Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

The Offspring

live in New York City (2004)
Sony Music Entertainment

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

Contributed by: Phil
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 11th 2004

3 and 1/2 years ago the Offspring sold out two nights at Roseland hear in New York (slightly smaller than Hammerstein, where the show I'm reviewing took place). Now, here on June 1, 2004, I think this show MIGHT have sold out. Not that it's not an accomplishment to sell out Hammerstein Ballroom but it gives you an idea of how the band's popularity has waned over the years.

Walking into the venue I noticed that I was in the median age range for once (20). It was nice because it gave me the feel that everyone in here was a big fan and not just because they heard the latest single on the radio (that being said, the "latest single" wasn't being played too much on the radio anyways). After The Start (kinda, sorta) revved up the crowd with their sloppy, uneven power/punk/pop, Auf Der Maur took the stage to many boos in the audience. Their loss, the record is a sonic experience and a breath of fresh air in modern rock radio without sounding like they tried to hard to sound "retro." Melissa did her best to deal with the boo's and played her heart out but the crowd was still restless.

After the usual push-and-shove match to get up front (no one had really moved much before this), the lights went down and the crowd (of course) roared. The band took the stage rather modestly to the pounding of "Neocon" (first track of Splinter). Quickly going into "The Noose" the crowd felt the action that we all were there for, fast, catchy, speedy pop-punk. Dexter didn't say much ("how you guys doin", "I'm having a great time") but perhaps that's a good thing, since it allowed them to play more songs. All the usual hits were there, plus selections from the new album, Splinter (my only dissapointment that they switched "Spare Me The Details" which I had seen them play two days earlier in Boston and did "The Worst Hangover" ever, which gives me the worst headache ever). Kids moshed, crowd-surfed, us in the front sang and jumped to every word. Offspring extra Higgins was in high spirits, jumping all around the stage and doing what he does best, those other vocal parts that Dexter doesn't do. Good show, right?

Well, yes it was good, but the problem was the extreme mediocrity of it all. At previous shows, the Offspring would go all out, taking time to make a massive stage set-up (the Conspiracy of One tour), Dexter taking a bat to the Backstreet Boys and spraying the crowd with a giant hose (Americana tour) or inviting different audience members to sing the "Keep em Seperated" part of "Come Out And Play" (Ixnay On The Hombre). In fact, I couldn't get by the fact that Dexter seemed to be faking his excitement and just looked like he wanted to get the hell out of there (this was the last night of the tour). When he said "Yeah, I'm having a great time" it sounded so sarcastic it was painful. Another problem was the fact (and maybe this isn't the Offspring's fault, but...) that the set was mainly just a greatest hits set plus new songs from the Splinter. In fact, the only non-singles played off back albums were Have You Ever, Staring At The Sun and Americana. No deep cuts off Ixnay of Smash, hell even Conspiracy, and certainly no old jewels from Ignition or the Self-Titled. But alas, the band knows what the crowd pleasers are and they stick to them. I just wish they considered their bigger fans more (Iike myself) and switched it up a bit. It was also kind of a sad moment because, with the Offspring getting older and their latest record not really selling, this might very well be the last time us New Yorkers get to see the band play live again.

SETLIST
Neocon
The Noose
All I Want
Come Out & Play
Want You Bad
Gone Away
Long Way Home
Staring At The Sun
Hit That
Bad Habit
Have You Ever
Worst Hangover Ever
Americana
The Kids Aren't Alright
Da Hui
Why Don't You Get A Job
Gotta Get Away
(encore)
(Can't Get) My Head Around You
Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)
Self-Esteem

Login to rate this album

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Fallen_leaves (January 22, 2008)

i was at this show, and i thought it was great. the last time they will play new york? whoever wrote this review sucks...

vc (June 17, 2006)

most of the songs on this list suck!!!! the only good songs are like...All I Want
Come Out & Play
Gone Away
Bad Habit
Have You Ever
Americana
The Kids Aren't Alright

even tho i realy like the offspring...theyre new stuff sucks big time
Gotta Get Away
Self-Esteem

vc (June 17, 2006)

hm....most of the songs on this list suck!!!
self esteem, the kids aren't alright,gotta get away, come out and play are like...the only good songs on the this shitty list

even tho i like the band...theyre new stuff sucks big time :/

Nameless (April 15, 2006)

Real Punk is not played on the radio?

