Cover shot – THE OFFSPRING
Words – CeeCee
This one-night-only show, part of the ALWAYS LIVE Victorian statewide celebration of music, was presented in partnership with Destroy All Lines and Triple M at the Forum. The night attracted a diverse crowd, proving once again how music brings people together. The energy kicked off with the crowd singing along to Tenacious D’s “Tribute,” setting the perfect tone for the night ahead.
Mixed Up Everything is a four-piece band from Melbourne that has made waves both locally and abroad. After spending time in Europe recording and touring, they brought their high-energy performance to the Forum for their first-ever show at the iconic venue, electrifying the crowd. The band, which got its start playing covers from their favourite bands on Bourke Street years ago, took a moment to reflect on their journey—highlighting their European experiences and the special opportunity to be invited by The Offspring to perform.
The night was filled with standout moments, including tracks like “She Hates Me Not” and “Normality” from their new album What’s The Rush Now?. They also surprised fans with a powerful cover of Tool’s “Forty Six and Two.” For many in the crowd, this was their first time seeing the band, and they couldn’t have been happier. Mixed Up Everything brings a fresh take on the music that shaped our youth, blending alternative rock and post-grunge influences into a sound that feels both nostalgic and excitingly new.
The Offspring kicked off their show with a bang, and the crowd went wild the moment they hit the stage, diving straight into “Come Out and Play.” The energy was electric, with the floor literally shaking from the relentless jumping and fans singing every word at the top of their lungs.
After a high-octane performance of “All I Want,” Dexter Holland and Noodles took a moment to chat with the audience, revealing that this was their only show in Australia for this tour, which made the night even more special. The crowd’s applause reached deafening levels during “Staring at the Sun,” with some of the loudest clapping I’ve ever heard at a concert.
The Offspring also treated fans to a new track, “Light It Up,” released just a few months ago. Dexter’s trademark humour was on full display as he joked, “We’ve almost never played that song before,” adding that Noodles was still figuring it out. Noodles later took centre stage, showing off his guitar prowess with an epic mash-up of “Iron Man,” followed by a cheeky comment about Todd writing “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” before finishing with a blistering rendition of “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” This seamless medley led into a high-energy cover of the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.”
The night also featured Jonah Nimoy, a multi-instrumentalist who added a unique layer of depth to the performance. After “Gotta Get Away,” Brandon Pertzborn delivered an electrifying drum solo that had the crowd cheering for more.
Dexter took a moment to share a hilarious and slightly absurd story behind the song “Spare Me the Details.” He explained how he came up with the lyrics which came from a friends story while out surfing, who confessed that his girlfriend had cheated on him. Dexter humorously recounted the details of his friend’s story, including a condom mishap at a party, before concluding, “I’m sorry that happened, man, but I’m sure there’s a great song in there somewhere.”
The fun didn’t stop there. During “Why Don’t You Get a Job,” a gorilla emerged on stage, tossing beach balls into the crowd, and for “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy),” two wacky waving inflatable tube white guy’s took over the stage, adding to the playful atmosphere.
During “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid,” the camera guy joined in on the fun, crowd surfing through the audience, making for one of the night’s most memorable moments. Afterwards, Noodles joked that songs with “kid” in the title always seem to get a billion streams
During “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid,” the camera guy joined in on the fun, crowd surfing through the audience, making for one of the night’s most memorable moments. Afterwards, Noodles joked that songs with “kid” in the title always seem to get a billion streams, before giving a big shout-out to local band Mixed Up Everything, who opened for them, leading into “Self Esteem.”
The night wrapped up with the entire crowd singing along to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” leaving everyone on a euphoric high. With their signature humour, incredible musicianship, and non-stop energy, The Offspring proved they are true legends of the rock scene, I walked out of there with a big smile on my face and a pick from Todd in my pocket.
The night wrapped up with the entire crowd singing along to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” leaving everyone on a euphoric high. With their signature humour, incredible musicianship, and non-stop energy, The Offspring proved they are true legends of the rock scene, I walked out of there with a big smile on my face and a pick from Todd in my pocket.
Big thank you again to the teams at ALWAYS LIVE, Destroy All Lines, Triple M and the Forum for having us take part in such an awesome night.
Thanks to The Forum crew for having us and special thanks to Dallas Does PR for arranging media access.
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