This show has been on the books for some time and the buzz hasn’t really faded. Both Bowling for Soup and Less Than Jake are names so big that either one could sell out this venue on their own terms, but tonight we get two for the price of one.
I’m not sure this gig could rightfully be categorised as nostalgic. Yes, both headliners are on the Mount Rushmore of pop punk and ska punk, but they’re still putting out music to this day. What is certain is that tonight they’ve sold out The Academy to two and a half thousand fans who are all up for a party on a school night.
Coming into the venue we’re met with an unexpected but welcome surprise of DJ Matt Stocks entertaining us. You may remember him from the Punk Rock Factory show in the same venue not so long ago. I remember originally being lukewarm to the idea of a DJ between sets but I very quickly got on board with it and tonight is no exception. He’s not dressed as Wayne Campbell this time round but he is running a raffle to win a signed guitar, so that’s nice. Matt knows his tunes and it’ll always be superior to having a playlist on. Good to see him back, quite frankly.
First up is Vandoliers – a band I knew by name only before tonight. If you were to Google them, you’d read that they’re some sort of alternative country music group from Texas. I’d say they’re a party waiting to happen. Yes, they’re country as in I’m 100% certain they all know what moonshine tastes like, but their sound is more folk punk than Parton. They’ve got a fiddle player player who looks like Jesse Ventura in Predator and a topless keyboardist who plays trumpet. The music is fast and fun with plenty of on stage antics.
Some more fun with Matt Stocks before Less Than Jake take to the stage and it’s clear this is what some of the crowd have come for. The set is tight and full of all the hits. Trombonist Buddy’s stage presence is a definite high point, while a low point would be Chris mentioning that our parents probably made our to this next song… Truth is that I went to school with a girl who is now a grandma and we listened to Less Than Jake in high school. Grandparents made out to Less Than Jake. Mortifying.
There’s crowd surfing, sitting on shoulders and toilet paper getting shot into the crowd. One audience member with a killer hat and walking stick (I saw him arrive at the venue in all his steampunk glory) got on stage to dance with the band. If I had one complaint it’s that the crowd outwith the pit were a little flat. I’m firmly of the opinion that the whole room should have been bouncing for LTJ tonight.
The anticipation builds for Bowling For Soup with a five minute countdown on the big screen while ‘Kickstart My Heart’ by Crue plays. Cameras scan the crowd and put the fans up on the screen in a more wholesome exercise that Vince and Tommy normally indulge in at their concerts (don’t Google it at work). As the countdown finishes we get a hilarious cartoon and prerecorded TV theme-esque song that basically warns us that we’re in for a good time.
Starting with ‘Emily’, the set is only 14 songs strong and they don’t have as many big hits as Less Than Jake, but the songs aren’t the only reason we come to see Bowling For Soup. The chat between frontman Jaret and bass player Rob (who is like a cartoon on stage himself) is funny and Jaret comes across as a genuinely nice guy. We’ve got to wait till the end for the big hitters (‘Girl All The Bad Guys Want’ and ‘1985’) but that was predictable. My favourite tune, ‘Punk Rock 101’ was drawn out with enhanced photo opportunities and Rick Astley – sometimes we just want to have a bit of a circle pit to a fast punk track uninterrupted. It was like musical edging and contrary to the current trends, I’m not a fan of that. After ‘Always’ we get the big giveaway for the guitar Matt Stocks was pushing at the start of the night… congrats Lynne!
As far as tonight goes, the first two acts were bringing the music, while BFS brought the entertainment. It was pop punk classics with oddball antics throughout. If you want a show that flies through the tracks, then Bowling For Soup ain’t the band for you. If you want to feel like you’re at a house party with the class clowns and a great soundtrack… then come on down.
Photos by Catching Light Photography