The Offspring brought their signature brand of California punk chaos to Melbourne’s iconic Forum Theatre last night, delivering an unforgettable one-night-only performance as part of the ALWAYS LIVE lineup.
With a packed crowd ready to relive decades of punk anthems—and a taste of their latest material—the band lit up the stage with their high-energy Light It Up show, proving why they’ve remained icons of the genre for over 30 years.
A Setlist That Had It All
From the opening riffs of ‘Come Out and Play,’ the crowd was hooked. The night featured a carefully crafted mix of classics and new tracks, blending fan favourites with material from their latest album, Supercharged. Mid-set, the new single ‘Make It All Right’ made its live debut, with Dexter Holland’s emotive vocals capturing the spirit of camaraderie that defines the track.
The band also teased their playful side, sprinkling snippets of covers into the mix. From a nod to Black Sabbath with ‘Iron Man’ to a burst of Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine,’ and even Edvard Grieg’s ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King,’ the eclectic mashups kept fans on their toes. The Ramones’ ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ stood out as a highlight, with the crowd shouting along to every word.
By the time they launched into ‘Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)’ and ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright,’ the energy in the room was feverish. And just when it seemed like the show couldn’t possibly get any bigger, the encore kicked in. ‘You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid’ and the enduring anthem ‘Self Esteem’ brought the night to a roaring, cathartic close.
The Forum: An Intimate Punk Paradise
The Forum proved to be the perfect venue for this rare, up-close experience with The Offspring. Known for its gothic charm and brilliant acoustics, the historic theatre added an intimate edge to a band that usually commands much larger stages.
The chemistry between band members was electric—Dexter Holland’s dynamic vocals and Noodles’ blistering guitar work formed the backbone of the show, while Pete Parada’s precision drumming kept the chaos controlled. The Forum crowd soaked up every note, turning the night into a communal celebration of punk’s past, present, and future.
A Show for the Ages
This Light It Up show wasn’t just another gig; it was a love letter to Australian fans who have stood by The Offspring since their early days. The band’s ability to combine nostalgia with fresh energy was on full display, leaving the crowd buzzing long after the final chord rang out.
Official Setlist:
- Come Out and Play
- All I Want
- Want You Bad
- Staring at the Sun
- Make It All Right
- Light It Up
- Iron Man (Black Sabbath cover snippet)
- Sweet Child o’ Mine (Guns N’ Roses cover snippet)
- In the Hall of the Mountain King (Edvard Grieg cover snippet)
- Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones cover)
- Bad Habit
- Spare Me the Details
- Gotta Get Away
- Why Don’t You Get a Job?
- Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)
- The Kids Aren’t Alright
Encore:
17. You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid
18. Self Esteem
Photos by Philippa Louise Grosse:
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