The Offspring bring a stacked bill of legendary bands to Tinley Park (Show Review)

By Colette Custin

The ‘90s continued its triumphant return with a sold-out amphitheater as The Offspring’s ‘Let the Bad Times Roll’ tour hit the Chicagoland area on Saturday, bringing some of the best opening sets of the year with it.

Canadian pop-punksters A Simple Plan got things off to a hopping start, and it was refreshing to see the lawn entirely sold out and at near-capacity for even the opener. Despite a short set, the Montreal quartet managed to squeeze in some of their signature anthems like “Addicted” and “I’m Just a Kid,” and “Jump,” along with vocalist Pierre Bouvier’s boundless energy, had the entire place moving, setting the tone for the night. A Simple Plan’s hooks are undeniable, and their union of straight power-pop with punk energy was a perfect appetizer for the next course.

Currently in the middle of their final run of dates—ever—Ontario quintet Sum 41 brought the energy up even more, leaving fans to wonder why the band plans to hang it up; a fair question, as vocalist/guitarist Deryck Whibley and Co. have headliner energy no matter the length of their set, which was far too short on Saturday. “Fat Lip” and “In Too Deep” turned into arena-sized singalongs, and a thrashy cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” was a blast as well. The chemistry between Whibley and guitarist Dave Baksh remains undeniable after all these years—it’s going to be a shame when these guys hang it up.

Taking the stage to what has to be the most hilarious and original introduction—featuring t-shirt guns, a Kiss-cam, and a Fuck-You cam, The Offspring whipped the crowd into a giant party before they even played a chord—and when they did, it went even crazier. Opening with 1994 breakout hit “Come Out and Play,” vocalist Dexter Holland led the foursome through a litany of the band’s biggest (“Gotta Get Away,” “Self-Esteem”) and goofiest (“Pretty Fly”) hits – along with a few surprises, like a medley of classic metal tunes and a piano version of “Gone Away,” one of the band’s heaviest and most straightforward singles. More than thirty years after they broke into the mainstream, The Offspring have proven to be perhaps the most surprising stalwarts of their era in terms of long-term success—and judging from the crowd’s reaction on Saturday, it’s well-deserved.

A Simple Plan – Tinley Park, IL (8/26/23)
I’d Do Anything
Shut Up!
Jump
Addicted
Iconic
All Star/Sk8er Boi/Mr. Brightside
What’s New Scooby Doo
Where I Belong
I’m Just A Kid
Perfect

Sum 41 – Tinley Park, IL (8/26/23)
Motivation
The Hell Song
Over My Head (Better Off Dead)
We’re All to Blame
Walking Disaster
We Will Rock You (Queen)
In Too Deep
Fat Lip
Still Waiting

The Offspring – Tinley Park, IL (8/26/23)
Come Out and Play
All I Want
Want You Bad
Let the Bad Times Roll
Staring at the Sun
Original Prankster
Hit That
Hammerhead
Bad Habit
Iron Man/The Trooper/Sweet Child O’Mine/In the Hall of the Mountain King
Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones cover)
Gotta Get Away
Gone Away (piano version)
Why Don’t You Get a Job?
(Can’t Get My) Head Around You
Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)
The Kids Aren’t Alright
You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid
Self Esteem