Images: Blink-182, My Chemical Romance, Matt and Kim October 7, 2011 at the Red Rock Amphitheater

Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance are two of the most commercially successful bands to come from the punk scene, their success exposing countless young people to the world of punk rock. These two musical giants teamed up to co-headline this year’s Honda Civic Tour, and along with Matt and Kim, they played the Red Rock Amphitheater on Friday, October 7^th. Blink was one of the bands to turn me onto punk rock, so I must admit I was more than a little stoked to get the opportunity to photograph the show.

This was Blink’s second show in Vegas since reuniting, and their first since releasing their comeback album Neighborhoods. The album has received some mixed reviews but I’ve grown quite fond of it, and the crowd was receptive, especially to lead single “Up All Night” and the Mark-led “Hearts All Gone,” a faster track that seems plucked straight from a 90s skate video. Obviously, the biggest reactions came whenever the band played something from breakthrough album Enema of the State and follow up Take off Your Pants and Jacket, two albums that set the pace for poppier pop punk and inspired countless kids to pick up instruments and start their own bands. Poppy tale of concert love “Rock Show” was welcomed with a reaction even bigger than the one the band got when they first took the stage. “Josie” and “Dammit,” the rawer Dude Ranch songs that first brought Blink success remained as fresh as ever, and the band ended the night with the profanity-laced deep cut Family Reunion. It’s funny to think that the song was cause for many a parent to disapprove of the band, because I saw a number of parents who grew up listening to the trio with their own young ones in tow at the show. This was my fourth time seeing Blink and the first time since their reunion and despite the time apart, the band sounded tighter than they ever did on their first run.

The barrier had a much different crowd pressed against it when co-headliners My Chemical Romance took the stage. Make up, dark shirts, and colorful costumes were in full effect when the emo pop band took the stage with “Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na).” To set the mood, the stage itself was reflectively darker than the bands that proceeded and followed them, vocalist Gerard Way’s fiery red dyed hair often the only thing that could be clearly made out. When it came time for “Planetary (GO!),” the band filled the audience with giant, colorful, bouncy balloons, the crowd fighting the wind to keep them from returning to the stage they came from. “Welcome To The Black Parade,” “I’m Not Okay,” and “Helena” were among the songs warmly greeted with huge cheers and even louder sing alongs, but the band also showcased their talent for quiet beauty with the haunting “Cancer.” I’ll admit that I’m less familiar with My Chemical Romance than Blink, but I’ve always admired their willingness to push their sound to new areas with each release and they put on a fantastic live show.

Before the show I tweeted that people should make sure to get there early to catch openers Matt and Kim. Hopefully everyone heeded my call, because the dance punk duo, who I consider to be one of the best live bands touring today, absolutely took advantage of the larger scale of the Honda Civic Tour to put on a fantastically fun performance. When Kim wasn’t pounding on her drum set, huge smile from ear to ear, she was standing on top of it, tossing balloons into the crowd and acting like the hype woman to the equally excited Matt, leading through a quick set of songs including “Yeah Yeah,” “Daylight,” and “Cameras,” winning a number of fans along with them.

– Emily Matview | https://www.flickr.com/photos/holdfastnow/