Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Well, I Guess This Is Growing Up

It’s time to get your eyeliner, ripped jeans and skater belt out, because Airlie Beach Hotel is taking you back to the ‘90s for an afternoon of pop punk and emo hits.

On Saturday, February 11, the afternoon will kick off with the Blink-182 and Green Day Experience straight out of Brisbane.

The band will then back it up with The Teenage Dirtbags, the ultimate tribute to ‘90s pop punk and emo with songs from My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, Weezer, All American Rejects, Simple Plan, Good Charlotte, Frenzal Rhomb and many more.

Lead singer and guitarist Michael Geeves said the tribute shows came from the band’s love of pop punk music.

“We all grew up as little skater kids, we loved skateboarding when we were teenagers,” he said.

“Because pop punk is well aligned with the skating scene and Tony Hawk Pro Skater and that sort of thing, that was the music we listened to.

“When we were playing in bands around town down here, we would play that stuff in pubs and people were responding really well to those songs.

“Over time we started adding more of those songs to our set.”

The band then decided to start the tribute show, filling a gap in the market for tribute acts dedicated to ‘90s pop punk.

“We started getting a really good reaction,” said Michael.

“We actually have 40 and 50 year olds who bring their parents along because them and their parents used to listen to it back in the ‘90s when they were teenagers and they also bring their kids along.

“At shows, we’ve had three or four generations of people there.”

Michael fronts the band that also consists of his brother on bass and his best mate on drums, the trio playing music together since 2010.

“To do it with those two guys, we just have the best time because it’s what we love doing, we love seeing people go off to it, having a good time and enjoying themselves and it’s just as enjoyable for us,” he said.

“It’s a ball, it’s the best thing you can ever do.”

The Airlie Beach crowd can expect a set of hard hitting punk, taking them back to the days of Recovery, Doc Martins and chain wallets.

“It’s a tribute to Blink-182 and Green Day,” said Michael.

“People can expect lots of hit songs from the 90s.

“We’re also doing a special set at the end of the show to keep with the theme of pop punk and that sort of thing, we’re doing an extra show of pop punk and emo so there’ll be extra stuff like The Offspring, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Good Charlotte, all that sort of stuff.”

The band brought the show to the Airlie Beach Hotel last year and are looking forward to returning to the north Queensland heat.

“We made a lot of good friends last time we were there so we’re looking forward to catching up with a whole bunch of people as well.”

This show is a nonstop, hit after hit party that draws crowds of all ages and pays tribute to two of the greatest legacies in modern music.

The Blink 182 and Greenday Experience draws on all eras of both bands, featuring all the greatest hits and always leaving fans asking for more.

WHAT: Blink 182 and Greenday Experience plus the Teenage Dirtbags party set

WHERE: The Airlie Beach Hotel

WHEN: Saturday, February 11 from 2:00pm to 5:30pm

This is a free show.

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