Aliens, Anthems, and New Friends: Blink-182 in Nashville
There’s something magical about Nashville. The way its neon lights blur into the warm summer air, the sound of music spilling out of every corner—it’s a city that feels alive, even before the show starts. On July 16th, 2023, Blink-182 turned the land of honkey tonk into a Pop-Punk paradise, and I was right in the middle of it all. LISTEN AND WATCH HERE.
The pit was wild, just as it should be. Sweat, shoves, and smiles filled the space, but even in the chaos, there was community. A few people stopped me to ask where I got my “Tom, I’ve been abducted” tee (Cosmic Outlaw, of course—thank you very much). A couple even tried to buy it off me right then and there. But no way—I wasn’t parting with my alien-themed tribute to Tom DeLonge during a Blink show.
And then, in the middle of it all, I spotted Chad Gilbert from New Found Glory, standing just a few feet away. He was there with his wife and their small daughter, who wore giant noise-canceling headphones, looking adorable and utterly unfazed by the madness around her. Meeting Chad in the pit was surreal—New Found Glory is such a huge part of this scene, and seeing him there as a fan made the night even better.
Blink-182’s set was everything you’d expect: high-energy, hilarious, and full of the songs that defined our lives. From The Rock Show to Ghost on the Dance Floor, the crowd sang every word. It’s amazing how those songs still hit, even after all these years.
But the Nashville story didn’t end when the last note rang out. The next day, Mark Hoppus adopted a dog while he was still in town. He named her Dolly, after Dolly Parton—a perfect nod to where she came from. That little detail felt so fitting, like a reminder that no matter how big they get, Blink’s still about connection, humor, and heart.
Oh, and one more thing—Travis Barker watched all my Instagram stories from the show. That might seem like a small thing, but it was one of those dope moments that felt almost too cool to be real.
July 16th wasn’t just another Blink-182 show. It was a night where Nashville’s energy collided with the band’s chaotic brilliance, where I met heroes in the pit and witnessed a piece of Blink’s story unfold. Blink-182 isn’t just a band—they’re a shared experience, a soundtrack to moments we never want to forget. And that night in Nashville? It was unforgettable.
