WORDS SHAVORNE WILBRAHAM / IMAGES PAUL DIXON
Texas pop-punk heroes ‘Bowling for Soup’ return to Manchester, celebrating not only their 30th anniversary as a band, but their 20th anniversary of their hit album ‘A Hangover You Don’t Deserve’.
Joined by special guests Wheatus, also celebrating the 25th anniversary of their eponymous self-titled debut album. Brendan entered the stage and immediately set to work by luring in the crowds, showing them “A Little Respect” by playing Erasure’s anthemic, synth-pop hit of the 80’s.
A couple of lesser-known tracks were given an outing before playing the much-loved eagerly awaited, “Teenage Dirtbag”. The audience knew what was coming next when Brendan asked if he could have his legendary bucket hat adding that he is now 51 years old and still wearing the same one.
The audience fully embraced their moment in the spotlight as they perfectly sang a full chorus of dirtbag without instrumental accompaniment, Brendan convinced the audience was filled with secret musicians! The foundations were perfectly laid for the headline act.
Bowling for Soup entered the stage to the roars and cheers of a hyped-up Manchester before immediately launching into ‘Almost’. Crowds chanted along to every single word, setting the scene for what was promised to be an evening filled with high energy, punchy punk anthems.
BFS announced they were going to be performing ‘A Hangover You Don’t Deserve’ in track order. That’s 18 songs from the album plus 3 more = a 21 song set, a tall order for any band. “It’s gonna be a long night” Jaret announced. Judging by their response, much to the crowd’s obvious pleasure.
As they were now suitably broken in, it was time for some of Jaret’s usual flavour of self-deprecating (but entertaining) low level, high school humour which, by their reaction, everyone seemed to expect and enjoy. The kind of humour where you laugh, but at the same time, knowing you probably shouldn’t.
“1985” left the audience covered in yellow confetti resulting in an eruption of loud cheers and people climbing onto the shoulders. You have to give it to these guys, BFS certainly know how to party. Their infectious but endearing juvenile energy had you feeling like a teen again injected with a healthy dose of nostalgia.
It was enjoyable and sometimes quite emotional to see young smiling faces in the audience who had obviously been passed the musical baton from their punk-rock adoring parents of the 90’s. BFS have this strange knack of making you feel like you’re at a party. The kind of party you throw when parents are away on holiday and hope they don’t arrive back early.
The atmosphere was one of inclusivity and passion with the band happy to share the stage with friends Matthew Milligan (Wheatus Keyboard) and Saxophonist John James Ryan. Comedic skits continued in between hits “Next Ex-Girlfriend”, “The Bitch Song” and “Down for the Count”.
Overall, an outstanding, upbeat crowd-pleasing performance delivered with passion to the dedicated fans who sang and danced non-stop from the minute they arrived on stage.
The anthemic ‘Girl all the bad guys want’ brought the night to a close with crowds cheering and singing long after the song ended. A girl next to me said “I feel young again, they are a symbol of my youth”.
Bowling for Soup opened the show singing the line “I almost had you”. There was no ‘almost’ about it.
They had the audience in their hands from the get-go.
Set List
1/ Almost
2/ Trucker Hat
3/ 1985
4/ Get Happy
5/ Ohio (Come Back to Texas)
6/ Ridiculous
7/ Shut up and smile
8/ Last Call Casualty
9/ Next Ex-Girlfriend
10/ A-Hole
11/ My Hometown
12/ Smoothie King
13/ Sad Sad Situation
14/ The Bitch Song
15/ Really Might be gone
16/ Down for the count
17/ Two Seater
18/ Friends o’ Mine
ENCORE
19/ High School Never Ends
20/ Today is gonna be a great day
21/ Girl all the bad guys want.
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