Las Vegas, Oct 24 (UNI) American rock band Blink-182 and Canadian singer Avril Lavigne were among the others who caught attention at the political awakening music festival “When We Were Young” held at Las Vegas.
The fourth annual edition of the 7-Eleven-sponsored celebration of pop-punk and emo wasn’t merely a sentimental resurrection of teenage angst, it was a declaration that rebellion, in music and spirit, refuses to be domesticated.
The two-day spectacle, brought together a dream lineup featuring Panic! at the Disco, Weezer, The Offspring, Simple Plan, All Time Low, The Used, Knocked Loose, Taking Back Sunday and Yellowcard, each performing on both days to keep energy alive, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
“You guys having fun?” Blink-182 vocalist and bassist Mark Hoppus asked the crowd on Saturday. “Well, knock that shit off. This is an emo show, motherfucker.”
Among the weekend’s most talked-about moments were Avril Lavigne’s surprise collaborations. On Saturday, the pop-punk icon surprised fans by calling Simple Plan’s Pierre Bouvier to the stage for a high-energy rendition of “Young & Dumb.” Yet it was Sunday’s act of reunion that sent the crowd into delirium. Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley, Lavigne’s former husband, joined her for a blistering rendition of “In Too Deep.”
Elsewhere, All Time Low staged a first-ever live rendition of “Monsters” alongside Blackbear, blending emo-pop sensibilities with contemporary edge, a reminder of the genre’s evolving identity.
Among the festival’s highlights was the first live performance from Panic! at the Disco since the band called it quits in early 2023. The group started the set with debut album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out in its entirety, in honor of its 20th anniversary.
“I want to say thank you for 20 years of chaos and beauty,” lead singer Brendon Urie told the crowd during the Saturday show.
The festival’s first day coincided with the “No Kings” protests denouncing the Trump administration, and some of the performers’ actions reflected the anti-establishment spirit associated with punk rock. The Offspring’s guitarist Noodles wore a black “No Kings” T-shirt during the set, while Story of the Year’s bassist Adam Russell donned a shirt with the message “Destroy American Fascism.”
Midway through the Used’s set, the band unveiled a “Freedom for Palestine” flag at the back of their stage. Singer Bert McCracken was greeted with a cheer when he declared, “Freedom for fucking Palestine!”
