Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Cat's Cradle
September 29, 1997



The Offspring In Concert

A typical show begins with the lights down, a few entry chords and walla, the band hits the stage. This was not the case with The Offspring. They charged up the crowd with a mini speech about First Amendment rights and other Freedoms in the well constructed, "Disclaimer."

The first thing that you usually do when you see a great band you haven't seen before is reflect on the music they have created up to the present. However, in the case of Offspring, All you could do was stand there in amazement that the guy standing center stage singing vocals, Dexter Holland, had a Masters Degree. Dressed in camouflage pants, an olive shirt and spiked blonde hair with a silky off green jacket, Dexter broke into "Bad Habit" off of their recent album "Smash." The set continued with tracks from their current album, "Ixnay On The Hombre" such as, "Cool To Hate," and the powerful #1 alternative song about love lost, "Gone Away." Noodles(guitar), Greg K(bass), and Ron Welty(drums) backed up a now jacketless Dexter and his vocals with a loud and pulsating energy that vibrated the walls and turned the center of the crowd into a mosh pit for the remainder of the night. The band continued with their current single, "I Choose," and recent sing-along favorite, "The Meaning of Life." Then Dexter walked away from the microphone sat down and said, "It's time for Intermission." Next thing you know, bubbles are flying everywhere, and a voice is saying, "Ahhhh, Intermission." As far as I can remember, this was the first time a break in the music was completely entertaining and kept your attention. Being so use to the norm, the crowd was both shocked and happy at the same time. Definate thumbs up to Dexter and the gang for originality. As the Intermission ended, Dexter looked at the crowd and said, "You know what time it is right?" Those that have listened to the new album knew that up next was the song, "All I Want," with the familiar Yah, Yah, Yah, Yah, Yah!!!! The band closed with, the all out rockin', "Come Out and Play."

All around a great show summed up by the encore with fans screaming, "I got no Self Esteem" as it echoed back to them in grinding guitar chords and lyrics portraying typical teen adolescence. The show ended with a quick grin from Dexter Holland as he walked off the stage in a sea of applause.

Set List: Disclaimer, Bad Habit, Cool To Hate, Gone Away, I Choose, Genocide, MOTA, Gotta Get Away, The Meaning Of Life, Smash, Intermission, All I Want, Come Out And Play, What Happened To You, Self Esteem

By Jace Howard, from ARW