September 11, 2025

Photos: The Offspring at Ball Arena (Denver, CO)

The Offspring (Garden Grove, California)

New Found Glory (Coral Springs, Florida)

Ball Arena in Denver, CO

In 2002, I was employed at Sam Goody the bands on the bill for the night were staples of the customers. New Found Glory’s “Sticks and Stones”, Jimmy Eat World’s “Bleed American” and The Offspring were still rolling strong from their previous four album releases.

New Found Glory’s Jordan Pundik pulled a tried and true move by performing in a local sports team’s jersey, and how could he lose when adorned in future HOF Nathan Mackinnon’s sweater? It also helped that they have so much stage presence and Warped Tour level of engagement.

Jimmy Eat World brought a different dynamic to the show, a power pop, rock band that captured the attention of the crowd. While not the same stab in the arm as NFG, the crowd was vibing and singing out loud to their opener “Pain”.

As we returned to the arena area from the media room before The Offspring took the stage, it was already a full on party atmosphere. There was an Offspring branded blimp flying overhead, letting us know through a scrolling text LED board that this was intermission. There was music playing, and several different types of fan cam sessions going, one after another. from “Kiss Cam” to the “Fuck You Cam”, each shot commented on over the speakers. Once the two minute count down clock hit the big screen on stage, the crowd was ready to run through a wall! I have never been to a show where someone was crowd surfing before the band played a single note.

“Come Out and Play” from 1994’s “Smash” opened the show, one of the first offering from The Offspring and still a favorite. They went straight into “All I Want”, a two minute crunchy buzzsaw attack from the band brought the energy and made me kick myself for not buying a ticket to the show so I could stay after the third song. “Want You Bad” had all of the feelings of an early 2000’s comedy, and I was there for it.