Live Review: The Offspring and Simple Plan 2025
Supercharged Worldwide in ’25 – Australia on 8th May 2025 at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
Review by: Jeana Thomas
Photography by: Jeana Thomas Photography
Still Smash-ing: The Offspring Set Melbourne Ablaze with Punk Firepower
I’m still reeling from The Offspring’s show at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday—Melbourne turned it all the way up and the band matched every ounce of that energy. It felt like a riotous celebration of everything The Offspring have ever stood for. Imagine a sea of fans – OG punks in battered band tees next to teens discovering their first live pit—all losing it in unison as Dexter Holland and crew ripped through a set that played like both a love letter to their legacy and a fearless step forward with their newest release, SUPERCHARGED.
Born in 1984 in the sun-soaked suburbs of Orange County, California, The Offspring are nothing short of punk rock royalty. They didn’t just arrive during the punk revival of the early ’90s, they helped define it. Their breakout album, Smash (1994), wasn’t just successful; it was historic. Songs like “Self Esteem,” “Come Out and Play” and “Gotta Get Away” became anthems for disaffected youth the world over. With their catchy yet confrontational style, The Offspring gave voice to a generation that didn’t feel heard and four decades on, they’re still doing exactly that.
Fast forward to 2024 and their 11th studio album, SUPERCHARGED, proves they’re not content to coast on nostalgia. The new material hits hard, blistering guitar riffs, cheeky, sardonic lyrics and hooks that bury themselves deep in your head. The album is sharp, funny, angry and alive. And last night’s show proved it translates seamlessly to the stage.
Before The Offspring took the stage, the audience was kept thoroughly entertained with a playful pre-show segment featuring the Kissing Cam, Booty Cam and Headbanging Cam. Random fans were spotlighted on the big screen and they didn’t hold back—couples shared enthusiastic kisses, others showed off their best dance moves and headbangers rocked out with full commitment. The crowd roared with laughter and cheers for each bold performance, creating a fun, engaging atmosphere that perfectly set the tone for the high-energy night to come.
The band – Dexter Holland on vocals, the ever-animated Noodles on guitar, Todd Morse on bass and Jonah Nimoy pounding away on drums, kicked things off with “All I Want” and from the very first chord, the place exploded. Every lyric sung landed with conviction. Noodles, grinning like a maniac the whole time, was a blur of energy. His solos sliced through the air with surgical precision.
They hit the crowd with classics early “Come Out and Play,” “Original Prankster,” “Want you Bad” and each one was a gut-punch of pure nostalgia. But it never felt like they were just phoning it in or ticking boxes. Every track was played with fire, with that unmistakable Offspring snarl and super charged energy. And when they pivoted to SUPERCHARGED material, the energy didn’t dip for a second. Songs like “Looking Out for No. 1” sparked a different kind of excitement, familiar yet fresh. It’s got that signature Offspring edge: defiant, raw and self-assured. The crowd’s reaction made it clear, these aren’t just filler tracks; they’re already fan favourites.
Visually, the show was a full-on spectacle – flames shot skyward, gritty animations lit up the background and strobe lights synced with pounding rhythms and dense smoke rolled across the stage floor, especially striking during a moody piano segment that added a rare, dramatic pause in the chaos. Two towering, inflatable skeletons flanked the stage, adding a dark, theatrical flair, while enormous bouncing balls launched into the audience turned the venue into a punk rock playground. The crowd fed off every moment, singing, dancing and erupting with energy in response to the band’s infectious momentum.
Then came “Gone Away.” They slowed things down, stripped it back and the entire arena shimmered with phone lights. It was haunting. You could feel the collective emotion in the room thousands of voices singing along to a song about grief, about loss, about moving through it all together. It was a rare moment of stillness in an otherwise raucous set and it hit hard.
The Offspring’s show was a huge reminder of why they’ve lasted this long. They’re not just a legacy act, they’re still evolving, still playing like they’ve got something to prove. They’ve managed to bridge generations, bringing together humour, angst and pure fun in a way few bands ever do. And in a world where so much music feels over polished or disconnected, The Offspring still deliver something real, something loud, messy and full of life and energy.
