The Offspring at the O2 Arena
Some bands that have been around for a long time can sometimes feel like they’ve fallen into a rut, and it shows when they hit the road. The Offspring are not one of those.
This California group formed in the 80s, but they finally found success when the pop-punk craze reached its peak during the 90s. Thankfully for their fans, they’ve continued to tour and release new music since then, and tonight they play the O2 as part of their worldwide run following last year’s Supercharged album.
It’s worth mentioning the pre-show; there’s karaoke, an airbourne blimp adorning the words INTERMISSION F*CK YEAH, an Abba singalong and not only a kiss cam, but a headbang cam, a booty cam, and a “f*ck you” cam (for this, you have to flip the bird when you hit the screen). Definitely silly, but if you expected sophisticated, you’re in the wrong place, plus it helps keep spirits high for the main event.
Then the countdown soundtrack by AC/DC’s Thunderstruck begins – The Offspring take to the stage and head straight into Come Out and Play. Already, crowd-surfers are being pulled over the barrier.
A meticulously crafted setlist spans several decades, with almost every song enthusiastically received; it’s no mean feat for an arena, especially the cavernous O2, but The Offspring are delighted to take on the challenge. It’s mostly seamless, with one song leading straight into the next with ease; Holland and Noodles banter a bit here and there. The latter leads a call-and-response at one point, almost note-perfect with Freddie Mercury’s “day-oh” chant. Except replace that phrase with “F*****ck Yeeeeaaaahhhh”.
Even with their expansive back catalogue, a few covers are tossed in, because why not? Paranoid, Crazy Train, Hey Jude and a pretty badass-sounding In the Hall of the Mountain King get an airing. Then it’s on to the heavy hitters.
The triple whammy of Why Don’t You Get a Job?, Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) and The Kids Aren’t Alright effortlessly brings the house down, with huge beach balls, ticker tape cannons and a reappearance from the blimp (saying DANCE F*CKER DANCE) deployed. Special mention goes to the inflatable tube men during Pretty Fly… styled after the titular white guy in the music video.
The O2 have been a fantastic audience all night, and yet they still have energy during the encore, as several circle pits open up for You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid. Holland and Noodles clearly think so, expressing a whole heap of gratitude and the latter declaring tonight as “the best gathering of humans ever…Thank you, London, thank you, England!”
Wrapping up with a thunderous closer of Self Esteem, a sweat-drenched crowd stagger back to the tube station, delighted and euphoric.
The Offspring show no signs of slowing down. In fact, they’ve just announced another London show. It’ll be interesting to see how many people here will also be at Crystal Palace Park in summer 2026.
Gem Hurley
Photos: Virginie Viche
For further information and future events, visit The Offspring’s website here.
Watch the video for Pretty Fly For a White Guy here:
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