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PHOENIX — The golden hour bathed Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre as fans of all ages gathered for a triple bill of nostalgic icons: The Offspring and Jimmy Eat World co-headlining, supported by New Found Glory. The “SUPERCHARGED Worldwide in ‘25” tour follows The Offspring’s 2024 studio release, Supercharged, promising a night of their signature high-energy punk. Anticipation hummed through the amphitheatre, decades of beloved hits ready to be unleashed. Each band carried their own unique legacy of anthems and reputations to uphold.

Jimmy Eat World

The entirety of the amphitheatre went dark as hometown heavy hitters Jimmy Eat World took the stage in Phoenix for the first time since their 20th anniversary show for the album Futures. They began their set with a “What’s up y’all?!” from lead vocalist Jim Adkins, before leaping into “Pain,” the first single they dropped from Futures back in 2004. If anyone there was feeling any kind of pain that night, it would have been easy to let it wash away in Jimmy Eat World’s emotionally mesmerizing performance.

A brief storytime about mid-set with Adkins, complete with an important lesson:

“That’s my people right there,” he said, referring to the grassy GA section under the night sky.  “I remember charging the barricade when Green Day was playing at Lollapalooza … They played, like, second that year, and I made it all the way down here, like from the GA down here.” He pointed toward the full pit. “And I was like, ‘Cool! There’s 10 more hours of this. I’m going back up there!’”

“Jim, that’s a great story. Your rock and roll talk is the best,” Adkins says to himself.

“If you think my rock and roll talk on stage is the bomb, everyone yell some shit!” The crowd was right along with him for the ride.  “That’s right! I used the word ‘the bomb’… because I’m old!” he laughed, strumming his guitar.

“Anyway, aging is not a choice… Acting like a crotchety old bastard is, but aging isn’t. This song’s about everything that makes music special. It’s called “Something Loud.” Come on!”

And there you have it, folks—a truth for everyone as we grow older. Jimmy Eat World is still holding a mirror up, showing us who we choose to be.

The lighting team mirrored the emotion of each track, from the glow of mint green during “Lucky Denver Mint” to golden warmth and deep blues across their biggest anthems like “Sweetness” and “The Middle,” illuminating each musician with care. The air was thick with heat and the crowd’s passionate response, the songs pouring from the stage in the way so many once imagined while listening on the radio.

The Offspring

An abrupt countdown began when Jimmy Eat World left the stage, and the chaos of The Offspring began to be unleashed in waves, showing just how much they cherish their fans and a good time. A series of feature cams lit up the screens, including the “Kiss Cam,” “Fuck You Cam,” “Headbang Cam,” and “Booty Cam.”

During Offspring trivia, shirts were launched into the excited audience. A “GET LOUD” meter appeared on-screen as the band prepared to take the stage, and the fans were ready, wild, and dare I say, supercharged. A crew member ran around in an ape mask, upgrading fans to better seats.

Everything went dark, the final countdown began, and the fans chanted the numbers as they appeared. Blue electricity filled the screen, epic music swelled, and guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman stepped out, showering the crowd with love.

The band blasted into the first song, the anthem “Come Out and Play.” Vocalist Dexter Holland’s voice was better than the recording — with a little more grit and age, it was perfection.

Dripping with nostalgia and opening a bag of new tricks, the show’s props were next level: two gigantic blue-lit skeletons were moved on stage during one of the songs, confetti was blasted, and huge beach balls were tossed around the pavilion during “Pretty Fly For A White Guy.” The cams on fans kept rolling, making the audience a central part of the experience. The huge screens showcased the band members in different filters, changing with each song, adding an unexpected visual flair. The high-energy punk rock momentum continued all over the stage throughout the night, including the hilarious wacky waving inflatable tube “pretty fly” white guys.

In all of this rowdy fun, The Offspring did break for emotional segments like the beautiful performance of “Gone Away” and paying a touching tribute to the recently departed Ozzy Osbourne. 

They told their electrified legion that Arizona always gives them the best shows, and they played like they believed that in their souls. The Offspring were playful and unexpected in the best ways. They pulled out all the stops for this tour, with the crew executing it exceptionally.

The triple bill delivered the type of concert people recall when asked what their favorite show was. The Offspring, Jimmy Eat World, and New Found Glory are a dream lineup, reminding us why this music is still embedded in our hearts decades later. The “SUPERCHARGED” tour is a timeless collision of past and present, still providing the soundtracks to our lives.