Funny story (only mildly embarrassing): as an avid fan of both Blink-182 and Alkaline Trio, it wasn’t until the day the California tour passed through my hometown that I realized Matt Skiba sang on the record. We’ve been talking a lot about losing our “emo cards” lately, so I suppose there’s one more reason for mine to be revoked.
My obliviousness aside, it’s impossible to ignore the importance of Blink’s 7th studio album, and the first official marker of the Skiba era. As with most great records, California, was a bit divisive amongst fans at its debut. Blink purists were initially unsure about the shift in sound and direction; which, while modest, are indisputably present. Unsurprisingly though, fans came around as they spent more time with the songs and enjoyed the opportunity to see them played live over the course of the following year. While cultural acceptance felt slow, California stood its own from the beginning with the strong domestic and international chart presence of the early singles; ultimately earning the band their first and only (thus far) Grammy nomination. These achievements are all the more impressive considering the broader cultural environment at the time, where many felt the punk and pop punk heyday had reached its expiration, and the obsession with loud drums and fast guitars was rapidly waning.
Ten years later, the tracks from California, still draw plenty of enthusiasm from fans. During the 2025 Missionary Impossible tour, crowds were universally thrilled to hear lead single "Bored to Death" included on the setlist. Even more so for the select few who were privileged to hear Skiba join in at both the Riot Fest and Aftershock appearances.
While most fans will happily agree that we love seeing the classic Blink-182 lineup back together today, there’s no denying that California, and the subsequent era, were critically important for the band and the scene at large. Rather than losing one of our most beloved and iconic bands, punk rock fans were gifted with years of fresh, distinctive music and numerous opportunities to hear our favorites played live. So, happy Blink-182 Day to all who celebrate, and cheers to ten years of California.
Sources
Caulfield, Keith (July 11, 2016). "Blink-182 Bumps Drake from No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
Rob Copsey (July 8, 2016). "Blink-182 score first UK Number 1 album: "We're so excited and thankful"". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.