London, England - Camden Underworld
August 22, 1996



The Offspring and Social Distortion at Camden London

THIS IS a "non-press" fan-club gig, an event which only an American management team could devise. Thankfully, they couldn't stop us buying a ticket. A snip at a fan-friendly fiver.

Right, we're in. Rage Against The Machine singer Zach de la Rocha just walked by, but luckily he didn't smell the filthy press scum. It's time to be blown away by Social Distortion - a band fronted by one of US punk's guiding lights, Mike Ness. They are electrifyingly primal.

Ness bangs on a Les Paul, his necks veins like trampoline strings. Wearing amusingly un-punk eyeliner, he looks like a tattoed Jack Nicholson circa "The Shining", or an especially malevolent Hannibal Lector. The set-list is naturally a mixed bag of oldies like "Prison Bound" and "Mommy's Little Monster", plus material from the excellent new album "White Light White Heat White Trash". Marvellous, all of it.

So, can Offspring hope to equal this? In their own way, yes. Offspring zoom in with "Bad Habit" and it's just heartening to see singer Dexter Holland grin and crowd-surf with scant regard for personal safety. "There you go", he pants after this rampant opener. "Told you we should have put that barrier up".

Viewed minus misconceptions, up close and personal, Offspring pass the test. It's easy to slag a band for having sold millions and being "plastic punk" - the only question worth asking is: are they good or bad? And the answer is yes. They're fun, and we should be proud of them.

"Weezer and Rage Against The Machine are here" gushes Holland, truthfully. "We should have an all-star jam!" Guitarrist Noodles grins over and suggests, "We'll get Weezer up to play Rage songs, and vice versa". Naturally this doesn't happen, althought Weezer singer Rivers Cuomo introduces the expected set closer, "Self Esteem". Sure, it reeks of "...Teen Spirit", but it gets you bouncing. Bottom line.

Another set highlights is, of course, "Come Out And Play (Keep 'Em Separated)", aided by three helpers plucked from the crowd. Offspring also play a couple of new songs, and multi-platinum status has clearly done little to soften their rumble-tumble approach. The essential "Whoah-oh's and Yeah yeahhhs" are also in place.

Look left. Look right. Nope, looks like we got away with it.

5 out of 5 stars
From "Kerrang" magazine - September 7, 1996