The Offspring

The Offspring’s metal-inflected punk became a popular sensation in 1994, selling over four million albums on an independent record label. While the group’s credentials and approach follow the indie rock tradition of the ’80s, sonically the Offspring sound more like an edgy, hard-driving heavy metal band, with their precise, pulsing power chords and Dexter Holland’s flat vocals. Featuring Holland, guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman, bassist Greg Kriesel, and drummer Ron Welty, the Offspring released their self-titled debut album in 1989. Four years later, their second album, Ignition, became an underground hit, setting the stage for the across-the-board success of 1994’s Smash. The Nirvana sound-alike “Come Out and Play,” the first single from the album, became an MTV hit in the summer of 1994, which paved the way to radio success.

The Offspring were played on both alternative and album rock stations, confirming their broad-based appeal. “Self Esteem,” the second single, followed the same soft verse/loud chorus formula and stayed on the charts nearly twice as long as “Come Out and Play.” The group got offers from major labels, yet chose to stay with Epitaph. While they were able to play arenas in the U.S., their success didn’t translate in foreign countries. Nevertheless, the band’s popularity continued to grow in America, as “Gotta Get Away” became another radio/MTV hit in the beginning of 1995. The Offspring recorded a version of the Damned’s “Smash It Up” for the Batman Forever soundtrack in the summer of that year; it kept the group on the charts as the bandmembers worked on their third album.

Following a prolonged bidding war and much soul-searching, the Offspring decided to leave Epitaph Records in 1996 for Columbia Records. The move was particularly controversial within the punk community, and many artists on the Epitaph roster, including Pennywise and owner Brett Gurewitz, criticized the band. After much delay, the Offspring finally released their Columbia debut, Ixnay on the Hombre, in February of 1997. Expectations for the record were high and it did receive good reviews, but Ixnay on the Hombre failed to become a crossover hit on the level of Smash, and the group also lost a significant portion of its hardcore punk audience due to the album’s major-label status. Americana followed in 1998, scoring the hit “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy).” In mid-2000, the Offspring made controversial headlines with their decision to offer Conspiracy of One free of charge via the Internet prior to the initial November release date. Sony Music did not adhere to such a move and threatened a lawsuit; therefore, the band nixed plans to release the album in such a manner. Individual singles, however, were made available on the band’s official website and other music-related sites such as MTV Online.

The Offspring returned in 2003 with Splinter. The album was released through Columbia, proving the band’s flouting of the record biz hadn’t soured the major labels. It also featured the single “Hit That,” which returned to the smarmy, pop-referential feel of “Pretty Fly.” The Offspring toured the world in support of Splinter, and in the process they hit nearly every continent at least once. They returned in June 2005 with a greatest-hits set; in addition to their major hits, it included the new track “Can’t Repeat.” In 2008, after several delays, the band returned with its first studio release in four and a half years, releasing the highly anticipated Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace.

The Offspring Announces First U.S. Tour In Four Years

The Offspring Announces First U.S. Tour In Four Years

The Offspring return to the road after a four year North American hiatus with a new tour, the group announced today (March 24).  The band kick of the trek, dubbed the “S*** Is F***ed Up” tour, on May 15 in Nashville and wind up July 18 in Pomano Beach, Fla.

Alkaline Trio and Street Dogs support the first leg of the tour (May 19 - June 9); Shiny Toy Guns and Street Dogs will open the second (Jun 10-17); Dropkick Murphys the third (June 19 - 30); and Sum 41 will warm up for the last two weeks (July 10-18).  Pennywise is playing one date on the tour, July 2 in Toronto.

The tour marks the band’s first national tour since the June 2008 release of their eighth studio album, the Bob Rock-produced “Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace.” The album’s second single, “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid,” spent 11 weeks atop the Billboard Modern Rock chart at the end of last year.

Updated tour and ticket information can be found at www.offspring.com.

Here are the “S*** Is F***ed Up” tour dates:

