For a band that’s been riding the punk rock rollercoaster for over three decades, The Offspring still know exactly how to light a fire under a crowd. At the Kia Forum in 2025, Dexter Holland, Noodles, and company proved that they haven’t lost an ounce of the wild energy, biting humor, or melodic punch that made them kings of the late-‘90s pop-punk explosion. What unfolded was a perfectly chaotic, sing-along-heavy night that mixed nostalgia, comedy, and surprising musical chops — the kind of show that reminded everyone that The Offspring never really stopped being one of the most fun live bands in America.
There was no pretense, no dramatic entrance — just the lights dimming, a roar from the crowd, and the instantly recognizable opening riff of “Come Out and Play.” From that moment, the Kia Forum was theirs.
The Setlist
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Come Out and Play
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All I Want
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Want You Bad
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Looking Out for #1
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Staring at the Sun
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Original Prankster
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Hammerhead
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Make It All Right
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Bad Habit
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Sweet Leaf (Black Sabbath cover, tease)
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Paranoid (Black Sabbath cover, tease)
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Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne cover)
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In the Hall of the Mountain King (Edvard Grieg cover)
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I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones cover)
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Gotta Get Away
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Drum Solo
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Gone Away
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Why Don’t You Get a Job?
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Pretty Fly (for a White Guy) (with Guy Cohen, original “Pretty Fly Guy”)
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The Kids Aren’t Alright
Encore:
21. Lullaby
22. You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid
23. Self Esteem
Punk Rock Still Plays Loud
As soon as Dexter Holland hit that first “You gotta keep ‘em separated,” the crowd erupted in unison. “Come Out and Play” sounded as sharp and defiant as it did in 1994. Holland’s voice — still a mix of sneer and melody — carried through the Forum like it was 1999 again, while Noodles’ guitar tone was crisp, cutting, and gloriously loud. The crowd, packed with everyone from 40-something punk veterans to teenagers wearing vintage Smash shirts, didn’t need any warm-up.
“All I Want” followed, turning the pit into a swirling mass of bodies and fists in the air. The song’s 90-second burst of speed-punk catharsis hit like a shot of adrenaline. It’s still one of The Offspring’s best — short, angry, catchy, and explosive.
Then came “Want You Bad,” one of those early-2000s MTV-era gems that perfectly blended pop-punk sugar with sleazy wit. The fans sang every word of the chorus, laughing and shouting along like they were at a drunken karaoke night. Holland smirked and leaned into it, clearly enjoying the nostalgia — but the performance was tight, not just a throwback.
“Looking Out for #1” and “Staring at the Sun”
The new track “Looking Out for #1” fit surprisingly well into the setlist. It’s a little more polished, a little more groove-based than their older material, but it carried that familiar Offspring snark — an anthem for cynics wrapped in sunshine melody. It’s easy to forget that The Offspring have been quietly releasing solid new material well into their 50s, and this was proof they’re still writing with purpose.
“Staring at the Sun” was pure speed. The band ripped through it like they were still playing Warped Tour in the late ‘90s, and the crowd responded with that same energy. You could see teenagers moshing next to middle-aged fans who probably saw them in 1998 — all of them screaming along to “Maybe life is like a ride on a freeway…”
The Offspring’s secret weapon has always been how deceptively smart their songs are — sneaky melodies, sharp lyrics, hooks that never quit. It’s easy to label them as “fun,” but they’ve always had more under the hood.
“Original Prankster” and “Hammerhead”: Still Mischievous, Still Mean
“Original Prankster” turned the Forum into a party. Noodles grinned like a madman while Holland strutted across the stage, and when that goofy-but-irresistible “You can do it!” sample hit, the entire crowd shouted it back in sync. There’s always been something uniquely Offspring about balancing humor and rebellion — they’ve never taken themselves too seriously, and that’s part of what’s made them endure.
“Hammerhead” shifted the tone, bringing in a darker, heavier sound from their Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace era. It’s a song that’s more political and muscular, with that military stomp and gritty chorus. Live, it packed a punch — the lights strobed blood-red as the riff hit, and Holland’s voice had real bite.
They followed with “Make It All Right,” a new song that kept the momentum going. It’s classic Offspring: catchy chorus, tight rhythm, a hint of sarcasm in the lyrics. It’s not rewriting history, but it showed that their songwriting instincts are still intact.
“Bad Habit” and the Sabbath Detour
When Holland strummed the opening chords of “Bad Habit,” the crowd went berserk. Everyone knew what was coming — the punk anthem that starts as a joke and ends in pure catharsis. By the time Holland got to the immortal line, “You stupid dumbshit goddamn motherf**er!”* the Forum was shaking. It was a communal scream-along, equal parts hilarious and liberating.
But instead of diving straight into another hit, Noodles took over with a left turn — teasing Black Sabbath riffs. First came the heavy, unmistakable chug of “Sweet Leaf,” then a half-minute blast of “Paranoid.” The crowd loved it, especially the older fans who grew up on both metal and punk. And just when it seemed like a quick joke, they ripped into a surprisingly tight version of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train.”
It was one of those moments that could’ve gone wrong — but didn’t. Dexter nailed the vocals, Noodles tore up the Randy Rhoads solo, and it was clear they were just having fun. Punk and metal don’t always blend this well, but when The Offspring do it, it feels natural — like kids messing around in a garage, except the kids are now arena veterans with flawless timing.
That led into a tongue-in-cheek instrumental cover of “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Edvard Grieg — a nod to their habit of slipping in unexpected classical riffs. It was fast, theatrical, and hilarious, showing off how tight the band still is musically, even when they’re joking around.
Then came a quick, scrappy take on The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated.” It was a perfect tribute — sloppy in all the right ways, reverent without being too serious.
