The Offspring and Simple Plan Supercharged Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena with punk rock nostalgia on Sunday.
Qudos Bank Arena turned into a pop punk time machine on Sunday night as The Offspring and Simple Plan delivered a back-to-back hit parade that had the entire crowd on their feet from start to finish.
Simple Plan took the stage first, and wasted no time launching into I’d Do Anything, Shut Up! and Jump, setting the energy level high early. Frontman Pierre Bouvier bounced across the stage like it was still 2004, while the band kept the vibes light and loud. Fans were treated to favourites like Welcome to My Life, Addicted, and Perfect, along with a surprise guest spot from Hevenshe on Jet Lag and the first tour play of new track Iconic. By the time I’m Just a Kid and What’s New Scooby Doo? rolled around, the arena had fully surrendered to the nostalgia.
Then it was time for The Offspring to blow the roof off. They kicked things off with Come Out and Play and Original Prankster, immediately sending the pit into overdrive. From there it was a relentless sprint through nearly three decades of punk anthems — Want You Bad, Hit That, and Bad Habit hit just as hard as ever.
A medley of classic rock riffs mid-set — Smoke on the Water, Iron Man, and Back in Black — gave everyone a moment to catch their breath before Gotta Get Away and a powerful mashup of Gone Away (blending piano and full band versions) brought some real emotional weight.
The final stretch of The Offspring’s set was pure chaos: Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), The Kids Aren’t Alright, and Why Don’t You Get a Job? turned the arena into one massive singalong, while the encore (You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid and Self Esteem) sealed the deal.
Both The Offspring and Simple Plan proved why they’ve stood the test of time, and why pop punk still hits just as hard in a packed arena.
Check out the full gallery below, with photos by James Miller.
The Offspring & Simple Plan at Qodos Bank Arena Gallery
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