One More Time Tour
Xfinity Theater
Hartford
July 24, 2024
Whenever my son has wanted to see a band, we’ve usually had to travel far and wide to see them. This time, Blink 182 brought the rock to us, bringing their “One More Time” tour to the Xfinity Theater.
The concert serves as promotion for Blink 182’s ninth studio album, which shares the same name as the tour. While Blink 182 is the headliner, my son was really there to see one of his favorite bands, Pierce the Veil, which is opening on the tour.
My son was concerned when I told him that our tickets were for the lawn. He’d never been to the Xfinity Theater before, so he imagined that we’d be standing outside of a building and watching the show on a screen. He was impressed by the actual setup, which gave him the opportunity to see the band both from the lower area where the seating began, and from the top of a hill, which offered an almost panoramic view of the entire venue.
When I previewed the event in my last piece, I described the concert as new and old rock coming together. Pierce the Veil isn’t nearly as new as I thought they were, though. They’ve been active since 2006, which makes the band one year older than my son.
It’s important to note because I think of twentysomethings shredding with reckless abandon when I think about this kind of music, but in reality Pierce the Veil plays with the mature confidence of a group that has been doing its thing for a long time, and has become very good at it. They still possess a youthful energy though, as evidenced by the surprising number of teenagers I saw losing their minds when they finally hit the stage after opening act EKKSTACY finished their set.
Pierce the Veil launched straight into their set. I was rocking out in general, going with the vibe of the crowd. I’d never listened to them before, and I really liked the more melodic quality of their music.
The first song that caught my attention was “Caraphernalia,” a ripping song that deals with heartbreak and loss. Before my son taught me how to listen to rock music, I listened to the instruments more than the vocals. Now I was able to identify the deep emotions in the lyrics, and the pain that infuses lines like, “What’s so good about picking up the pieces?”
As the set continued, I actually did recognize one of the songs they played, a cover of the Radiohead song “Karma Police.” I like Radiohead, but Pierce the Veil brought an edge to the classic that made it feel new and vibrant. Now I have another version of the song to listen to.
When I told one of my friends that I was going to see Pierce the Veil, he said, “You’re lucky. You get to hear ‘King for a Day’ for the first time.” That was the song they closed their set with, and from the outset I could tell why it’s a fan favorite. It was by far the heaviest song the band played during their set, with driving percussion pushing the song forward at breakneck speeds. Brothers Mike and Vic Fuentes somehow managed to make their screamed lyrics sound tender, with longing undergirding the high energy of the song. Again, I listened closely to what was being said:
Please, won’t you push me for the last time?
Let’s scream until there’s nothing left
So sick of playing, I don’t want this anymore
The thought of you is no fucking fun
You want a martyr? I’ll be one
Because enough’s enough, we’re done
I am officially a Pierce the Veil fan now. I want to go to another of their shows. My YouTube recommendations are already buzzing with suggested songs from the band. If this continues, I may start ending up at these concerts even without my son.
NEXT
The Xfinity Theater hosts Hootie and the Blowfish on August 1.
Jamil goes to a new hibachi place in Manchester to give it a try.