I don't know what stations y'all listen to, but the ones where I live play Bad Religion.

Score is for "Bad Habit"

Anonymous (January 17, 2005)

Váyanse al carajo llorones del orto, vayan a criticar a su vieja, si no les gusta entonces cállense la boca y vayan a escuchar la mierda de Britney Spears. :D

If ya didn't understand a damn shit:
Fuck u all crybabies go criticise your mother, if ya don't like 'em just shut up 'n go listen some shit of Britney Spears :D

Anonymous (December 21, 2004)

Oh, and by the way...how could they sell out with smash? They weren't trying to get famous, and from what I heard the record company Epitaph was stealing their money anyways.

Anonymous (December 21, 2004)

I love the Offspring. They are my all time favorite band...now, whether they're still punk or not is a controversial thing...but I mean, why do all of the teens have to get into that crap? Look, you either like the tunes or you don't. It's that simple. The whole, "Oooh, look at me I'm a punk rocker" crap gets on my nerves. Those punkers who all say they're original and don't label people...why do they say "oh, that bands not punk" or even more so, why do they pick on the kids at school who are "preps" or "posers"...isn't that labeling my "non-labeling" punk rock friend? Look...it's people like that that may be causing Dexter to write the music he's been writing lately. Yes. They got into the public eye. Imagine the pressure Dex has there! And either way, whether it's pop-punk or hardcore punk or whatever, he still manages to come out with songs that have catchy tunes. If it's not catchy why listen to it? Unless you're a person who listens to music for the sake of being whatever you want to be...which probably isn't yourself. And, you're own opinion is your own. Remember, opinions are like assholes, every body's got one! So, you can say the Offspring suck, but that doesn't mean that they do. They must have some talent or they wouldn't be making millions of bucks while you sit on your ass at home, hating them so much that you have nothing better to do but to come in here and comment about it. If you don't care for they're music, don't care to comment. That's about it. Just ending with quit breaking them down because you may not care, but fans like me do.

Anonymous (August 9, 2004)

2 all those dick heads who THINK they know wat they re saying: all of offsprings music is awesome, from their self titled album to SPLINTER! STUPID PEOPLE WHO SAY THEIR SOLD OUT U SHOULD HAVE URE HEADS CHECKED! Woever has actually been to one of thei concerts, not wo only say they hve, will no that dexter has an incredible voice and can hold the highest of notes. OFFSPRING RULE!!!!

lushj (June 17, 2004)

I saw this tour in San Francisco, their new drummer added new punch to their live show. I've seen 'em repeatedly since 1989, and that was one of the best shows musically they've put on in a few years. Ron was a cool drummer, but maybe the new blood is challenging the rest of them to step it up a notch again? Whatever the case, it was rad to see this tour.

Anonymous (June 16, 2004)

"NEOCON" again, oh shit. i fucked up, heres my real score

Anonymous (June 16, 2004)

By "NEOCON"

Ok, first of all i'm not reviewing this show, i went to the may 9 show in tucson, az. But the set list was pretty much the same, and dexter did soaked the crowd with the big hoose, but it was the first time i saw them live, (i've been a fan since 97), and it kick ass! I live in mexico, and i know this may be the last tour they make, and so my last chance to see the band that got me into punk, by the way i know some jerks will be upon me saying shit to me because this is not the show i reviewed, well fuck you.

PS yes neocon sounds a lot like miseria cantare, the begining from AFI.

Anonymous (June 13, 2004)

I saw this show, I thought the start were great , wierd and different type of music, I wouldnt call them pop punk at all, kinda artsy and the crowd were just dicks to the other band, they were cool though. The offspring had a killer show. A good tune is a good tune whether you like the band or not, and they have a couple of good tunes, most bands dont even have one decent song.

Anonymous (June 13, 2004)

I bet they will break up within the next year...and its about time too

Anonymous (June 13, 2004)

Does this mean punk is officially dead?

CrookedSuperhero (June 13, 2004)

They did do bad habit, as it says they did. There new stuff is awful

jonUSC (June 12, 2004)

Why have The Offspring turned into a reaking pile of dogshit?
There old stuff was damn good. What is going through there
head with the film clip where he's got a fucked up mask on,
that song brings me down in a big way. Chorus maybe a little ampy, but really, such a pathetic song...