May 15: Nashville, TN (Riverfront Park - Merrell Crawfish Boil Festival)
May 17: Camden, NJ (Susquehanna Bank Center - The 2009 MMR*B*Q festival)
May 19: Austin, TX (Austin Music Hall)
May 20: Dallas, TX (Nokia Theatre)
May 22: Kansas City, MO (City Market (Buzz Under The Stars festival)
May 25: Sioux City, IA (Gateway Arena)
May 26: Rapid City, SD (Rushmore Plaza Civic Center)
May 28: Morrison, CO (Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Punk Rocks festival)
May 30: Las Vegas, NV (Pearl Concert Theater)
June 1: Phoenix, AZ (Mesa Amphitheatre)
June 3: San Diego, CA (Open Air Theatre)
June 5: Irvine, CA (Verizon Wireless Amphitheater)
June 9: Seattle, WA (WaMu Theater)
June 10: Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbird Arena)
June 12: Calgary, AB (The Stampede Corral)
June 13: Edmonton, AB (Northlands - Hall D)
June 15: Saskatoon, SK (Prairieland Park)
June 17: Winnipeg, MB (MTS Centre)
June 19: St. Paul, MN (Roy Wilkins Auditorium)
June 20: Chicago, IL (Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island)
June 21: Cleveland, OH (Time Warner Amphitheater at Tower City)
June 23: Columbus, OH (The LC Pavilion)
June 24: Cincinnati, OH (PNC Pavilion at Riverbend)
June 26: Milwaukee, WI (Summerfest)
June 27: Indianapolis, IN (The Lawn)
June 28: Detroit, MI (Freedom Hill)
June 30: Canandaigua, NY (CMAC)
July 2: Toronto, ON (The Molson Amphitheater)
July 3: St-Ephrem de Tring, QC (Woodstock en Beauce Festival)
July 7: Sayreville, NJ (Starland Ballroom)
July 8: New York, NY (Roseland)
July 10: Boston, MA (Tsongas Arena)
July 11: Gilford, NH (Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion)
July 14: Charlotte, NC (Charlotte Boutique Amphitheatre at The Music Factory)
July 16: Orlando, FL (Hard Rock Live)
July 17: St. Augustine, FL (The St. Augustine Amphitheatre)
July 18: Pompano Beach, FL (Pompano Beach Amp)

The Offspring - Kristy Are You Doing Okay

Pretty decent single (although I have no idea who Kristy is). 7/10

Click below to listen (not the original video)

The Offspring

“The Offspring’s metal-inflected punk became a popular sensation in 1994, selling over four million albums on an independent record label. While the group’s credentials and approach follow the indie rock tradition of the ’80s, sonically they sound more like an edgy, hard-driving heavy metal band, with their precise, pulsing power chords and Dexter Holland’s flat vocals.
Featuring Holland, guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman, bassist Greg Kriesel, and drummer Ron Welty, the Offspring released their self-titled debut album in 1989. Four years later, their second album, Ignition, became an underground hit, setting the stage for the across-the-board success of 1994’s Smash. The Nirvana sound-alike “Come Out and Play,” the first single from the album, became an MTV hit in the summer of 1994, which paved the way to radio success. The band was played on both alternative and album rock stations, confirming their broad-based appeal. “Self Esteem,” the second single, followed the same soft verse/loud chorus formula and stayed on the charts nearly twice as long as “Come Out and Play.” The group got offers from major labels, yet they chose to stay with Epitaph. While they were able to play arenas in the U.S., their success didn’t translate in foreign countries. Nevertheless, the band’s popularity continued to grow in America, as “Gotta Get Away” became another radio/MTV hit in the beginning of 1995. The Offspring recorded a version of the Damned’s “Smash It Up” for the Batman Forever soundtrack in the summer of that year; it kept the band on the charts as they worked on their third album.

Following a prolonged bidding war and much soul-searching, the Offspring decided to leave Epitaph Records in 1996 for Columbia Records. The move was particularly controversial within the punk community, and many artists on the Epitaph roster, including Pennywise and owner Brett Gurewitz, criticized the band. After much delay, the Offspring finally released their Columbia debut, Ixnay on the Hombre, in February of 1997. Expectation for the record was high and it did receive good reviews, but Ixnay on the Hombre failed to become a crossover hit on the level of Smash, and the group also lost a significant portion of their hardcore punk audience due to the album’s major-label status. Americana followed in 1998, scoring the hit “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy).” In mid-2000, the Offspring made controversial headlines with their decision to offer Conspiracy of One free of charge via the Internet prior to the initial November release date. Sony Music did not adhere to such a move and threatened a lawsuit; therefore, the band nixed plans to release the album in such a manner. Individual singles, however, were made available on the band’s official website and other music-related sites such as MTV Online. Offspring returned in 2003 with Splinter. The album was released through Columbia, proving the band’s flouting of the record biz hadn’t soured the major labels. It also featured the single “Hit That”, which returned to the smarmy, pop-refererntial feel of “Pretty Fly”. Offspring toured the world in support of Splinter, and in the process they hit nearly every continent at least once. They returned in June 2005 with a greatest hits set; in addition to their major hits, it included the new track “Can’t Repeat.” ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide.”

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