The Offspring Light Up the Kia Forum With Nostalgia, Surprises, and a Familiar Dance Move
On Friday, August 29, The Offspring brought their Supercharged Worldwide Tour to the Kia Forum in Inglewood, delivering a night that was equal parts throwback and spectacle. Toward the end of the show, fans were treated to a special cameo from Guy Cohen, the unforgettable “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)” dancer who reprised his leg-hook routine from the band’s 1998 music video.
Sharing the bill with pop-punk staples New Found Glory and hometown veterans Jimmy Eat World, Dexter Holland, Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman, and their bandmates leaned into everything that makes them who they are—raucous punk anthems, irreverent banter, and a wink-and-nudge approach to crowd work that kept the energy light and infectious.
The evening opened sharply at 9 p.m. with “Come Out and Play,” a track that just turned 30. Any doubts about aging punks playing aging hits evaporated almost instantly—Holland’s vocals were on point, Noodles’ guitar sounded as sharp as ever, and the chemistry between the two carried through the entire 20-song set. At one point, the frontmen jokingly claimed the arena held 1.3 million people, crowning them “the greatest audience in the history of the universe.” It’s the kind of line they’ve probably used a hundred times, but it landed with charm nonetheless.
The core of the setlist leaned on familiar favorites—“All I Want,” “Bad Habit,” “Why Don’t You Get a Job?,” “Pretty Fly for a White Guy,” and, of course, the closer “Self-Esteem.” But the night had its share of surprises. Holland stepped away from his guitar to sit at the piano for a heartfelt rendition of “Gone Away,” illuminated by a sea of phone flashlights. Drummer Brandon Pertzborn, born months after Smash hit shelves in 1994, stunned the crowd with a blistering solo that served as both interlude and flex.
Perhaps the boldest detour came in the form of a mini-tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. Midway through the set, The Offspring ripped into covers of “Paranoid” and “Crazy Train.” Holland’s vocals carried the songs well, but the true fireworks came from Wasserman and touring guitarist Jonah Nimoy, whose shredding on “Crazy Train” earned more than a few gasps—and at least one involuntary “hell yeah.”
What stood out most, however, wasn’t just the band’s performance but the audience itself. The fans weren’t angling for the perfect Instagram story or trying to out-cool each other. They came to sing along, shout the choruses they’ve known for decades, and revel in a night that celebrated the music of their youth. For two hours, everyone in the room—from the stage to the floor—seemed completely aligned in their mission: to have fun. And that’s exactly what they did.
On Friday, August 29, The Offspring brought their Supercharged Worldwide Tour to the Kia Forum in Inglewood, delivering a night that was equal parts throwback and spectacle. Toward the end of the show, fans were treated to a special cameo from Guy Cohen, the unforgettable “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)” dancer who reprised his leg-hook routine from the band’s 1998 music video.
