The Offspring at Brixton Academy

The Offspring is a name that should be recognized by anyone whose teenage years were lived out in the 90s. The band have captivated audiences with nine studio albums – each packed with raucous pop punk energy – and have come to rock London on their 19^th world tour.

In a crowded Brixton Academy, the stage is bare of non-essential decoration apart for the group’s logo, name and a few guitar amps. The band walk on, first the drummer and rhythm guitarist, followed shortly by their frontman, Dexter Holland. Their first song, You’re Gonna Go Far Kid, is a great choice to get the crowd dancing. The chorus gives the audience a glimpse of the rest of the show, thrashing guitars, as well as infectious and simple lyrics. Barely pausing to catch their breath between songs, the Offspring blast through a selection of old and new classics. Early on in the set, the 2015 single Coming for You is played to a warm reception from their fans, though they are not as passionate or loud as they will become later on when the eagerly anticipated classics are played.

The stand-out song of the night, which also happens to be the penultimate track of the set, has to be the 2004 Can’t Get My Head Around You. It’s preceded by the band voicing their gratitude and thanks to the British audience, mentioning in particular their younger and newer fans. Some other honourable mentions include the cowbell-fuelled Pretty Fly for a White Guy and another anthem, Why Don’t You Get a Job. The lighting is constantly switching state, a strobe often settling in the choruses.

Overall, The Offspring do a good job of entertaining the Academy, though a person with an appetite for more complex musical structures may grow bored of the thrashing guitars. It’s undeniable that the Offspring have seen their best performing years past, but their sound is still huge, the drums still hitting fast and the music still full of youth. The band gives a great performance and the audience is head banging throughout though the band members themselves may find it hard to join them. They focus instead on keeping the spirit, aesthetic and passion alive of the 1990s pop punk sound.

Alex Goddard
Photos: Guifré de Peray

For further information on the Offspring and future events vist here.

Watch the video for Coming for You here: