live @ Patriot Center, 12.15.2000
Any band who plays the B-52’s “Rock Lobster” over the P.A. before their set either has a warped sense of humor or is in need of a thorough checkup. At the Patriot Center Friday night, the Offspring’s unpretentious and spirited set that followed the airing of the aforementioned song indicated they belong squarely in the former camp.
The California quartet recently lost a battle with their employer (Sony) over the free downloading of their new album (“Conspiracy of One”), but their mischievous spirit seemed undaunted, dishing out an enjoyable 20-song effort to a sea of pogo-ing fans. Clearly, the Offspring know that their strength is humorous, bounce-along punk-pop tempered with a crucial dose of brevity. Singer Dexter Holland and guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman spaced their best-known (and best) songs---”Come Out and Play”, “Self-Esteem”, “Why Don’t You Get A Job” and “Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)”--- far enough apart to keep a sense of anticipation palpable. In the interim, the stronger “Conspiracy” tracks like “Million Miles Away” and “Want You Bad”, as well as their latest, familiar-sounding single “Original Prankster”, were delivered with speedy professionalism.
In front of an authentic-looking backdrop that depicted a graffitied, nighttime city block, the ‘Spring included one of the most unusual rock-n-roll intermissions in recent memory. While the group rested on blowup furniture and sipped Evian, an overweight gentlemen wearing nothing but a thong and Santa Claus cap danced briefly (thankfully) to Muzak-y, intermission-type music. That episode was the Offspring in a nutshell, actually: goofy, ridiculous and mildly outrageous. Their Offspring's minor genius was making it seem so right.
Washington Post, December 2000
