Music and nostalgia never fade, especially when wrapped in four chords and high school-era anthems.
More than 25,000 fans were reminded of pop-punk’s enduring pedigree and relevance at a high-energy, double-bill concert by Green Day and The Offspring at Dubai Expo City.
The California stalwarts turned back the clock, while also reinforcing their role in the genre's resurgence. Green Day are set to headline the mammoth Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April and The Offspring are embarking on one of their largest tours.
Their careers are a testament to perseverance. Both bands weathered lean periods, teetering on the brink of irrelevance, only to stage remarkable comebacks. For Green Day, it came on the back of their career-defining 2004 album American Idiot. The Offspring kept the good ship afloat by consistently delivering standout singles, from 2008's You're Gonna Go Far, Kid to their latest sparkling release, Make It All Right.
That experience, energy and commitment were on full display in back-to-back sets in Dubai that came tantalisingly close to punk-pop perfection.
For those seeing The Offspring for the first time, their energetic 60-minute set was the perfect introduction. Launching with a storming rendition of their perversely catchy breakout hit Come Out and Play and the frenetic, two-minute blast of All I Want, the band quickly settled into a crowd-pleasing set list.
They showcased tracks that were rock radio staples from the late 1990s to the turn of the century. Gotta Get Away, with its momentous build-up and chugging guitar riffs, echoed the grunge movement alongside which the California punk scene seemed to flourish.
The faux-reggae strut of Why Don’t You Get a Job and the suburban life-baiting Pretty Fly (for a White Guy) – during which the band released giant balloons into the crowd – highlighted their knack for striking gold with novelty tunes. These light-hearted moments, paired with the goofy banter between guitarist Noodles and singer Dexter Holland, didn’t detract from the serious precision of their live performance.
Their absolutely electrifying version of The Kids Aren’t Alright and the anthemic You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid showed that beneath their breezy, summery demeanour lies an excellent band that are entirely at ease with their craft.
Green Day, on the other hand, seemed to have become better with rage. Once wry and despondent commentators on youth culture and delinquency, they found some rocket-fuelled mojo when focusing on big-picture issues, from patriotism to the rise of fascism. That focus sharpened the songwriting, as displayed in the band’s searing show in Dubai.
Even if their two-hour show was a relatively abridged version of their epic stadium world tour, fans would have been satisfied. The rollicking 22-song set was a welcome tribute to the seminal albums American Idiot and Dookie. The latter, released in 1994 and credited alongside The Offspring's Smash with catapulting US punk scene beyond its underground roots, dominated the first half of the show.
Basket Case, with its jittery verses and explosive chorus, remains one of the finest rock anthems, capturing the debilitating effects of anxiety. Longview, driven by Mike Dirnt's loping basslines, further showcased the band's ability to combine humour with introspection.
With singer Billie Joe Armstrong keeping up the banter, the band tackled the set with an intensity that resembled the flow of a carefully curated mixtape. The marching rhythm of Know Your Enemy seamlessly transitioned into the pogo-inducing riffs of Dilemma, while the distorted punk-metal grind of Brain Stew was the perfect launch pad for a ferocious take of hit single American Idiot.
The 12-minute, multi-suite Jesus of Suburbia remains as epic and invigorating as it did two decades ago, blending a vibrant smorgasbord of rock styles, from 1960s doo-wop to power-pop. The night concluded on a heartfelt note with Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), featuring the customary participation of an audience member – who proved more than adept on the acoustic guitar.
With both bands breaking new ground with their Dubai performance – and judging by the electrified audience reaction – one can only hope this is the first of many punk-pop groups to make their way here in the future.
Blink-182, the spotlight’s now on you.
Profile of VoucherSkout
Date of launch: November 2016
Founder: David Tobias
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Sector: Technology
Size: 18 employees
Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake
Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars”
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
Chelsea 2 Burnley 3
Chelsea Morata (69'), Luiz (88')
Burnley Vokes (24', 43'), Ward (39')
Red cards Cahill, Fabregas (Chelsea)
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Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Fixture: Liechtenstein v Italy, Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match is shown on BeIN Sports
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
