Missionary Impossible Tour
Pure Pop Punk Energy at Acrisure Arena
October 10th, 2025 Review by Shan Pase
There’s something undeniably fun about watching a band that knows exactly what they are and delivers it without apology. bLink-182 rolled into Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms and reminded a packed house exactly why they’ve been pop punk royalty for over 25 years.
Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, and Tom DeLonge – the original lineup that defined a generation – came ready to play, and the crowd was more than ready to receive them.
Alkaline Trio opened the show and the fan reaction made it clear they delivered an epic set. Chatting with a few people in the crowd revealed nothing but praise for their performance, which included favorites like “Private Eye,” “Radio,” “Time to Waste,” and “This Could Be Love.”
Getting both Alkaline Trio and blink-182 on the same bill is basically pop punk heaven, and based on the crowd’s energy, Trio set the perfect tone for the night.
Before the other trio hit the stage, the crowd was treated to a video introduction from UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, who hyped up Barker, DeLonge, and Hoppus in full fighter-announcement style. It was perfectly ridiculous, and the arena ate it up. When the band finally appeared to a massive roar and launched into “The Rock Show,” it was immediately clear this was going to be a hell of a night. The crowd sang every single word at full volume, and that energy didn’t let up once.
“First Date” came next, and if you thought the sing-along on the opener was loud, this one cranked it up even more. Actually, let’s be honest – every song on the setlist was a massive crowd favorite, and every song turned into a stadium-wide sing-along. This was one of the loudest audience participations in recent memory, but is that really surprising when you’re working with a catalog this stacked with hits?
The band sounded incredibly tight on stage. Hoppus, DeLonge, and Barker had the chemistry you’d expect from guys who’ve been playing together for decades, and they were clearly having a good time doing it. The songs hit hard, the transitions were smooth, and the whole thing felt effortless in the way that only comes from years of experience.
Hoppus handled some of the between-song banter, but it was DeLonge who really commanded the mic during those moments. And if you know anything about Tom DeLonge, you know exactly what kind of banter to expect – the same brand of humor that shows up in blink lyrics. It’s juvenile, it’s absurd, and it’s exactly what you want from a blink show. No one’s here for deep philosophical conversations. They’re here to have fun and sing along to songs about teenage angst and bathroom humor.
Then there’s Travis Barker. What can you even say about Travis Barker at this point?
The guy is an absolute monster on the drum kit. He played a solo that was genuinely impressive, and this is coming from someone who typically hates solos during shows.
Barker makes it look effortless while somehow playing at a level that most drummers can’t even approach. He’s legitimately one of the best in the game and watching him work is always a highlight.
The setlist was a perfect mix of classic hits and newer material. “Josie,” “Anthem Part Two,” “Online Songs,” and “Dumpweed” kept the early catalog represented, while tracks like “Edging,” “Dance With Me,” and “More Than You Know” showed the band isn’t just recycling old material. Songs like “Feeling This” and “What’s My Age Again?” hit exactly the way they should – with the entire arena screaming along.
Two songs really stood out as emotional high points. “Stay Together for the Kids” still carries that weight it always has, and hearing it live with this crowd was something special. “I Miss You” was another standout moment, with the audience taking over vocals in places and the band delivering a performance that showed why this song became such a fan favorite.
But one of the best moments of the entire night came courtesy of a fan in a Vandals t-shirt. Hoppus spotted him in the crowd and made a quick joke about it being a “badass real punk band,” then dedicated the next song to “the real punks in the crowd.” What followed was a cover of Descendents’ “Hope,” and while it wasn’t Milo Aukerman singing it, blink did the song justice. It was a great reminder that underneath all the dick jokes and pop sensibilities, these guys actually came up in the punk scene and still respect their roots.
The ending was classic blink absurdity. Hoppus joked that they were going to play their last two songs before the encore, but they weren’t actually walking offstage, so they’d play three songs instead – with the third one being the “real” encore. It was the kind of meta-humor that’s always been part of their charm.
They closed with “All the Small Things,” which turned into the sing-along you’d expect, followed by “Dammit” featuring a brief melody from Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” thrown in for good measure. Because why not?
They wrapped everything up with a cover of Queens of the Stone Age’s “Little Sister,” which was a great way to end the night on a slightly different note than expected.
Here’s the thing about blink-182 in 2025: they know who they are, they know what their fans want, and they deliver it with the confidence of a band that’s been doing this for decades.
The chemistry between Hoppus, DeLonge, and Barker is undeniable, the songs still hit, and most importantly, they seem genuinely happy to be doing this.
If you’ve been on the fence about catching this reunion tour, it’s worth your time. This is blink-182 doing what they do best – playing great songs, cracking jokes, and making sure everyone in the room has a good time.
The kids who grew up on “Enema of the State” are adults now, but for two hours in Thousand Palms, none of that mattered. It was just fantastic songs, loud guitars, and one of pop punk’s defining bands doing exactly what you’d hope they would.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Shane Pase Photography
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SID 251011 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
