Before The Offspring even took the stage at the Ford Center, the atmosphere felt more like a championship game intro than a standard concert opening. The lights dropped, anticipation built, and the screens filled with kiss cams, look-alike cams, and crowd shots that had the entire arena engaged. It was playful, high-energy, and set the tone for what was about to happen.
The production elevated the experience with confetti cannons, giant blow-up skeletons, and even a blimp drifting across the ceiling added spectacle while keeping the focus on the music.
“All I Want” had the entire arena moving in unison. “Come Out and Play” and “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)” turned into arena-wide singalongs, with thousands of voices carrying the choruses. The floor stayed active throughout the set, and in one particularly memorable moment, someone ran through the circle pit holding a prosthetic leg overhead — a surreal but fitting image that captured the uninhibited, communal energy of the night.
The band also surprised the crowd with a cover of “Crazy Train,” originally performed by Ozzy Osbourne, which drew an immediate and enthusiastic response.
Between songs, the group mixed humor with tight musicianship, tossing guitar picks into the crowd and keeping the momentum high. By the end of the set, it felt less like a typical arena concert and more like a shared celebration — loud, chaotic, and completely unified.
In addition to the classics, the band is still riding momentum from their 2024 album Supercharged. The record marked their latest studio release and has fueled an extensive 2025–2026 touring run. Rather than feeling like a nostalgia act, the show reflected a band that’s still active and evolving — balancing new material with the anthems that built their legacy. The ongoing tour behind Supercharged makes it clear they’re not slowing down anytime soon.
Bad Religion, a punk rock band formed in the 1980s, performed their first show at the Ford Center, opening the night with “Game Over.” The band was full of energy and the audience followed. Jamie Miller led the pace, killing it on the drums, his energy fueling the crowd.
Early in the set, bassist, Jay Bentley, tossed a water bottle into the crowd, which only added to the momentum already building on the floor. A circle pit formed quickly as they powered through favorites like “True North,” “No Control,” and “Struck a Nerve.”
Frontman Greg Graffin kept the crowd engaged throughout the set. At one point, he looked out over the arena and said, “Y’all are… rad,” drawing an even louder reaction from the floor.
The band also gave a nod to their California roots before launching into another burst of high-speed punk.
It was a tight, focused set that delivered exactly what longtime fans expect — sharp, urgent, and relentless from start to finish.
In addition to tearing through fan favorites, the band made it clear the night meant something to them as well. Frontman Greg Graffin told the crowd it was their first time performing at the Ford Center and that they planned to be back. The response was immediate and loud, reinforcing just how well the band connected with the Evansville audience. For a group with decades behind them, it didn’t feel routine — it felt like a band still energized by performing and new crowds/venues.
