Words – Shelby Lane
Photos – @benshootspeople
Guess who is back by unpopular demand?!
The correct answer is: Me! After a small and restful hiatus, I thought I would dust myself off by reviewing Simple Plan and The Offspring at Rod Laver Arena. You know, not a terrifying feat at all…
Braving the unforgiving Autumnal evening breeze, I made it intact to Rod Laver Arena without being blown away to Port Phillip Bay or French Island.
I must admit, my mood was certainly lurking somewhere dark, moody, and overall, probably in a comfortable bed in the multiverse BUT nothing better could quash my dastardly mood than an evening with these legendary lads. I felt even more out of sorts as this was the first concert I have reviewed without my best friend. I felt somewhat naked despite the obscene amount of clothing I was sporting. Alas, I was a brave girl and forged onward as Ben made his way over for a quick chat before joining the congregation of fellow photographers. I shuffled my way inside, joining the masses of people milling through the halls of Rod Laver filled with excited fans, donning their finest Simple Plan and The Offspring merch. I made the fatal error of buying the tour poster (not the mistake, folks) BEFORE the show started thus leaving me to carry it around. First world girly problems, am I right? The poster is stunning by the way.
Okay, enough of that! Strap in and get excited with me because I suspect Simple Plan and The Offspring will musically cure my foul mood.
Formed in Montreal, Quebec, Simple Plan have been going strong since 1999 with hit albums such as No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls, Still Not Getting Any… and Harder Than It Looks and many more. Simple Plan had performed at the Vans Warped Tour every year from 1999 to 2005, performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in Vancouver and, even did the theme music for an episode of What’s New, Scooby-Doo? Save a crumb of notoriety for the rest of us, please! I can fondly look back to my teen years where Simple Plan heavily featured in the soundtrack to my youth alongside The Offspring funnily enough. Kicking off their toe-tapping set, Simple Plan jumped straight in, starting off strong with ‘I’d Do Anything’ which healthily energized the packed, excited, and delighted onlookers. Personally, I thought that my already foggy memory would do me a disservice however, lyrical muscle memory kicked in and I found myself belting out every single word with booming enthusiasm. Core memories unlocked, people! The minute ‘Shut Up!’ started I was immediately thrown back to my ‘It’s not a phase, Mum’ period and immediately reverted to my 15-year-old self. No fringes or volleys were harmed in the process by the way. From ‘Worst Day Ever, Jet Lag (Featuring the ever-lovely Erin Reus), Addicted (featuring all of the crowd yelling HEARTBREAKER with puffed chests) and Thank You- the entire crowd was in a joint state of pure unadulterated nostalgic fueled joy.
Simple Plan powered through their electrifying set, undeterred by a small technical hiccup, which Pierre playfully joked about, causing the crowd’s furrowed brows to ease into smiles. ‘Are you guys still with us? Alright let’s keep it going!’ commanded Pierre as the band seamlessly transitioned into ‘Welcome To My Life’- another anthemic ballad for the young, unseen and lost. Hands held high and waved around like migratory birds building anticipation as we near the crescendo with Pierre thanking Melbourne with matched excitement and enthusiasm. Well, the excitement levels were perfectly challenged when a flock of oversized beach balls were deployed into the pit to amplify the beachy vibes of ‘Summer Paradise’- safe to say I was a little jealous but my little vantage point could not have been any more perfect. Did you think the excitement peaked there? Absolutely not! The band jokingly drew comparisons to our fine country with theirs, Canada, declaring that things were the same here but better. Mutual declarations of love were displayed as plans of moving to Australia were discussed to an eager crowd yelling ‘YES PLEASE’. Both the band and the crowd shared a mutual sense of gratitude, a feeling that hadn’t been felt since Simple Plan’s last Australian tour in 2019 but the fun and adoration did not stop there.
Much to the surprise of fans, Simple Plan playfully busted out ‘What’s New Scooby-Doo?’ and the crowd erupted into chaotic laughter, a reaction that was only heightened when a group of fans stormed the stage dressed as the iconic dog himself. People were dancing, vibing, and laughing like it was a raucous house party from 2009 — a scene I’m all too familiar with. Jinkies! It’s back to the Mystery Machine for our Scooby friends as Simple Plan’s set was coming to a close. Rounding out their infectiously fun set we began our descent with ‘Somewhere I Belong’ a thunderously fun track from their split single with State Champs and We The Kings! All of these throwbacks may result in whiplash or worse, the dreaded crick neck. Capping off their set with their signature showstopper song ‘Perfect’ all together and as one, in a powerful display of unity, the crowd sang with an intensity that echoed throughout the venue. A sea of flickering phone lights swept across the stadium, enveloping the surroundings like glowing fireflies in a dark cave thus amplifying the atmospheric coupling of teen sentimentality and overwhelming excitement was a perfect signing off message from Simple Plan.
Some might say they ended quite perfectly?! I am sorry, I had to. My mood has certainly shifted and it’s all thanks to Simple Plan! Hopefully they make their way back to Australia soon so we can do this all over again!
