Supercharged Worldwide in ‘25’ Tour “Rocked Out at Dos Equis”

Written by: Christie Bilbo

Photos by Javier Vicencio

On August 23, 2025, the energy at Dos Equis was electric. Fans packed the venue early, eager for a night of great music. With 25 North American dates and 17 shows in 20 countries, excitement grew as three incredible bands took the stage.

Although the doors opened at 5:00 p.m., I arrived at Dos Equis at 6:17 p.m. to find the lines to enter the venue had already vanished. The traffic on 30 highway was horrendous, causing my usual 35-minute commute to stretch into an hour and 20-minute drive.

As soon as I arrived at the parking lot, I scored a great spot. Parking at Dos Equis is a breeze. They offer Extra VIP, VIP, General Admission, and a dedicated Uber pick-up area, sponsored by Uber. I usually opt for General Admission, which is free. The walk isn’t too bad, and the distance is manageable.

Upon entering through the gates, the atmosphere was electric. People gathered in groups, enjoying food in the courtyard and browsing the merchandise tables. Due to the lengthy lines, I carefully planned my approach and waited patiently. The scorching heat of 96 degrees also prompted me to seek refuge in my seat, away from the sun and under the fans. I got my shirt before The Offspring took the stage. The line didn’t take me more than 15 minutes to get through.

Although I only got a pretzel, which cost $14.75 at the airport, I was disappointed that it wasn’t as great as the one I had last week. Before leaving Fort Worth, I had already eaten, so I didn’t pay airport prices for a hamburger and fries. I was tempted to get a non-alcoholic drink from the new concession, but the long line made me think twice, and I didn’t want to pay $14.00 for a strawberry cream soda. Instead, I brought my own water bottle and refilled it at one of the filtered stations.

With six years of sobriety under my belt, I’m not sure about the cost of alcohol, but if a can of Death Wish water costs $8, I assume a beer is likely just as expensive, if not more. I have no idea what liquor costs at Dos Equis, so if you’re planning to get a drink, be prepared.

When New Found Glory took the stage at 7:00 p.m., I was surprised by the size of the crowd that had already gathered to see them. Usually, the opening act doesn’t draw that many people, but last night was an exception. In the pit area alone, I’d say there were at least 75 people. And then you add in the folks in the standing area who were singing along, I was impressed by how many people were eager to see the band.

Formed in Coral Springs, FL in 1997, the band launched their career with a unique blend of Alternative and Indie rock. Unlike many bands, they’ve maintained their original lineup. With Jordan Pundik on lead vocals, Ian Grushka on bass, Dan O’Connor on lead guitar, Dave Knox on rhythm guitar, and Cyrus Bolooki on drums, the band effortlessly got the crowd pumped and ready to rock.

As they launched into their opening song, “Understatement,” the crowd erupted into screams. The following tracks, “Hit or Miss,” “Failure’s Not Flattering,” and “Dressed to Kill,” saw the audience singing along en masse. By the end of their eight-song set, the group had followed with “My Friends Over You,” a performance that truly left everyone feeling on top of the world.

Jimmy Eat World really won over a ton of fans with their second act. I must admit, I was surprised – I wasn’t a fan before, and I only knew one of their songs. Still, their fans showed up in full force last night to support them.

Researching the band’s name origin was fascinating. Tom Linton’s younger brothers, Jim and Ed, frequently clashed. Jim typically emerged victorious, but Ed found a way to get back at him one day – by drawing a picture of Jim shoving the Earth into his mouth and captioning it “Jimmy Eat World.” This led to the band’s name being chosen.

Formed in Mesa, AZ, in 1993, the band has had only one member change. This is a rare feat, just like New Found Glory. With Jim Adkins on vocals and lead guitar, Tom Linton on rhythm and vocals, Zach Lind on drums, and Rick Burch on bass, the band performs like a finely tuned machine.

Jimmy Eat World played a twelve-song set. They kicked off the night with “Pain,” followed by “Just Tonight…,” “Let It Happen,” “Bleed American,” and “A Praise Chorus.” The set wrapped up with their hit song “The Middle” – the only one I recognize.

They had a huge fan base, which I discovered while speaking with several people in the crowd. Everyone loved all three bands and was thrilled to hear they were touring together, which explained why New Found Glory had a large crowd in front of them when they took the stage.

It was clear that The Offspring was the main attraction for the crowd. Although the official numbers for the night haven’t been released, it appears that the show was sold out with around 20,000 people in attendance, which is the capacity. That’s impressive in itself. I’m glad to see that a lot of people were there last night, and it makes me happy for both the bands and the fans.

For years, I’ve been a huge fan of The Offspring. It was the release of their 1994 album Smash that first introduced me to them. “Gotta Get Away” was the song that really grabbed me, and once I heard it, I was hooked.

As the band took the stage, Dr. Dexter Holland assumed the lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and piano, while Noodles played lead guitar, Todd Morse handled bass, Jonnah Nimoy took care of rhythm, keyboards, and percussion, and Brandon Pertborn played drums. The crowd went wild, captivated by the blimp’s green glow.

***Did you know that Brandon Pertborn is from Grapevine, TX? He also played drums for Marilyn Manson, Suicidal Silence, Black Flag, and Doyle. He’s also toured with Corey Taylor and Limp Bizkit. I’m shocked they didn’t announce he was a local boy.

Their entire setlist was nothing but bangers:

1.  Come Out and Play
2. All I Want
3. Want You Bad
4. Looking Out for #1
5. Staring at the Sun
6. Original Prankster
7. In the Hall of the Mountain King
8. Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne cover)
9. Why Don’t You Get a Job?
10. Gone Away
11. Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)
12. The Kids Aren’t Alright
13. Encore:
14. You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid
15. Self Esteem

Let me tell you, there was a really diverse crowd last night. I saw kids as young as 7 or 8, teenagers, and families just having a blast. That’s what makes a great concert – when the whole family comes out.

There were a few things I really loved about their set. For one, the live cam and the “booty cam” during Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “I Like Big Butts” was hilarious. The interactive crowd countdown was also a blast. And the inflatable skeletons on stage were a great touch. The smoke spewing from the skeleton’s mouth was fantastic. The blimp made several appearances and shone a beautiful green. The streamers blew into the crowd twice, and the pyro was just right.

It was the perfect evening in Dallas, and despite being at capacity, the epic music played all night made it an unforgettable experience. I’d rank this concert as one of my top 5 for 2025.

Here’s hoping you all get to attend at least one concert this summer and fully immerse yourself in the experience. It’s a fantastic way to escape reality, and we all need that break these days.

I hope to see you at the next concert. Mine will be George Thorogood at Texas Trust in Grand Prairie.