I think the Offspring show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds marks the first time, at 25, that I really felt old at a concert. Given my eclectic tastes, it was usually more likely I was going to feel young at a show (like at the Ramones, a few years previous), or at least, in the same general demographic of the other fans. But the Offspring was a whole different type of show. This time, the older people at the show were indeed someone’s parents, and instead of having a fun night out while their youngsters were being watched by a sitter, they were here with their kids, suffering though the show. I saw kids that looked as young as eight or nine at the show with their parents, as well as some slightly older who looked like they were with older brothers and sisters.
I guess I should have known what I was getting into. After all the Offspring are a silly, punky, skater-type band with goofy lyrics and catchy guitar riffs. But they were also pretty intelligent and had some interesting lyrics. All in all, the show was fun and short – the kids were able to get home at a decent hour.
