The Offspring hit the stage tonight in St. Augustine

When The Offspring visits the St. Augustine Amphitheatre tonight, fans might expect one of punk rock's premier bands to take full advantage of the venue's proximity to the beach. Some surfing or skating under the Florida sun would certainly fit the band's image.

But bass guitarist Greg Kriesel, who is known by fans as Greg K., said the surf boards and knee pads will most likely get traded in for a set of golf clubs if he gets a break from the action.

"Noodles (Guitarist Kevin Wasserman) and the other guys do, but I don't surf," Krie-sel said. "I [play] golf."

Extracurricular activities may be just what the doctor ordered for the band, which is on the final leg of its first full North American tour in almost four years.

The group's last big tour was as part of the 2005 Vans Warped Tour, which was also the last time the California-based group performed in Northeast Florida. The St. Augustine concert will be the second-to-last stop on a tour that included 40 scheduled shows.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Touring should be business as usual for a band that has had six of its eight albums peak in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 album chart during the past 20 years.

"We spent the first 10 years learning how to play instruments around the clubs, learning things," Kriesel said. "Now it's my job."

As the years have gone by, The Offspring has managed to stay in the mainstream rock spotlight among even the newer, younger generations thanks to a steady stream of hits. The group's latest, "Hammerhead" and "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid" from the "Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace" album that was released in 2008, have become two of the most successful chart singles in the band's history.

"It's cool," Kriesel said. "You make the album and you never really know which one will go off. It's cool [that] after all these years, we can still have songs that will make an impact."

Kriesel also explained how the group has managed to stay cool with the younger audiences as the age gap has increased.

"The crowd relates to the music, so it doesn't really matter how old we are," Kriesel said "It's about keeping the same style."

It will be the band's first time playing at the amphitheatre. Dan Larson, the venue's marketing and promotions manager, said he expects the atmosphere to reflect the band's fast-paced intensity.

"It's a rock 'n' roll band, and we expect a rock 'n' roll, party atmosphere," Larson said.

Kriesel said that he, too, hopes the Florida crowd can bring an energy level that the band could benefit from.

"We just want people to come out and have fun; bring a lot of energy," Kriesel said. "We really feed off the crowd. The better they are, the better we perform."

Sum 41, a Canadian band with a unique punk revival style that complements The Offspring's traditional punk rock sound, will also perform. Frank Turner, the former member of Million Dead who now includes a folk-style acoustic set, will open the show.

6:30 tonight, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, $25.50-$37.50.