s and early-2000s pop-punk explosion. Equal parts nostalgia trip and chaotic spectacle, the show was everything you’d expect from Blink: loud, irreverent, funny, and unexpectedly heartfelt.
The band wasted no time getting the crowd off their feet, ripping straight into “The Rock Show.” Pyro columns shot skyward as thousands of voices sang the chorus in unison. The amphitheater was packed, and by the time “First Date” rolled around, the energy was boiling over. Blink has always known how to make a big venue feel like a sweaty club, and that intimacy — despite the fireworks — carried through the night.
From there, the set hit every corner of their career. “Josie” and “Anthem Part Two” scratched the itch for longtime fans, while “Online Songs” and the deep-cut “M+M’s” were unexpected gems. They even pulled out “FUCK FACE,” a rarity that had die-hard fans losing their minds. The band balanced those with newer tracks like “Natives,” “TURPENTINE,” and “CAN’T GO BACK,” showing that they’re not stuck in the past even if their humor often is.
Speaking of humor, DeLonge and Hoppus spent the night volleying jokes back and forth. Between songs they riffed about each other’s hairlines, Florida humidity, and bodily functions with the same teenage snark that made them famous. Some of the jokes were ridiculous, some downright juvenile — but that’s Blink. The banter is as much a part of the show as the music, a reminder that after decades together, they’re still just three friends cracking each other up onstage.
Musically, Barker was the backbone. During “Roller Coaster,” the frontmen cleared the stage so he could launch into a blistering drum solo. The amphitheater lights dimmed as spotlights circled him, and his machine-gun precision had the crowd roaring. Later, on “Feeling This” and “Down,” Barker’s fills gave new life to songs already cemented in the pop-punk canon.
Visually, Blink treated the night like a rock circus. Pyro flares erupted during choruses, confetti canons fired at key moments, and the stage production had that perfect blend of polished and ridiculous. After “All the Small Things,” the band unleashed a confetti storm — but in true Blink fashion, the confetti was shaped like sperm. The crowd howled with laughter, phones in the air to capture the absurdity.
There were plenty of emotional highs as well. “Stay Together for the Kids” drew one of the loudest sing-alongs of the night, a reminder of how their music helped an entire generation process the awkwardness and pain of growing up. Newer tracks like “Wishing Well” and “MORE THAN YOU KNOW” showed their songwriting still resonates in the present tense. And when they surprised the crowd with a cover of Descendents’ “Hope,” it felt like a tip of the hat to their punk roots.
Of course, the staples landed hardest. “I Miss You” turned the amphitheater into one giant karaoke session, every voice echoing DeLonge’s haunted delivery. “What’s My Age Again?” brought back memories of adolescent rebellion, while “Dammit” closed the set in pure chaos. As the band hammered through the final chords, a massive flaming middle finger lit up the stage, underscoring the song’s eternal message of not wanting to grow up. Just before the last note, they even slid into a snippet of TLC’s “No Scrubs,” proving their sense of humor hasn’t matured one bit.
Walking out of the amphitheater, fans looked equal parts exhausted and exhilarated. Blink-182 didn’t just play a greatest hits show — they threw a party that felt both familiar and fresh. With fire, confetti, and a whole lot of jokes, they reminded Tampa why they’re still one of the most entertaining live acts around. For a band built on juvenile humor and catchy hooks, Blink-182 has somehow aged without really aging at all.
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