Simple Plan
Simple Plan’s Pop-Punk Perfection: A Night of Nostalgia and Nonstop Energy
Simple Plan absolutely brought the house down with nonstop energy from start to finish! Supporting The Offspring, the Canadian pop-punk veterans exploded onto the stage with a high-tempo set that never let up. From the first song to the last, they kept the momentum sky-high, turning the arena into a wild, feel-good blast of nostalgia and punk-rock fun. It was like being 16 again, but with better beer. They opened the night and their pop-punk bounce—think “I’d do Anything”—set the perfect tone, getting everyone hyped.
They formed in Montreal in ’99, hitting the scene when pop-punk was king. Their debut, No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls (2002), was a game-changer, packed with angsty bangers like “I’m Just a Kid” and “Perfect” that spoke to every teen wrestling with heartbreak or identity. With six albums and a knack for catchy, heartfelt tunes, they’ve stayed relevant, even dropping “Harder Than It Looks” in 2022, which keeps their emo-tinged energy alive. They’re not reinventing the wheel, but they’ve got this knack for making you feel seen.
They hit the stage like a bolt of lightning, bursting with an explosion of energy and enthusiasm that instantly lit up Rod Laver Arena. Pierre Bouvier, still rocking that youthful swagger, belted out “I’d Do Anything” and Rod Laver erupted and didn’t stop all night. His vocals were crisp, carrying that raw, pleading tone that makes their songs so relatable. Chuck Comeau’s drumming was relentless, driving the tempo, while Jeff Stinco and Sébastien Lefebvre’s guitars churned out those chunky, infectious riffs.
Their setlist was the ultimate throwback, blending high-energy anthems with pure pop-punk nostalgia that had the crowd singing, jumping and grinning from ear to ear. They kicked things off with “I’d Do Anything”, instantly pulling everyone in with its fast, infectious beat. “Shut Up” followed and the arena erupted in cheers as the band’s bold, defiant energy set the place on fire. Then came “Jump” and as the title suggests, the whole crowd was jumping in sync. When “Welcome to My Life” kicked in, it felt like every fan was reliving their teen years, singing along with raw emotion. But the real fun began with “What’s New Scooby-Doo?”, where the crowd went wild as Scooby-Doo characters in full costume dashed around the stage, adding a playful chaos to the moment. The crowd roared with excitement as they played “I’m Just a Kid” and “Perfect”, two songs that tapped into deep, nostalgic feels.
Erin Reusm, who was the lead singer of the Brisbane pop-punk band Stateside, got to jump on stage with Pierre to sing “Jet Lag” and honestly, she killed it. Her vocals blended perfectly with Pierre’s, and fans absolutely loved the energy.
The band’s energy was contagious—Pierre was leaping around, hyping us up and you could tell they were having as much fun as we were. At one point, crowd surfing not only took place by various fans, but Chuck Comeau (drummer) decided to swap places with Bouvier and jump into the crowd for a crowd-surf himself.
The crowd was a mix of old fans and younger ones, all united in belting out every word. By the time they closed with “Perfect,” it was chaos in the best way—think mosh pits, air guitars and pure, unfiltered joy. Simple Plan didn’t just warm up the stage for The Offspring; they owned it, lit it on fire, reminding us why pop-punk still hits so hard.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Dallas Does PR, Destroy All Lines, The Offspring and Simple Mind for the media accreditation. Tickets to the Sydney and Brisbane shows are available from Destroy All Lines
About the Writer: Originally hailing from Western Australia, Jeana Thomas now thrives in the vibrant city of Melbourne. Amidst the hustle of her role in a prominent teaching hospital, she also navigates the dynamic world of entrepreneurship as the owner of a medical transcription company. Beyond her professional endeavours, Jeana finds solace and joy in the rhythm of music, the allure of travel and the artistry of photography, with a particular passion for wildlife photography.
About Sheldon Ang Media: Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to more than 170 of the hottest acts including Coldplay (Perth), Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), KISS, Iron Maiden, RHCP, P!NK and The Kid LAROI with reviews shared by the likes of Belinda Carlisle, UB40, Delta Goodrem, The Wiggles and Toni Childs on social media. The founder has interviewed rockers Suzi Quatro, Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 70 artists. SAM is also a music journalist on the Triple M Radio network.
