Supercharged Worldwide In ’25: The Offspring and Friends Deliver Chaos, Hits, and Covers to the Kia Forum

By Caitlin Schmidt

What better way to celebrate a birthday than surrounded by thousands of fellow punk rock fans, soaking in a stacked lineup of 80s, 90s, and early 2000s nostalgia mixed with modern-day adrenaline? The Kia Forum was jam-packed on August 29th as The Offspring brought their SUPERCHARGED WORLDWIDE IN ’25 tour to town, joined by Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory. Each band delivered a charged-up performance that perfectly blended the best of punk rock, alt-rock, and pop-punk from the last few decades—only bigger, louder, and somehow, even more fun.

New Found Glory – Pure Nostalgia

Opening the night with the kind of energy that made them legends of the pop-punk genre, New Found Glory took the stage first and instantly lit the fuse. Having not seen them since the Honda Civic Tour with Good Charlotte twenty-two years ago, this was a full-circle moment that I was looking forward to since their place on the tour was announced.

Their set wasted no time reminding the Forum why their songs have stuck with fans for decades. They kicked off with “Understatement,” the perfect burst of adrenaline to get the night moving, before diving into “All Downhill From Here,” which had the entire crowd screaming every word in unison, myself included as I shot my photos. From there, they rolled through “Hit or Miss” and “100%,” keeping the pace relentless. “Failure’s Not Flattering” maintained the singalong spirit, and a quick, fast-paced run through “Intro” served as a lead-in to their finale. They closed with “My Friends Over You,” a track that has aged into an anthem and the kind of song that instantly unites a crowd regardless of age.

Even after all these years, New Found Glory proved why they remain such a vital force in pop-punk. Every song felt immediate and lively, the crowd fully invested, and it was easy to see why their music continues to resonate with fans across generations. Being there as they played felt like being part of a shared moment with friends old and new—a perfect reminder of why we all keep coming back to this music.

Jimmy Eat World – Melodic Power and Precision

Jimmy Eat World took the stage next, bringing a different kind of energy—less frantic than New Found Glory, but equally captivating. Despite our paths having crossed at festivals, this was my first time seeing them live, and they proved immediately that the wait had been worth it. While much of the set was heard from a semi-obstructed area due to the post-photo pit shuffle, the sound carried through with clarity and impact.

They opened with “Pain,” followed by “Just Tonight…” and “Let It Happen,” building momentum with layered guitars and driving rhythm. The crowd lit up for “Work,” and when “Futures” and “Lucky Denver Mint” rolled in back-to-back, it felt like the heart of the set had arrived. Their biggest sing-alongs came from “Bleed American,” “Sweetness,” and the heavily anticipated closer, “The Middle,” each one met with borderline overpowering voices from the audience. Newer material such as “Something Loud” felt dynamic and fully integrated into the set, showing the band’s ongoing strength and presence.

The Offspring – A Theatrical, Explosive, Unforgettable Headliner

And then came The Offspring.

From the first riff of “Come Out and Play,” the Forum erupted into a storm of energy, with fans jumping, skanking, surfing, singing, and completely immersed in the music.

Dexter Holland and Noodles’ onstage banter was both hilarious and heartwarming, a window into decades of friendship that you could feel between every song. They launched into hit after hit—“Want You Bad,” “Original Prankster,” “Gotta Get Away,” and “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)” featuring the original “Pretty Fly Guy,” Guy Cohen, who danced across the stage alongside wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men, hyping up the crowd to absurd levels.

The Offspring also showcased their versatility with several covers. Noodles and Dexter flawlessly executed partial covers of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” in tribute to “The Dark Lord Ozzy Osbourne.” Dexter performed a solo rendition of Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” and the band honored the Ramones with “I Wanna Be Sedated.” During the Ramones cover, a man wearing a gorilla mask danced across the stage holding a sign that read “I Wanna Be” on one side and “Sedated” on the other, flipping it in perfect time with the lyrics, sending the crowd into hysterics and fully amplifying the playful chaos of the night.

A standout drum solo from their young drummer, Brandon Pertzborn (whom Noodles dubbed “the second most handsome member of the band”), kept the energy sky-high. A sweet surprise came during band introductions, when multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy was introduced, and I realized I was seated right behind his proud father, who loudly proclaimed, “THAT’S MY SON!” It was a genuine, unforgettable moment that captured the familial feel of the whole night.

The encore—“You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid” and “Self Esteem”—wrapped things up with a fireworks-laced punch, but no one wanted it to end. Confetti cannons, coordinated visuals, giant skeletons, massive beach balls, and pyrotechnics galore turned the Forum into a carnival of punk-fueled wonder. I was in complete awe from start to finish.

Final Thoughts

The Offspring delivered a full-blown rock opera of chaos, humor, nostalgia, and genuine emotion. Their showmanship was on another level, and the production matched every beat, with song-specific visuals, dramatic lighting, and interactive fun that made everyone—no matter their age—feel like a kid again.

This was one of those nights where everything aligned: the bands, the crowd, the energy, and the memories. Between the music, the chaos, and the sheer fun of it all, it’s a show you can’t stop thinking about even days later.

This was also one of the most challenging shows I’ve ever covered. Shooting from the soundboard for the first time, perched on a step stool, arms shaking with the heaviest lens I’ve ever held- combined with the sheer mass of the Forum, made it all very uncharted territory—a true learning experience that pushed my skills in a completely new way.

We’d like to thank New Found Glory, Jimmy Eat World, and of course, The Offspring, for having us out and letting us join in on the fun.

10/10 – A birthday to remember forever.

New Found Glory – Kia Forum

The Offspring – Kia Forum