The Offspring came to Melbourne last night and reminded us all why they continue to succeed where so many of the skate punk genre fail.
The Offspring have got it down pat. 33 years after the release of their eponymous debut, Dexter Holland and Kevin Noodles Wasserman are still making cracking records: Let the Bad Times Roll manages to simultaneously sound fresh and appeal bang-on to their key demographic.
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There is genuine love between the doctor of micro-biology and the school janitor, who was enveloped into the group in the late ’80s, purportedly because he was old enough to buy the band’s teenage members beer. The most heart-warming moment of their John Cain Arena performance last night came when Noodles heralded his colleague, not only for completing his PhD, but for “flying a jet, making his own hot sauce” and “writing amazing songs” – it turns out You’re Gonna Go Far Kid was his favourite of the night.
For the record, ours – because we’re total saps deep down inside – was Gone Away. The classic has a unique place in Dexter’s oeuvre, which is likely why the band re-recorded it nearly 25 years later. It’s a massive dose of pathos halfway through a rocking, overstated, cartoony punk gig as the rest of the band disappears and Dexter suddenly appears on a piano in a spotlight, asking the audience earnestly to hold their phones alight.
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Part of the reason The Offspring are so loveable is that they effortlessly combine the SoCal silliness – and there is so much silliness – with superb punk songwriting. The show didn’t venture far into their new record – it was pretty much wall-to-wall classics – yet they still barely ventured into Splinter.
When the songs are that beloved, you definitely don’t need the 30 beach balls that were jettisoned into the arena, the green blimp saying Dance Fuckers Dance that flew above the crowd, the weird red orb that appeared to be a malfunctioning plasma ball, the dancing monkey-headed man with the signs, or the inflatable tube men that only half-inflated. In fact, on more than a few occasions we were reminded strongly of Spinal Tap.
Luckily, us and everyone else at John Cain Arena last night love Spinal Tap. We love The Offspring even more.
Check The Offspring’s latest tour dates and deets right here.