I guess the next act needs no formal introduction but I am going to do it anyway. I am merely speaking out of sentimentality but, The Offspring has been a constant in my life, from stumbling upon my dad’s lone copy of ‘Pretty Fly For a White Guy,’ to my cousins playing them on repeat and subtly shaping my taste, all the way to now, as a (questionably) grown woman who does not go a day without listening to them. Originally known as Manic Subsidal, The Offspring’s 40-year career alongside Punk rock titans such as Green Day, NOFX, Pennywise, Rancid and Bad Religion have been lauded as the revivalists of mainstream Punk rock since the 1990’s. Breathing new life into So-Cal skate punk, melodic pop-punk, and alternative hardcore their music tackles themes like rebellion, social issues, alienation, and socio-political commentary through the lense of their trademark humor and satirical edge.
Starting the booming countdown with AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck,’ the crowd eagerly watched as the minutes and seconds ticked down, their anticipation building with each passing moment. The show kicked off with a roar, as the band launched into their classic “Come Out and Play.” With the crowd instantly hooked, it was clear that this wasn’t just another concert—it was an experience. The familiar chords rang out across the arena, sending waves of nostalgia through the audience while reinforcing just how timeless Offspring’s music really is. Fans of all ages were jumping, singing, and reliving their favorite memories as they were swept up in the energy of the moment. Dominating their high-energy and punchy set with All I Want (Anyone remember Crazy Taxi?), Want You Bad, Staring at the Sun and Hammerhead I have not seen such sustained energy from one of the world’s most iconic Punk rock bands. Each drum beat, guitar riff, and soaring vocal hook was executed with effortless precision and artistry, sparking a small circle pit to erupt on the floor.The only dance move I could muster was the ‘white lady shoulder shimmy’ which is pretty funny thing to bare witness to but, I wasn’t going to be that rude person that blocked everyone’s view. Rollicking along, The Offspring continued to impressively power through and absolutely did not miss a beat by saying ‘We’re just gonna keep playing! We have a bunch of songs we are gonna play, do you wanna hear it? There will be some old shit and some new shit and some more old shit’- yes please, give it all to us!
Large streamers were shot into the crowd, blanketing them as ‘Looking Out For #1’ seamlessly transitioned into ‘Original Prankster’- another crowd favourite. Accompanied by pyrotechnics, inflatable skeletons, and dancing lights that bathed the stadium in vibrant blue tones we were barely at the halfway point! The Offspring jumped into a deliciously fun medley of Deep Purple’s ‘Smoke On The Water, Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’ and KISS’ ‘Detroit Rock City’ before their iconic high-octane punk rock infused cover of Edvard Grieg’s ‘In The Hall of the Mountain King’. Did you think the covers were over? Absolutely not! The Offspring further treated us to their lively and fresh take on The Ramone’s ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’- one of my all time favourite classic punk rock tracks. ‘HEY HO LET’S GO’ rang out, reverberating through our bones as the crowd exploded into a frenzy of dancing, raised fists, and wild limbs flying from the circle pit- I was absolutely itching to partake but knowing my luck, I would have ended up with several broken limbs or worse, a sore back and neck. As the raucous crowd began to tone down, the house lights dimmed and the stage was filled with smoke as a stunning white piano was wheeled onto the stage. Oh, no I think I know what is about to unfold. Dexter, on his lonesome, approached the piano with a gloomy disposition as he slowly muses us with the 2021 stripped back version of ‘Gone Away’. The emotions were heightened with its stripped back and simple nature which almost pushed us over the edge until the rest of the band resumed their positions and finished up ‘Gone Away’ in its original 1997 rock version. Do not emotionally tease me like that again!
A quick shift in genre dynamic, ‘Why Don’t You Get a Job’, ‘Spare Me The Details’ and ‘Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) ‘ brought us out of our sombre state and we were invigorated once again. On a high note, The Offspring said farewell to us with ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’. The lyrics remain painfully relevant in 2025, reflecting a collective sense of hopelessness amid ongoing war, civil unrest, economic struggles, and the growing rise of fascism. For those of us who often feel overlooked, there’s comfort in knowing we’re not alone. Bands like The Offspring have a rare gift for making people feel genuinely seen and heard, without any pretension or showy theatrics. It’s as if the weight of societal pressures lifts, and in those moments, we no longer feel so isolated in the world. This is why live music is so important, it is a bonding experience not just between your fellow punters but with the band that’s performing. No matter the scale of the concert, it remains intimate and sacred whether you’re on the barrier with your ribs being crushed or, squinting from the nosebleeds.
Just when you thought the fun was over and it was time to head home (boo). They energetically came back on stage to further treat us to the encore of our dreams. Belting out ‘You’re Gonna Go Far Kid’ and ‘Self Esteem’ was the goodbye kiss we all desperately needed. A roaring yet exhausted crowd blissfully bid them farewell and a humbled ‘Thank you’ was given. What a great way to spend Wednesday evening!
Even better that I had dumplings at almost midnight with my mind buzzing and whirring with excitement. Sleep? Don’t know her.
I was to express my gratitude and humble thanks to Simple Plan, The Offspring, Rod Laver Arena and Dallas Does PR. Thank you for having me! It’s has been a great hoour and joy
EVERYDAY METAL – SUPPORT LOCAL HEAVY METAL
