Sea Hear Now 2025 Day 2: Blink-182, Flavor Flav, and More Highlights
Day 2 of the Sea Hear Now Festival 2025 in Asbury Park, NJ, was a diverse mix of music and messages. Headlined by Blink-182, the day also featured a call for peace from Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, and performances from Sublime, Lenny Kravitz, and other notable acts on September 14, 2025. The expanded festival grounds and enthusiastic crowd made for a memorable experience.
Blink-182's Pop-Punk Mayhem
Blink-182 closed out the festival with a high-energy set characterized by their signature blend of juvenile humor and catchy pop-punk anthems. Despite the band members jokingly acknowledging their "old age," they delivered a 90-minute performance that transported millennial fans back to the late 90s and early 2000s. From "The Rock Show" to "Feeling This," the band played hit after hit.
Between songs, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge engaged in their trademark banter, keeping the crowd entertained. However, the set also included moments of unexpected emotion, particularly during "Stay Together For The Kids," a song about the impact of divorce. DeLonge shared a personal connection to the song's lyrics, referencing his father's passing. Despite the lightheartedness, the band conveyed a message of "forcing happiness with brute strength."
Flavor Flav's Call for Peace and Unity
Earlier in the day, Flavor Flav of Public Enemy delivered a powerful message of peace and unity. During Public Enemy's dynamic set on the Surf Stage, Flav asked the crowd to hold up a two-finger peace sign. He emphasized the importance of connecting all nationalities and building a wall of unity that nobody could tear down. The set included classics like "Fight the Power" and "Bring the Noise," as well as newer songs. The performance was made even more memorable by the appearance of DMC from Run-DMC, who joined them to perform hits like "Walk This Way" and "It's Tricky."
Sublime and Other Sunday Highlights
Sublime, fronted by Jakob Nowell, son of the late Bradley Nowell, drew a large crowd to their Park Stage set. Playing reggae-punk classics, the band paid tribute to Bradley Nowell and his iconic band. Lenny Kravitz also delivered a memorable performance, establishing his New Jersey connection. Other acts included Hot Mulligan and Phantogram, showcasing the diversity of the festival lineup.
Expanded Festival Grounds and Local Talent
The 2025 Sea Hear Now festival featured expanded grounds, extending south to Fourth Avenue on the boardwalk and encompassing the Wonder Bar. The Transparent Clinch Gallery was moved to the beach south of Convention Hall, providing more space. Local acts like Not Yer Basby, the Tide Bends, and Surfing for Daisy also showcased their talent. Surfing for Daisy even had a banner plane flown over the beach.