“Gotta Get Away” and a Moment of Reflection
When the dust settled, the band brought things back to their own catalog with “Gotta Get Away.” It’s one of their darker, moodier songs — a reminder that beneath all the humor, The Offspring always had a streak of alienation and exhaustion running through their lyrics. Holland’s delivery was sharp and emotional, and the crowd swayed rather than bounced, soaking it in.
A short but punchy drum solo followed, giving the rest of the band a breather and letting the audience catch its breath. Then came one of the night’s emotional peaks: “Gone Away.”
Every Offspring show has this moment — where the chaos slows down and Holland sits at a piano, performing “Gone Away” solo. It’s stripped-down, heartbreaking, and sincere. In a set filled with rebellion and laughter, it was the quiet, devastating moment that reminded everyone why The Offspring have lasted this long. When the final chord rang out, the Forum fell silent for a few seconds — rare for a punk crowd.
“Why Don’t You Get a Job?” and “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)”
Of course, the seriousness didn’t last long. Holland cracked a grin and strummed the opening of “Why Don’t You Get a Job?”, and the crowd immediately turned into a giant drunken sing-along. The song’s mocking tone hasn’t aged a bit — in fact, it’s aged hilariously well. The verses, the call-and-response chorus, the ska bounce — it all hit perfectly.
Then came the inevitable explosion: “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy).”
To make it even better, the band brought out Guy Cohen, the “original Pretty Fly Guy” from the music video, now in his 50s but still rocking the shades, the leather jacket, and the swagger. The crowd lost its collective mind. Cohen strutted across the stage, tossing out dance moves and mouthing “Give it to me baby!” with ridiculous flair. It was absurd, nostalgic, and completely joyous — everything The Offspring stand for in one moment.
The lights turned pink and blue, confetti cannons fired, and the Forum felt like it had transformed into a punk rock carnival. The band played it with total confidence, knowing exactly what the crowd wanted — laughter, energy, and catharsis.
“The Kids Aren’t Alright”
If “Pretty Fly” was the high-comedy moment, “The Kids Aren’t Alright” was the emotional gut-punch. The guitars kicked in, the drums thundered, and the entire venue sang the first line in unison: “When we were young, the future was so bright…”
It’s still one of the most anthemic songs of the late ‘90s, and in 2025, it feels even more relevant. Holland sang it with conviction — part fury, part sadness — while Noodles’ guitar solo soared like a battle cry. The visuals on the big screen showed flickering images of suburban decay, echoing the song’s themes.
It’s their perfect closer: angry, catchy, and reflective. The crowd screamed every word, fists in the air, and for a few minutes, everyone in the room was back in that chaotic, uncertain decade where punk and pop collided.
But of course, The Offspring weren’t done yet.
Encore: “Lullaby,” “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid,” and “Self Esteem”
After a brief break, Dexter came back alone with an acoustic guitar for “Lullaby.” It’s a short, haunting tune — a quiet breather that bridged the chaos of the main set with the grand finale. It was unexpected and surprisingly beautiful, the calm before the storm.
Then came “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid.”
If there’s one modern Offspring song that rivals their classics, it’s this one. From the opening riff to the crowd-chant chorus, it hit like a bomb. The audience screamed “Dance, fucker, dance!” so loudly it nearly drowned out Holland himself. It’s one of those rare late-era songs that feels timeless, and it fit perfectly in the encore slot — pure catharsis.
Finally, the band closed with the song that started it all for many fans: “Self Esteem.”
The opening bassline hit, the lights went golden, and the Forum turned into a massive choir. Every fan — whether they were 15 or 50 — sang every lyric, word-for-word, from the first verse to the final “Yeah!” It was a perfect ending. The song hasn’t lost a shred of its relevance; if anything, its blend of humor and heartbreak has deepened over time.
When the final chord rang out, the band stood together, arms raised, taking in the roaring applause. Dexter smiled, thanked the crowd with a simple, “You guys have been amazing — stay bad, L.A.,” and they walked off, leaving behind a room full of sweaty, smiling faces.
The Performance
At this point in their career, The Offspring don’t need to prove anything — but they still play like they do. Holland’s voice was in great shape, hitting every shout and melody with surprising precision. Noodles, always the jester, was a ball of energy — posing, joking, and ripping through solos like it was second nature. The rhythm section was airtight, giving their set the kind of muscle most pop-punk bands can only dream of.
What stood out most, though, was how much fun they were clearly having. Too many veteran bands look tired or disconnected; The Offspring looked like they were genuinely enjoying every second of it. The chemistry was real, the humor unforced, and the music still vital.
The Crowd and Atmosphere
The Kia Forum crowd was a perfect reflection of The Offspring’s reach — a multi-generational army of fans singing every lyric. Parents brought their kids, teenagers moshed next to lifelong punks, and everyone seemed to know every word. It felt communal, almost tribal — a loud, joyous celebration of music that never stopped mattering.
The production was surprisingly big: crisp sound, colorful lighting, pyro bursts, and video backdrops filled with tongue-in-cheek animations and punk collage art. It wasn’t overproduced, just theatrical enough to make it feel like a real event.
Final Thoughts
The Offspring’s 2025 show at the Kia Forum wasn’t just a nostalgia trip — it was proof that punk rock, in all its messy, funny, furious glory, still thrives when it’s played with heart. They’ve aged, sure, but not softened. If anything, they’ve grown sharper, funnier, and more self-aware.
They’ve always straddled the line between rebellion and absurdity — a band that could make you laugh one minute and scream along the next. And that balance was on full display tonight.
By the end of the night, everyone left sweaty, smiling, and hoarse from shouting. The Offspring didn’t reinvent themselves — they didn’t have to. They just reminded everyone why they were, and still are, one of the greatest live punk bands of their generation.
Grade: B+