The Offspring: Grandeur, Energy and Emotion at Paris La Défense Arena
- Philippe
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
On Saturday, November 8th, we gathered at La Défense Arena for a concert full of rock and nostalgia with The Offspring, accompanied by Simple Plan and Dynamite Shakers. It was an evening that left a mark, thanks both to unexpected moments and the flawless stage performances of the three bands present that night.
The venue was already quite full when Dynamite Shakers took the stage at exactly 7 PM. To my surprise, the house lights stayed on during their performance. They arrived and brought a warm atmosphere from the very first song, which Elouan Davy (the band’s singer and guitarist) closed with, “Good evening La Défense Arena! We’re Dynamite Shakers, from Vendée!” A brief introduction, but enough to generate applause from the crowd. The sound grew stronger throughout the set, and the musicians gave it their all, though the audience seemed a bit slow to warm up. Still, there were applause after each song and even a few cheers.
Before playing the final song of their set, the band spoke one last time: “Thank you all! We’re happy to open for Simple Plan and The Offspring tonight. It’s a great opportunity!” They then announced their next headline show, taking place on May 6, 2026, at L’Alhambra in Paris! They left the stage afterward, waving to the audience.
By the end of their set, the arena was nearly packed, the crowd eagerly awaiting Simple Plan as much as The Offspring. To pass the time, a playlist of French pop songs played, which the crowd sang along to: Renaud, Louise Attaque, Manau… until the lights went out, followed by the main theme from Star Wars.
Simple Plan’s logo then appeared on the giant screens around La Défense Arena, becoming the only source of light in the hall. Suddenly, an explosion sounded, and the band entered the stage one by one to the screams of the cheering crowd. They launched into I’d Do Anything, the first song of a 14-song setlist, setting the mood and even prompting the audience to form a Wall of Death. Whenever Pierre Bouvier instructed the crowd to jump, dance, or raise their arms, the audience complied, creating a beautiful moment of communion between the artists and their fans.
Interactions were frequent; Pierre even asked who the new fans were and who were the old-school fans, thanking the crowd countless times. Midway through their set, he took a moment to explain that Simple Plan had been around for 25 years, introducing the topic of their documentary on Prime Video, which led into the next song, Nothing Changes, from the film’s soundtrack.
The concert included many signature Simple Plan elements: the incredible What’s New Scooby Doo? with numerous fans dressed as characters from the cartoon coming on stage, a summer festival atmosphere with giant balloons during Summer Paradise, and hits like Welcome To My Life and Jet Lag. And while these elements are hallmarks of the Canadian band’s shows, the closing encore always has an impact: typically finishing with I’m Just A Kid, where Pierre and Chuck Comeau swap places, the singer moving to the drums while the drummer is carried by the crowd for a brief slam. The show ended with Perfect, performed acoustically under the glow of thousands of phone flashes across the arena.
After Simple Plan left the stage, the arena was packed to capacity. The wait for the headliner began, and the organizers clearly knew this: they had set up various distractions to entertain impatient fans. First, a blimp-shaped drone displaying the word “Intermission” flew over the crowd. Then, a very American-style “look-alike cam” appeared on the screens, showing fans alongside their celebrity doppelgängers. Next came the Kiss Cam, amusing parts of the audience, with the Gorilla Mascot joining in the fun in the pit. The “fuck cam” encouraged spectators to flip off the camera, followed by the Booty Cam, meant to get people to shake their hips… though many preferred to pull down their pants, creating a row of exposed backsides in the crowd.
Suddenly, the lights went out, and the atmosphere changed drastically. AC/DC’s Thunderstruck echoed through the arena as the band took the stage, member by member. The crowd was already in a frenzy before the first song even started. The Offspring opened with Come Out and Play, joined by Jason “Blackball” McLean, followed by All I Want, Want You Bad, and more.
The first interactions of the night were quickly evident, as Dexter Holland and Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman addressed the crowd, thanking fans for filling the massive venue and emphasizing how important this show was for them. Their words reflected a close connection with the audience and the signature humor The Offspring injects into every concert.
The audience was captivated by the flawless show, instantly recognizing hits like Let the Bad Times Roll and Staring at the Sun. The crowd became a sea of raised arms whenever Dexter requested. Before the fourth song, the lights went out and came back on to reveal two giant inflatable skeletons spewing smoke for Looking Out for #1, the first track from their recently released album Supercharged. This was a meticulously planned and perfectly executed stage production, complementing the musicians’ flawless performance. Giant balloons were also used during Why Don’t You Get a Job?, creating a festive atmosphere in La Défense Arena.
Fan engagement continued to grow throughout the concert, with moments like “If it’s a dream, don’t wake me up” or “This is the craziest show.” The band explained that this was probably the biggest show of their career and expressed their gratitude clearly, with Kevin adding his usual humor, joking that there were “four million people” in the arena when there were about 40,000. He quipped that a few people left, reducing the number to “3,999,997,” and then added that babies were born during the concert, raising the count again—bringing laughter from both fans and the band.
Another iconic segment was the cover medley: excerpts from Black Sabbath’s Paranoid, Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train, Edvard Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King, and the Ramones’ I Wanna Be Sedated, with the gorilla mascot holding a “I wanna be sedated” sign. Later, they even covered the Beatles’ Hey Jude.
While the musicians showcased their talent all evening, Brandon Pertzborn took a moment after Gotta Get Away to deliver a stunning, inventive drum solo. Meanwhile, a magnificent white piano was installed in the shadows for the next part of the set.
When Dexter sat at the piano, he shared a heartfelt moment:"I wrote it when someone I loved passed away, and I had trouble moving on. So I wrote it to help myself. When I wrote it, I hoped it could help people dealing with the same kind of loss in their lives. This light represents that person. Light it up if you understand."
The arena then lit up with 40,000 phone flashes and lighters, creating the vision of a starry sky for Gone Away, moving much of the audience to tears.
Despite this emotional pause, the band quickly reignited the energy with Pretty Fly (for a White Guy), featuring Guy Cohen on stage! The Kids Aren’t Alright closed the first part of the set, with the band leaving the stage to thunderous applause. The arena plunged into darkness, becoming a storm of clapping, shouting, and stomping—everyone demanding the headliner’s return.
A few minutes later, the opening notes of Lullaby sounded, lights came back on, and the band returned, accompanied by the blimp drone this time displaying “Dance Fucker Dance,” previewing the next song.
The set continued with You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid and Self Esteem, concluding a spectacular show with smoke and fireworks creating a stunning visual spectacle, before the band left the stage to the gentle strains of Sweet Caroline.
Leaving La Défense Arena that night, it was impossible not to feel swept up by the energy of this exceptional evening. From the promising enthusiasm of Dynamite Shakers to the orchestrated joy of Simple Plan, and finally to The Offspring’s stage mastery and raw emotion, every moment was a reminder of the unifying power of live music. Between moments of pure madness, nostalgic nods, and suspended time, the concert created a unique bond between artists and audience—a memorable night, etched in memory, showing that some concerts are experienced not only with the ears but with the whole body and heart.
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