blink-182's Tampa Performance Prove Pop-punk is Still Alive

Blink-182 at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa

The 2nd night of blink-182‘s Missionary Impossible Tour brought the band to the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, FL on Aug 29, 2025. This was the last of two shows in the Sunshine State following their opening night in Hollywood, FL. Opening acts on this night included Beauty School Dropout and Alkaline Trio.

Opening the night was LA pop-punk band Beauty School Dropout. Vocalist Cole Hutzler, bassist Brent Burdett, guitarist Bardo Novotny, and drummer Colton Flurry delivered a stellar eight-song opening set to get the Tampa crowd warmed up. Fresh off the 23-city on the summer school tour, the band still had plenty of energy to captivate the crowd. Highlights of the set were performances of “Fever” and “Two of Us” off their upcoming album WHERE DID ALL THE BUTTERFLIES GO?.

Beauty School Dropout at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa

Next up was Alkaline Trio who kicked things off with “Private Eye,” from their From Here to Infirmary album. With vocalist Matt Skiba flanked to the left, bassist Dan Andriano to the right, and drummer Atom Willard dead center, the set had a visually appealing ambience with strobes sweeping the stage and the band’s iconic heart and skull emblem glowing behind Willard.

Alkaline was killing it when the equipment gremlins appeared midway through the set. During “Mercy Me” the sound went out for 37 seconds and during “Cringe” Skiba had to change guitars twice before just ending the song short. He shook it off and moved forward like nothing had happened saying “that song’s not very good anyway, don’t worry about it…let’s try this one” at which point they went into “Sadie”.

Ironically, the only time I had seen Skuba perform was 7 years ago when he was a member of blink-182 during Tom DeLonge’s hiatus from the band. This night, however, he was fronting his own band that he founded almost 30 years ago. The band performed 12 songs spread out across their Crimson; Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs, Good Mourning, Agony & Irony, From Here to Infirmary, Goddamnit, and Maybe I’ll Catch Fire albums. Overall, it was a solid performance by the band.

Alkaline Trio at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa

Last was the band that everyone came to see, including yours truly who drove 479 miles for the privilege to witness the performance. blink-182’s set started with large video panels displaying UFC announcer Bruce Butter as he introduced band members Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus, and Travis Barker one by one. Each being displayed in their respective corners like fighters getting ready to enter the ring. At the conclusion of the intros, it went dark, and the curtain dropped with the band launching into “Rock Show”.

The 24-song set was heavily biased towards the band’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket and ONE MORE TIME albums accounting for nearly half the songs. There were classics from the former like “Anthem Pt 2”, “First Date”, and “Rock Show” as well as newer songs from the latter including “Edging”, “More Than You Know”, and “Fuck Face”. The most disappointing part of the night was that “All The Small Things and What’s My Age Again?” were the only songs performed off the band’s biggest selling album Enema of the State. Notable omissions from the album were “Dumpweed”, “Going Away to College” and “Adam’s Song”.

It’s hard to believe that it has been 30 years since blink-182 released their first album Cheshire Cat. One would think that over this time period that guitarist Tom DeLonge and bassist Mark Hoppus would have matured but tonight’s show would prove that wrong. The pair still possess the same punk attitude as they did in their twenties. The night was filled with back-and-forth jabs at each other and lewd comments about sex and blow jobs including statements by Tom like, “every single guy here could fuck Mark” or “titties are the balls of the chest” by Mark. In a recent interview they both said how their on-stage behavior is no different than their off-stage behavior. They must lead interesting lives.

While Tom and Mark tend to get most of the focus, Travis was given his opportunities to shine. His amazing drum skills were on display with a drum solo during the interlude in “Rollercoaster”. He also contributed hardcore vocals and aggressive drumming on the brief 20-second song “Fuck Face”.

There are only a few pop-punk bands that can fill an arena or amphitheater, and blink-182 is one of them. Blink-182 didn’t just play a show in Tampa; they threw a giant backyard party with 20,000 of their closest friends. With Beauty School Dropout and Alkaline Trio setting the pace, Mark, Tom, and Travis proved they can still outdo themselves night after night. The jokes are as immature as ever, the energy is still reckless, and the songs hit just as hard as they did two decades ago. Pop-punk is alive and well and Tampa felt it in full force.

blink-182 Set List:

The Rock Show
First Date
Josie
Anthem Part Two
Online Songs
M+M’s
FUCK FACE
Natives
Feeling This
Down
TURPENTINE
CAN’T GO BACK
Wishing Well
Stay Together for the Kids
Roller Coaster
(With Travis Barker drum solo interlude.)
DANCE WITH ME
I Miss You
MORE THAN YOU KNOW
Hope
(Descendents cover)
What’s My Age Again?
All the Small Things
Dammit

Missionary Impossible Tour Dates:

Aug 28, 2025 – Hard Rock Live – Hollywood, FL
Aug 29, 2025 – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL
Sep 1, 2025 – Credit One Stadium – Charleston, SC
Sep 3, 2025 – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek – Raleigh, NC
Sep 4, 2025 – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater – Virginia Beach, VA
Sep 6, 2025 – Bethel Woods Center For the Arts – Bethel, NY
Sep 7, 2025 – Broadview Stage at SPAC – Saratoga Springs, NY
Sep 9, 2025 – Bank NH Pavilion – Gilford, NH
Sep 11, 2025 – Darien Lake Amphitheater – Darien Center, NY
Sep 13, 2025 – Four Chord Music Festival – Washington, PA
Sep 14, 2025 – Sea.Hear.Now. Festival – Asbury Park, NJ
Sep 16, 2025 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
Sep 17, 2025 – Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN
Sep 19, 2025 – Riot Fest – Chicago, IL
Sep 21, 2025 – Shaky Knees Festival – Atlanta, GA
Sep 22, 2025 – The Orion Amphitheater – Huntsville, AL
Sep 24, 2025 – Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion – Rogers, AR
Sep 26, 2025 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO
Sep 27, 2025 – T-Mobile Center – Kansas City, MO
Oct 2, 2025 – Aftershock Festival – Sacramento, CA
Oct 4, 2025 – Acrisure Arena – Palm Desert, CA
Oct 5, 2025 – Acrisure Arena – Palm Desert, CA
Oct 18, 2025 – When We Were Young – Las Vegas, NV
Oct 19, 2025 – When We Were Young – Las Vegas, NV