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

No Bad Habit?

man, the band should def. fit that into their set. and Killboy Power Head...for some reason i dig that song...

_911 (June 12, 2004)

the crowds at the shows i saw were older people.. nice to not feel so old at a show for once.. offspring just isn't hip to these young kids hahaha..

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

I don't miss the "old" days of the Offspring because in all honesty, those sucked too.

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

I can't believe nobody has yet mentionned how Dexter Holland couldn't carry a live tune even if it was in a backpack.

With that being said, I have nothing against their recorded songs (altough I am not a fan) but Dexter Holland has absolutely no stage presence and no voice.

Sad but true.

ThreeChordsAndTheTruth (June 12, 2004)

I dont think anything Offspring related posted here can pass without comments like the following:

*i preferred them during Ignition
*no way, Ignition sucked, smash is the best
*offspring sold out when smash was released
*why is this being posted on a punk site
*pretty fly is just a stupid pop song

Oh wait, that applies to almost any band reviewed here.

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

i miss the "ignition" and "smash" days...

theOneTrueBill (June 12, 2004)

I saw this in Chicago, and they played a few non-single songs, but not nearly enough. This was pretty much the same set list but with "spare me the details"

In fact, it might be exactly the same. But whatever, it was my first time seeing them and I had a blast.

and it was free.

maverick (June 12, 2004)

"Real Punk is not played on the radio."

The Clash is played on the radio, to this day.

-Scott

bemused (June 12, 2004)

I'm still undecided whether I see 'em when they come to my city (Perth, AUS). Something Corporate's opening for them, that's a good thing right???

-chris-

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

"Come Out And Play" is on Smash, not Ixnay.

I know, I was referring to the tour I saw them do this particular action on (having crowd members sing the "Keep Em Seperated" part).

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

the post below was written by noodles himself

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

i saw them in niagara falls and their live show now seems better than ever. the band had so much energy and noodles was a real nut for a guy in his 40s. they still have a lot in them for old guys. they can kick all these new pop punk bands in the ass ie. yellowcard, new flound glory etc..

BSD (June 11, 2004)

The Offspring.

Jesse (June 11, 2004)

To the guy saying The Offspring isn't "punk," all I have to say is that if you know your history, you'd know that this is one of the bands that took Epitaph to higher levels.

That being said, I hate this band. They suck, they write stupid catchy singles. "Original Prankster" and "Pretty Fly For A White Guy" are both obvious attempts to bridge their fan base. And it just sucks.

Anonymous (June 11, 2004)

Killswitch Engage is another Can o Worms alltogher. I love these Metal Bands with the Big Poppy Choruses. Either you in or you out? Fuck

Barkley

Anonymous (June 11, 2004)

Real Punk is not played on the radio. This is Pop Rock.

Who the fuck are you? GG Allin? Do you play in the Explosion? Oh right you live in your mom's basement. Tell me more about REAL punk rock. Fucking puke

Barkley

Anonymous (June 11, 2004)

This is a punk site. Why is there an Offspring review on here. NEWSFLASH- Real Punk is not played on the radio. This is Pop Rock.

Anonymous (June 11, 2004)

"Come Out And Play" is on Smash, not Ixnay.

Anonymous (June 11, 2004)

woohoo im on the album track of neocon, i was in the crowd at reading doing that chant, they made us do it like 5 times cus everyone was out of tune.

ThreeChordsAndTheTruth (June 11, 2004)

Good review.

Neocon is a blatant AFI rip.

Anonymous (June 11, 2004)

to the dumbass below me, i believe he was joking

AmericanIdle (June 11, 2004)

To the dumbass below me, you should at least read a full sentence of the review.

PsychoOS231 (June 11, 2004)

I'm pretty sure the Offspring sold out years before, it was more like 8 1/2 years ago.
sorry all i read was "3 and 1/2 years ago the Offspring sold out" then i lost interest

inagreendase (June 11, 2004)

Good review.

I went into the city to see Killswitch and In Flames the same night at Roseland, and had no idea this was going on the same night. The Offspring and disinteresting openers for $30 plus a round-trip train ticket just didn't look worth it. Thanks for letting me know I made the right decision.

(Actually, my friend paid for the Killswitch and train ticket anyway, so it was no-lose.)