Sacramento, CA - Memorial Auditorium
March 31, 1999

the offspring

memorial auditorium

[ sacramento - ca ]

Come Out and Play: Though my relationship to The Offspring's' music compares with my relationship with my sister in the old fashioned tradition of love/hate on Wednesday night I was filled only with love. Even their songs that have made me cringe in the past won me over as the sold out crowds' enthusiasm waved over even my bitter soul.

As the screams soared the drums tumbled out of the pitch-black stage, as Ron Wetly pounded out the into of the title cut "Americana." The lights flashed on exposing the rest of the group minus frontman Dexter Holland who calmly strode out after giving his mates a quick turn in the spotlight, before he jumped in with his smirking furry. The singer with his JC Penny's model good looks and All-American smile paced the stage throughout the night. Wailing and cooing lyrics about his bands take on Americana, while bleak they injected enough warmth and humor to make it fun. In addition to Dexter's easy going personality is his counter part Noodles who pogo'd like a wild man. Whether delivering the Bonanza like riffs that blaze on "Walla Walla," or just pounding out the chords on rockers like "The Kids Aren't Alright." After "Walla Walla" they delved into my personal favorite "Gone Away" a funeral note of sorts for one of Dexter's friends that passed away. There's something amazing about seeing a sold out crowd of 4,000 kids identifying with a song like that, that is magical and at the same time sort of disheartening. Hey what the hell though that's why we jam concert halls to forget or troubles or at least come to terms with them and they quickly made me forget mine.

As I said the fellas in the Offspring also offer humor along with their misery, at one point the P.A. announcer introduced the Back Street Boys to the jeering crowd. Luckily, it wasn't them, just four dummies dressed up to which Dexter gave a merciless beating (much to the crowds approval). They also had a character-filled intermission that was part 1940's game show mixed with 90's era freaks. They also had a special guest for their performance of "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" none other than the video's star complete with the suburban hommie costume.

The highlight was their performance of "Have You Ever" off of "Americana". While the falling scarecrows on the screen seemed to represent America the front resembled our border patrol with high powered flood lights mixed with hot flashes of white heat that appeared like gunfire. Maybe a little to heady for a punk show, but why not punk used to be 100% political it's about time it came back to it's roots. Unfortunately I think this was lost on most of the crowd who were preoccupied waiting for the big single "Why Don't You Get a Job," not me though...I left happy avoiding that part of our relationship.

By Josh Perry, from Section 3