The sun was just starting to dip behind the Camden waterfront when New Found Glory hit the stage, and the lawn was already filling up fast. Right from the first riff, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a sit-back-and-watch kind of night.
They came out swinging with the same bounce and energy they’ve had for decades, getting people on their feet early. The band might not be as flashy as some of their pop-punk peers, but they know exactly how to hit the sweet spot between nostalgia and fun. Jordan Pundik was running around like it was 2004, and the crowd was right there with him, shouting along to “My Friends Over You” like it never left the radio.
Next up was Jimmy Eat World. There’s something about the way they build songs that makes them perfect for outdoor venues. The guitars soared, the drums punched, and every time a familiar song kicked in, you could feel it ripple through the crowd. “Sweetness” and “The Middle” had the entire pavilion singing in unison, from the pit to the back of the lawn. There were couples swaying, groups of friends with arms around each other, and a few air-guitar solos from fans who clearly came dressed for the moment.
By the time The Offspring took the stage, the energy had reached its peak. They launched into their set with the kind of reckless, sweaty confidence only a band like this can pull off. Dexter Holland looked genuinely thrilled to be back in front of a packed house, cracking jokes between songs and feeding off the crowd’s volume. Noodles, as always, was hamming it up on guitar—tossing picks, doing spins, and shredding solos like it was second nature.
It wasn’t just the hits that got the biggest reactions (though “Pretty Fly” and “Self Esteem” definitely brought the house down). What stood out was how tight the band sounded. They’ve been playing these songs for 30 years, but nothing felt phoned in. Even the newer tracks slid in seamlessly, with plenty of fans singing along like they’d been part of the catalog forever. They also threw in a few surprises, including covering “Crazy Train” honoring the late Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” and The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated.”
The crowd, by the way, was one of the best parts of the night. It was a mix of older fans who’ve been there since the ’90s, younger faces rocking their first Offspring show, and everything in between. Everyone was into it—no drama, just good vibes, big sing-alongs, and a whole lot of hopping around.
It felt like summer bottled into one loud, sweaty, cathartic night. Three great bands, zero filler, and a crowd that gave it right back. You don’t always get a lineup this stacked on a Tuesday night, but Camden sure made the most of it.
The Offspring
Jimmy Eat World
New Found Glory
