by Dakota Levitt
If moshing is considered a “Bad Habit,” I’d prefer to keep all of my vices. The Offspring is celebrating 30 years of the hit album SMASH which means the audience may be old enough to have gotten a tattoo before it was legal in NYC (tattoos were illegal in NYC before 1997) or are mad at the world for being “born in the wrong generation.” Either way, punk rock is something everyone can enjoy!!
Punk legends The Offspring played an intimate and electric show on Sunday, May 5th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, Florida. The venue, accommodating only 7,000 people, allowed for a unique level of interaction between the band and their fans. Kevin John Wasserman, better known as “Noodles,” engaged the audience with his humorous banter, declaring the crowd, “The best thing to ever happen to Rock n’ Roll in the history of Rock n’ Roll.”
The energy was seductive; I couldn’t help but be swept up by the sea of enthusiastic fans and make my way from the back of the theater to the front. Fiending to immerse myself in the scene of both seasoned punk veterans and newcomers, I encountered considerate, respectful, friendly concertgoers, and a humane mosh pit full of madness. The pit was charged from the call and response of vulgarities to passionate screams. All fans equally erratic, fueled by adrenaline and a common goal; Safe Fun.
The Offspring made their entrance, and the crowd welcomed them with camaraderie and enough thunderous stomps to shake the entire floor. Long-time band members Dexter Holland (lead vocalist/rhythm guitar), Noodles (lead guitar/vocalist), Todd Morse (bass), multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy (guitarist, keyboard, percussionist), and recent addition Brandon Pertzborn (drums) took to the stage with open arms and raised fists.
Their setlist included classics “Come Out and Play,” “Staring At The Sun,” “Genocide,” “Bad Habit,” “Pretty Fly (For A White Guy),” “Why Don’t You Get A Job,” “Want You Bad,” and “These Kids Aren’t Alright” just to name a few. The Offspring paid homage to punk rock pioneers the Ramones, including a “Blitzkrieg Bop” rendition (“Hey ho! Let's go!”). The band left the crowd begging for an encore. Following suit, they came back on to play “Self Esteem” and “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid.”
In an era awash with backing tracks and audio engineering tweaking, Dexter Holland stands out! His voice is raw, nitty, gritty, real, raw, and authentic; he doesn’t demand an ounce of auto-tune or layering. Noodles and Holland’s dynamic chemistry on stage effortlessly worked the crowd, making sure every fan felt loved and appreciated from the nose bleeds to the stage barricades. Morse held it down, playing a mean bass, and Nimoy crystallized and elevated the sound. Drummer Brandon Pertzborn’s exceptional talent shone through; I even heard one adoring fan whisper, “He’s f’kn good.” His extended drum solo highlighted his impressive skills; he is one of the finest drummers I’ve witnessed in recent memory.
With a touring history dating back to 1986, The Offspring continues to deliver a badass performance destined to rock your socks off! The Offspring have built a lasting legacy in the punk community, timeless and loved generationally; this show serves as a reminder of why.
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