Honda Civic tour, success

blink-182, Concert Review, Hollywood Bowl, Honda Civic Tour, Issue 6, Kaitlin Cassidy, My Chemical Romance, Entertainment - By Kaitlin Cassidy on Thursday, October 13, 2011 - 02:25

“Thank you for coming out to support rock and roll,” front man of My Chemical Romance Gerard Way yelled to a crowd of nearly 18,000 fans.

The band performed this past Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the line-up for the 2011 Honda Civic Tour. Saturday was also the final leg of what was a 10-week 41-show-date tour and the second show in Southern California.

Blink-182 was the main headliner that was chosen to celebrate the Honda Civic Tour’s 10-year anniversary. The tour first started in 2001 with blink-182 headlining then as well.

The tour also emphasized a more “eco-friendly” tour by implementing energy saving techniques and including quick tips to become more cut emmissions from home in the tour book, which was distributed to fans.

Fans of the two popular bands were out in full force on Saturday, packing the outdoor venue. There was a sea of black t-shirts with the Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance logos.

Some fans were also wearing gear supporting the first opener Matt and Kim who played on select dates. Other dates included openers from Manchester Orchestra and Rancid, ensuring a very eclectic crowd.

Matt and Kim, a two-piece band from Brooklyn, performed with high energy which got the crowd pumped for the next two acts. Each band had amazing visual effects and background images that added to the live experience.

My Chemical Romance is known for their theatrical performances and did not disappoint. In keeping with their current CD’s theme (Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys) of a post-apocalyptic time, the band rocked their attire as seen in their two music videos to support this CD.

They even went so far to have a video introduction from one of the characters. My Chemical Romance provided non-stop energy throughout their set playing older songs from their first CD (I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love) as well as radio hits like “Welcome to the Black Parade.”

My Chemical Romance was a tough act to follow, but Blink-182 kept the energy and excitment high. The band opened with the fan favorite “Feeling This” to get the crowd moving. Blink-182 rocked out to their classics and new songs off their recently released Neighborhoods record. The most memorable part of their set was an extravagant drum solo by Travis Barker.

Barker was strapped to a drum set which was extended over the crowd and moved in circles around the Bowl. “The drum solo was amazing,” junior Stephanie Ramirez said who attended the Oct. 1 show at the Honda Center in Anaheim. “He was literally rotating in the air to both sides for the stage for everyone to see and it was my favorite part,” Ramirez said.

“It was definitely a better experience to hear the band live as opposed to just hearing them on your iPod,” first-year Scott Margiotta said. No doubt the crowd was left breathless and reminded those who were there why Blink-182 is such an essential rock band to see live.