There are concerts that are a demonstration of visceral force that turns a venue into the epicenter of overwhelming energy. That was exactly what The Offspring, with the complicity of a masterful Simple Plan, achieved at the sold-out Olimpic Arena in Badalona.

The evening began with Simple Plan, who proved to be much more than just an opening act.

After a twenty-minute break, the stage welcomed the legends. The Offspring didn’t hit the stage, they stormed it. The band kicked things off by playing nine songs with hardly any breaks in between. An adrenaline rush starring anthems like ‘Come Out and Play’ and ‘All I Want’ that promised a night without respite. Led by the unmistakable voice of Dexter Holland and the sharp riffs of Noodles, they demonstrated why they are one of the most potent creative forces in punk rock.

The final stretch was an all-out party, a succession of classics that are part of the DNA of several generations. ‘Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)’, ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’ and the collective outburst of ‘Self Esteem’ were the finishing touch to an impeccable performance, where the band and the audience merged into one voice.

This last song was the farewell to a concert full of nostalgia and rock that, for a moment, took us back to the nineties.

THE OFFSPRING. “SUPERCHARGED”

THE OFFSPRING. “SUPERCHARGED”

Only The Offspring could make an album as high-octane as SUPERCHARGED. Aggressive yet melodic, distinctly Southern Californian yet universal, it’s a record that harnesses the unpredictable energy of 21st-century life and turns it into a force both positive and inspiring.

“The title SUPERCHARGED definitely sums up today’s world, where everyone seems to be hyped up, both in real life and on social media,” says Dexter Holland, lead singer, guitarist, and founding songwriter of The Offspring. “But it also refers to the sound of some of my favorite records, from AC/DC to Operation Ivy. Whether musically or culturally, that word hits you in a very visceral way.”

Produced by Bob Rock, the 10 songs on SUPERCHARGED capture The Offspring, a key player in the birth of Southern California’s punk scene, at their peak. Holland’s lyrics are as sharp as a razor, delivered through one of the most recognizable voices in music. Lead guitarist Noodles, Holland’s right-hand man since 1985, shreds and cuts through. On SUPERCHARGED singles like “Light It Up,” they live up to their reputation as one of the most powerful creative teams in punk rock.

“‘Light It Up’ is a giant. The character is fed up, he’s had enough, and he’s ready to fight,” says Holland. “When I was a kid, some of my favorite songs were from punk bands that said, ‘I’m sick of your crap,’ but also wanted to make things better. That’s the message of ‘Light It Up’: you’re fed up, and you want to do something about it.”

The idea of improving your life is also the theme of the lead single “Make It All Right,” a song full of California vibes that blends melodic harmonies with the crunch of Orange County guitar. “I wanted to try to write a Beach Boys-style punk rock song,” says Holland.

A hallmark of some of The Offspring’s biggest hits, from “Come Out and Play” to “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy),” the song features a spoken-word chorus. “All I wanna do is fly with you,” declares a female voice.

“I see those spoken parts as a kind of musical hook. A new voice can put a song in a different space, and especially with ‘Make It All Right,’ I thought that particular voice was right for it,” says Holland. “The song is about a guy whose girlfriend reminds him that everything’s going to be okay. But she’s not easy to convince: in one line, she says to him, ‘Just hang on!’”

In “It’s Fine, But This Is The Last Time,” The Offspring return to the familiar notion of being a fool. “Noodles calls this song ‘Self Esteem Part Two,’” Holland laughs.

But Holland was actually thinking of his kids when writing the lyrics, not a temperamental and hard-to-please girlfriend. “I’ll say no and you’ll say yes/ Then I’ll say OK, but this is the last time,” he sings in the chorus, detailing a negotiation that always ends the same way.

“One of the interesting things about music and lyrics is that they should be open to interpretation,” he says. “I’ve written some songs that are very much a true story, like ‘Self Esteem,’ but I like that this song can be interpreted in different ways. It can be about your girlfriend or your kids having a meltdown, and that’s part of the fun.”

Holland pokes a little fun at a comment musicians hear every time they announce a tour, with the IYKYK song “Come to Brazil.” A standout on the album, it features heavy guitars, tributes to Brazilian customs, and a rousing soccer chant. Holland sees it as a love letter to their South American fans. “Brazil really lights up. It has enthusiasm and passion and is an incredible place to play,” he says. “I hope fans make this song their own.”

Since returning from a nearly 10-year gap between albums while Holland earned his PhD in molecular biology at USC, The Offspring have been relentless. This year, they celebrated the 30th anniversary of their six-times-platinum album Smash, released Let the Bad Times Roll, which topped the charts in 2021, and added to their 40 million albums sold worldwide. They also continue to tour the globe (yes, including Brazil), thrilling their lifelong fans and connecting with a new generation filled with the same angst and aggression that built The Offspring.

Last year, Queen guitarist Brian May and Ed Sheeran joined them on stage at different shows, with Sheeran impressing the band by lifting his shirt to reveal an Offspring tattoo. Holland, who wrote his thesis on HIV research, bonded with May over their shared scientific backgrounds.

“Some people see it as a contradiction to have a degree in science and still be into music, but there is a connection there. Music is mathematical in the way it can be structured, and if you absorb enough of that, it can help you write songs,” says Holland.

Holland is one of rock’s true Renaissance men, a licensed pilot and certified flight instructor who volunteers for medical transport flights when he’s not flying the band to gigs. He also runs his own hot sauce company, Gringo Bandito, just one more facet of a band that is arguably the most interesting in rock & roll.

“We just want to connect with the world, and SUPERCHARGED does that like a big punch in the face,” says Holland. “We’re excited to release this record and hit the road next year, bringing the music to our fans who have been with us for so long.”