By Erin Lee
All images by Larry Marano
The Offspring powered through a set of hits and classics last night at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.
The Southern California punk staples started the night strong with "Come Out and Play," "All I Want," and "Want You Bad" before even addressing the audience. Lead singer Dexter Holland and guitarist Noodles kept a steady banter throughout the evening that was nothing short of an old-school comedy duo routine.
They'd check in with each other between songs, asking if this was, in fact, the greatest evening of their lives. It certainly felt like it from in the crowd, as the two bandmates expressed how playing together still feels like a dream.
Performing at a level of intensity usually reserved for guys half their age, The Offspring proved that career longevity trumps youth in spades. Noodles smashed a solo of the classical composition "In the Hall of the Mountain King," followed by a full band cover of The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop."
The set design featured some fun video visuals and wacky waving inflatable arm guys, but for me personally, the real win was that they launched both confetti AND streamers!
The band stopped down mid-set to ask if we felt like having a good time and cursing, (the answer came in the form of us shouting the well-known string of expletive lyrics back at the band) before wrapping up "Bad Habit" from their 1994 debut album Smash.
Dexter advised us the album is celebrating its 30th anniversary! Although I know this to be chronologically correct: in my mind last night I was back in middle school. So surely this can't be?
Time does, in fact, march on.
But for The Offspring, time has afforded them the ability to polish their sound and deliver a live set that left fans screaming for more!
Here are some more images Larry Marano captured at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida show:
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