Blink 182 officially confirmed that they are getting back together as a band almost five years after their last performance.  This month’s Grammy awards brought much speculation and gossip to a head as the trio walked onstage with “What’s My Age Again?” playing in the background and announced that the days of “watching, waiting”, and “commiserating” were not quite over.  Did anyone else see the irony in the group walking out to the tune of the aforementioned song?  I know that I am allowing my cynicism to get the better of me, but I am inclined to question how this reunion is going to work out.  After all, contrary to the words of Peaches & Herb, being reunited doesn’t always “feel so good.”  I think we’ve all experienced that relationship that we were convinced deserved one more shot only to find that reunions aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be.

My skeptical introduction aside, it has to be acknowledged that the manner in which DeLonge, Barker, and Hoppus began to mend fences was material for a Lifetime movie.  And I say that in the least tongue-in-cheek way possible.  Barker’s tragic airplane accident was apparently some sort of wake up call to the remaining two Blink members.  After all, life is too short to not spend it with people you care about and that share your passions.  It seems that the three realized this and began to repair their formerly estranged relationships.  I am no music critic, but I am inclined to think that Blink’s fans, although probably an older crowd now, will welcome them back onto the scene in light of this tragedy.  If you’re not getting the warm fuzzies after hearing of this reunion story, you might need to visit your cardiologist because it sounds like you’re missing a very important organ.

Unfortunately, a warm fuzzy is not always enough encouragement to drop $12 on iTunes.  My cynical side is wondering where Blink 182 is going to fit into the 2009 music scene.  I acknowledge that it has not even been a decade since the group dissolved, but things change very quickly in the music scene.  This trio was instrumental (pun intended) in opening the door for their poppy emo/alternative style of music along with others such as New Found Glory and Simple Plan (threw up in my mouth a little).  Now, that door is wide open and several groups have walked through it to find success at the other side.  This success has been brief for some, but nonetheless it did make them famous.  Among these are Panic at the Disco, White Tie Affair, and Plain White Tees.  In the early 2000s, these groups were mostly unknown and underground.  Now, a short time later, many have found their so-called 15 minutes to have come and gone.  I am afraid this scene is on its way out.  Unless Blink, along with their record company, has devised some clever plan to incorporate their style into a more innovative and fresh mix, this comeback may be about as successful as that of  New Kids on the Block.

Regardless of my admittedly skeptical and sometimes negative comments, I am on team Blink 182.  I am putting my positive vibes out into the universe that this trio’s new music will be bigger than Travis’s career as a reality star and that their success will last longer than his marriage to Shanna Moakler.  A little advice for the second go round: Tom DeLonge, please ask yourself daily, “What’s my age again?” and keep your clothes on.  Mark Hoppus, here’s a message from Angels and Airwaves: “Don’t waste your time on me.  You’re already a voice inside my head.”  Blink 182 deserves your undivided attention.