"Ear-muffs! Ear-muffs!"

Surely that thought raced through some of the parents' heads who showed up at this particular Secret Show, which found punk rock legends The Offspring performing for just a few hundred people at the Chain Reaction in Anaheim. The reason for their concern was that the band had reached a point in their song "Bad Habit" in which frontman Dexter Holland screams out just about every profanity you can think of.

And, of course, the many fans in attendance at Chain Reaction screamed along with him. Hell, a few of them even did so while sporting an ear-to-ear grin. But, then again, they had good reason to be in such a festive mood. After all, unlike literally hundreds of other fans in So Cal this past Sunday, they actually got in to this insanely intimate event--which was no easy feat.

In fact, a couple hundred kids (and few dedicated parents) slept in parking lot the night before, camping out in sleeping bags and worn in tents to make sure they got wristbands for the night. This seemed like a rather extreme measure, sure. But fortunately, a night of sleeping on concrete was a small price to pay in order to see the Offspring play their smallest So Cal show since releasing Smash in 1994.

Perhaps suitingly, the band started their set with a few choice songs from that album, including "Bad Habit" and their first major hit, "Come Out And Play (Keep 'Em Separated)." But the Offspring also reached deep in their catalog to churn out fist-pumping versions of "Burn It Up" (from their second album, Ignition) and "Mota," a song that the crowd had been requesting all night -- and that Dexter and company took a second to relearn off to the side of the stage, just so that they could play it for them.

They ended up closing things out with "Self-Esteem," which saw the band receiving some unexpected vocal support from about 30 kids outside. (Sadly, they weren't lucky enough to get in.) Though the tight-knit crew had spent most of the evening listening through the door, once the band launched into the song, they decided to start a pit of their own, swinging around right there on the asphalt.

Now, with dedication like that, we have got to give the fans at this show some props, as well as everyone who made it possible. So then, thanks to the members of The Offspring, their road crew, Larry and Paris at Rebel Waltz, Andy at the Chain Reaction, Lars and Ed at Columbia and all of the band's insanely dedicated fans. You guys rule.

As for us, we'll see you at the next show...