It just wouldn’t be a summer concert season without either 311 or The Offspring coming to town and this year is even better as both bands are out on a co-headlining tour and made a stop here in the Queen City. The Never Ending Summer Tour took over PNC Music Pavilion this past Wednesday evening bringing the very best of nineties rock to Charlotte music fans.
Fans began filing into the venue under threatening skies and just about fifteen minutes before show time a mini monsoon rolled into the area bringing torrents of rain, wind, and frequent lightning. For the safety of everyone, entrance gates were on hold sending throngs of people back to their vehicles while those already inside took shelter under the roof. Luckily the storm didn’t last long and after a short delay, the show would go on. After a shortened set by openers Gym Class Heroes, it was time for the main event to get under way as The Offspring hit the stage in high gear. With their unique style of punk rock, the band is a kind of like the Sex Pistols of the nineties and opened with “Americana.” A song that seemed more appropriate today with the state of our country than it did when it was released back in 1998. The Offspring are responsible for reigniting the punk rock movement and their 1994 hit album “Smash” broke all kinds of records for an independent label and continues to sell well 24 years later. Frontman Dexter Holland’s vocals still sound amazingly crisp and lead guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman can still rage with the best of them. Rounding out the stellar lineup are the rock solid rhythm section of bass guitarist Greg K and drummer Pete Parada. Fans were treated to all the requisite hits with a few surprises thrown in. About midway through their set, The Offspring launched into an electrifying cover of AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie” amping things up to an entirely new level. Another highlight of the night was a poignant stripped down version of “Gone Away” with Holland taking a seat behind the piano. After that, the rest of the set was simply hit after hit after hit with fans jumping up and down and dancing in the aisles. It may be 2018 but on this night in Charlotte it was a trip back in time to 1994 and the crowd was soaking up every last moment of it.
After the requisite intermission, 311 made their appearance going all out from the very first notes of “Come Original.” With twelve studio albums under their belt, the band is a staple of the summer season touring relentlessly over the years. Their music has broad appeal with a wide range of genres from alternative to rock, rap, reggae, and everything in between blended to perfection with danceable tunes and rock solid hooks. Lead vocalist and guitarist Nick Hexum took command of the stage early on with vocalists and DJ Doug “SA” Martinez joining in on the fun. Tim Mahoney provided some savage leads especially on the harder rock tunes while Aaron “P-Nut” Wills kept the bass lines pumping and drummer Chad Sexton drove the pace. 311 puts on a great show with fantastic lights and a LED screen that changed throughout the evening. The highlight of their set took place during “Applied Science” where Sexton put on a show with an extended drum solo. He started off first with the electronic drum and effects before going old school with a more traditional drum solo. But it still wasn’t over as the rest of the bands wheeled out drums to the front of the stage and joined Sexton for a drum showcase. Another standout was the poignant vocals of Hexum on a cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong” and a chilled out dance party for “Amber.” Of course, it wouldn’t be a 311 show without hearing “Down” and the band obliged their long time fans for a roof raising version to close out the night.
The Never Ending Summer Tour truly is just that-a reminder of summers past and a look ahead to more summer concert seasons to come. Don’t miss this one when 311 and The Offspring make it to your town.
The Offspring Set List:
Americana
All I Want
Come Out and Play
It Won’t Get Better
Want You Bad
The Noose
Staring at the Sun
Have You Ever
Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC cover)
Bad Habit
Gotta Get Away
Gone Away
Why Don’t you Get A Job?
You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid
(Can’t Get My ) Head Around You
Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
The Kids Aren’t Alright
Self Esteem
311 Set List:
Come Original
All Mixed Up
Do you Right
Prisoner
Wildfire
Don’t Stay Home
Lovesong (The Cure cover)
Lucky
Beautiful Disaster
Beyond The Gray Sky
Applied Science
I’ll Be Here Awhile
Too Late
Amber
You Wouldn’t Believe
Flowing
Creatures For a While
Down
We would like to thank Kim Shiver from Livenation for her assistance in obtaining the credentials to review the show.
