RECAP: THE OFFSPRING BRING 'SUPERCHARGED WORLD TOUR' TO VANCOUVER

Backspin Canada
4 days ago
4 min read

On January 24, The Offspring turned a sold out Rogers Arena into a full blown punk rock time machine, with Bad Religion setting the tone and Vancouver gladly along for the ride. The show proved that some bands age without losing any bite. This marked The Offspring’s first return to the region since November 26, 2022 in Abbotsford, their 14th overall performance in British Columbia, and a full-circle moment from their first provincial appearance in, 1994. The Vancouver stop was the sixth date of their 23-show North American run before the tour heads overseas to Europe.

Photos by Caroline Charruyer / Backspin HQ

Bad Religion hit first and did exactly what a legendary support act should do. Greg Graffin sounded locked in, and the band ripped through their set with no wasted motion. Every chorus came back twice as loud from the floor, and the pit filled fast.

Instead of letting that energy dip, The Offspring made sure the intermission stayed busy. A blimp floated above the floor, filming the crowd and drifting through the lower bowl. The Canucks mascot, Fin, roamed the arena during celebrity look alike segments and kiss cam moments, drawing big reactions and keeping the mood playful. Right before showtime, the band’s hype gorilla mascot stormed the stage, pacing and pumping its fists until the crowd was already yelling before a single note was played. It felt silly in the best way, pure pop punk theatre.

The band hit the stage to a roar and opened with 'Come Out and Play'. Fans were immediately on their feet, shouting every word. There was no warm up; from the jump, this was full speed. Early in the set, inflatable skeletons popped up across the stage, adding to the controlled chaos as the band rolled straight into 'All I Want', 'Want You Bad', 'Looking Out for #1', and 'Staring at the Sun'.

Dexter Holland sounded strong and focused, easily cutting through the mix, while Noodles bounced around the stage like he was still playing club shows. The banter between them never stopped. They joked with each other, teased the crowd, and made it clear how comfortable they still are together. At one point, Noodles shared that Dex is a licensed pilot and had flown the band to Canada himself, which somehow felt both absurd and completely believable.

Mid set highlights came fast. 'Hit That' blended into 'Original Prankster', sending the floor into party mode. 'Hammerhead' hit hard, followed by 'Make It All Right', which held its own among the classics. Crowdsurfers poured over the barricade throughout the night, keeping security visibly busy as bodies kept coming.

Between songs, the band shouted out Vancouver repeatedly, with Holland declaring it the best city in the world and saying it always feels special when they come here. Judging by the reaction, the feeling was mutual.

The covers section leaned fully into fun. Snippets of 'Electric Funeral', 'Paranoid', and 'Crazy Train' flew by before the band launched into 'In the Hall of the Mountain King', turning it into a rapid fire punk sprint. 'I Wanna Be Sedated' kept the pits spinning, followed by 'Gotta Get Away', which hit with pure momentum. A drum solo gave the crowd a breather before the tone shifted.

Holland sat at the piano for an acoustic take on 'Gone Away'. The arena quieted and phone lights filled the room. 'Hey Jude' followed, turning Rogers Arena into one massive singalong, arms up and voices out.

The final run before the encore was all celebration. 'Why Don’t You Get a Job?' and 'Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)' had people dancing in the aisles, and 'The Kids Aren’t Alright' closed the main set with a punch that still hits hard as those lyrics have not aged out.

The encore brought it home with 'You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid'. 'Self Esteem' closed the night with messy joy and zero restraint. The band took their bows, smiling like they knew exactly what they had just pulled off.

This show was not about nostalgia alone. The Offspring have a catalog that still works live, and they proved that punk does not need to slow down to stay relevant.

The Offspring Upcoming Tour Dates

January 25, Kelowna, BC at Prospera Place

January 27, Prince George, BC at CN Centre

January 28, Grande Prairie, AB at Bonnetts Energy Centre

January 30, Edmonton, AB at Rogers Place

February 1, Calgary, AB at Scotiabank Saddledome

February 5, Winnipeg, MB at Canada Life Centre

February 6, Fargo, ND at FARGODOME

February 7, Sioux City, IA at Tyson Events Center

February 10, Evansville, IN at Ford Center

February 11, Grand Rapids, MI at Van Andel Arena

February 13, Hamilton, ON at TD Coliseum