The OFFSPRING - Supercharged Worldwide in ‘25

The Offspring & Simple Plan – Supercharged Tour 2025

Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney – May 10, 2025

On Sunday night, the Qudos Bank Arena—the world’s fourth-largest indoor venue—was transformed into a multi-generational punk rock playground as The OFFSPRING and Simple Plan brought their Supercharged World Tour to Sydney. With all 21,000 seats sold out on release day, it was clear this wasn’t just another night on the tour—this was a full-scale celebration of two iconic bands who still know exactly how to ignite a crowd.

From the moment Simple Plan bounded onstage, the tone was set: playful, chaotic, and joyously nostalgic. The Canadian five-piece, formed in 1999 in Montreal, brought youthful energy that never wavered. From the opening riff of ‘I’d Do Anything’—to the closing chords of ‘Perfect’, the band delivered a masterclass in feel-good pop-punk.

The set was filled with fan-favourites: ‘Shut Up’, ‘Welcome to My Life’, ‘I’m Just a Kid’—each met with an arena-wide singalong that echoed like a high school anthem revisited. A surprise appearance by Aussie favourite Jenna McDougall for ‘Jet Lag’ made the crowd erupt and, in a twist of surreal hilarity, a pack of fans in full Scooby-Doo costumes stormed the stage mid-set, throwing gifts into the crowd as ‘What’s New Scooby-Doo?’ blasted out. It was mayhem, but the fun kind.

Birthday boy Pierre Bouvier even swapped spots with drummer Chuck Comeau, giving Chuck the mic—and a chance to crowd surf through the front rows—while guest Erin Reus took over vocals. The energy was explosive, with all members leaping from risers and sprinting across the stage like kids who’ve just discovered caffeine.

The band’s affection for Australia was clear, reminiscing about their 2024 headline tour and thanking fans with genuine warmth. It wasn’t just nostalgia—it was a reminder that Simple Plan still owns their moment, two decades in.

Rather than letting energy dip during intermission, the team behind the tour pulled off a genius move—a floating digital blimp zipped across the arena, dropping guitar picks and calling for crowd participation. From kiss cams to headbanging contests and impromptu dance-offs, the audience was game, the vibe electric. Rarely does a “half-time show” feel like part of the main event—but this one absolutely did.

As the lights dropped and the opening chords of ‘Come Out and Play’ rang out, it was clear The OFFSPRING were ready to remind us why they remain one of punk’s most enduring forces. Dexter Holland and Noodles (Bryan Holland and Kevin Wasserman, for the purists) led the charge, backed by a thunderous rhythm section and a dazzling visual spectacle.

From ‘Want You Bad’ and ‘Bad Habit’ to newer cuts like ‘Make It Alright’, the band’s set was a greatest-hits parade with a few power-packed pit stops in the present. Inflatable skeletons framed the stage, pyro flared, CO2 burst and those familiar car-yard wacky waving inflatables wobbled with abandon as the band tore through their catalog.

Mid-show, Noodles launched into a cheeky guitar solo medley featuring the classics ‘Smoke on the Water’ ‘Iron Man’, and ‘Detroit Rock City’, while an emotional highlight came when Dexter sat behind a miniature white grand piano to perform a haunting version of ‘Gone Away’. He asked the crowd to turn on their phone lights in memory of someone they’d lost, and the arena transformed into a sea of soft white stars—a moving, almost sacred moment.

Then came the finale: ‘Why Don’t You Get a Job’, ‘Spare Me the Details’, and ‘Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)’ raised the roof. But it wasn’t over yet. The Calironian band returned to the stage to deliver an encore that kicked off with ‘You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid’ and closed with ‘Self Esteem’, sending the crowd into a final, frenzied explosion of fists, voices, and confetti.

This wasn’t just a concert—it was a shared experience. The kind you leave buzzing, with your ears ringing and heart full. There were kids on shoulders singing along with their parents (shout out to those parents raising their offspring right!), longtime fans reliving their youth, and newcomers discovering the magic of punk rock in its purest form.

The OFFSPRING and Simple Plan delivered something rare: a stadium show that felt personal. It was theatrical without being pretentious, nostalgic without being tired, and most of all, it was fun. Whether you were reliving your teenage years or passing the pop-punk torch to the next generation, one thing was clear: some anthems never fade—they just get louder.

And as we poured out of Qudos Bank Arena, still humming those anthems, one thing was certain: we’d all just witnessed the perfect rock concert.

Thanks to The OFFSPRING, Destroy All lines, Dallas Does PR and the Qudos Bank Arena for having us along.

Review by Jayde Willingham

Photos by Mish Media