Bowling for Soup & Less Than Jake / Civic Hall / Wolverhampton

A jaunt across the country to the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, for a show I didn’t want to miss, with Bowling for Soup and Less than Jake in town on their “You Asked for It” tour ! It’s hard to believe it’s been the best part of 30 years since the release of "Cell Mates" back in 1996 !

The place is absolutely packed for this one, as first up on stage we have fellow Texas band Vandoliers, formed in 2015 they have released four studio albums, with their self-titled most recent album in 2022, and the EP “Jam in the Van” released last year. The six piece band deliver a brilliant, lively set of SKA infused country-punk. Singer and guitarist Joshua Fleming delivers some fantastic vocals and Cory Graves on keys and trumpet delivers a brilliant, energetic fun performance that brings their show alive.

A really enjoyable set, and a band I’d love to see again with a full headline set. The energy is high right from the get-go with opening track Rolling Out, taken from 2017’s “The Native”. Other highlights for me were Howl’n (from 2022’s Vandoliers album) a song about Flemings dog, and a brilliant cover of I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) by the Proclaimers to round off the set, which had the crowd singing along in earnest. The punk-country style is a joy to behold and has you tappin’ away all night. A band made to bring broad smiles to faces wherever they go. A great start to the evening.

Setlist

Rolling Out (The Native

Endless Summer (Nat)

Sixteen Years (For)

Sink

Howl’n

Troublemaker

Every Saturday Night

I’m Gonna Be

A trip to the bar for a quick refreshment and I eagerly rush to the main hall for the arrival of Less than Jake. Formed in 1992 in ‘Rock City’ Gainesville, Florida, Less than Jake have wowed audiences round the world for 32 years. Long time friends of Bowling for Soup, they delivered a blistering set of raucous SKA-punk.

I’d not seen them live before, but they had a similar air to their live show as The Interrupters…… fast, furious, energetic and above all else – fun ! Chris Demakes (guitar and vocals) and Roger Lima (guitar and vocals) were outstanding, and between songs engaged in banter with the crowd, telling funny stories, Roger making the crowd laugh about the state of his hair and how he’s never getting it cut in Wolverhampton again, and toilet roll cannons spraying the crowd with paper.

The set is a A to Z of their greatest hits with a number of tracks from their 1998 release “Hello Rockville”. The crowd are loving every second, singing along to the lyrics and bouncing non-stop. Buddy Schaub is on the move round the stage constantly on the trombone and alongside Peter "JR" Wasilewski on sax, they give the band their iconic SKA sound.

The set starts with the high energy levels of Last One Out of Liberty City from 1998’s “Hello Rockville” and the set just ramps up the energy levels from there. I loved the inclusion of Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts from 1996’s “Losing Streak”.

Along the way we enjoy brilliant versions of hits such as All My Best Friends are Metalheads (“Hello Rockville” 1998) and The Science of Selling Yourself Short (from 2003’s “Anthem”). For me the highlight of the set was History of a Boring Town.

The time just flies by, and the set ends with the only song it could…. The iconic Gainesville Rock City (from “Borders & Boundaries” 2012), and the party is in full swing now.

Less than Jake are phenomenal live, and the kind of band that anyone can enjoy. Top top stuff !

Setlist

Last One Out of Liberty City (Hello Rockville 1998)

Help Save The Youth of America (Hello Rockville 1998)

All My Best Friends are Metalheads (Hello Rockville 1998)

The High Cost of Low Living (Silver Lining 2020)

Plastic Cup Politics (Anthem 2003)

Automatic (Losing Streak 1996)

Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts (Losing Streak 1996)

Lie to Me (Silver Lining 2020)

History of a Boring Town (Hello Rockville 1998)

The Science of Selling Yourself Short (Anthem 2003)

Look What Happened (Anthem 2003)

The Rest of My Life (In With the Out Crowd 2006)

Nervous in the Alley (Hello Rockville 1998)

Gainsville Rock City (Borders & Boundaries 2012)

As the set is prepared for the arrival of Bowling for Soup, there’s a notable buzz around the hall. The huge stage is set up with beer barrels and a bar! The lights dimmed, and the crowd goes wild….. and a timer starts up on the big screen 05:00 – argh ! The excitement levels just grow and grow as the crowd watches the numbers slowly…. Painfully slowly creep downwards. Finally, it’s 10, 9, 8….. the crowd shouting out the numbers and cheer as bassist Rob Felicetti strides out onto the stage, followed by Chris Burney (guitar), Gary Wiseman (drums) and finally Jaret Reddick (vocals & guitar) who walks out to his mic, arms raised, soaking up the adulation form the crowd.

Formed back in 1994 in Wichita Falls, Texas, Bowling for Soup are the kings of pop-punk and party kings. Tonight’s line up (Vandoliers, LtJ and BfS) are the perfect party night out, and the bar at the back of the stage is soon filled with friends and band members enjoying the show too.

Having left the band on good terms for personal reasons, original bass player Erik Chandler has been replaced by Rob Felicetti, who is a great addition to the line up with his playing style and energy levels, interacting with the crowd at every opportunity he got.

The set starts with classic hit Emily and right away the crowd are singing at the top of their voices, and is just the first of the hits on show. However, what was nice tonight, was the set included a number of lesser known tracks as well, such as Life After Lisa (Drunk Enough to Dance 2002) and Two-Seater (A Hangover You Don’t Deserve 2004). It was great to see at the front, two young kids, one with ear defenders on rocking out at full speed to every note and beat, and its great to see a new generation enjoying live music.

It doesn’t take long for the tone to drop with the penis jokes in the form of My Wena (Sorry for Partyin’ 2009). Bowling for Soup are the prime example of the age old line that men are children at heart. And why not ? Live !!!!!!!

Hit after hit rolls out one after another…. Ohio through Last Rock Show, Punk Rock 101 and High School Never Ends. You forget just how many big hits they’ve had over the years. Each and every one is met by huge cheers from the audience and every single line and lyric is sung with gusto. There’s a nice break with a semi-acoustic rendition of Turbulence mid-set.

As the main set draws to a close, the band announce the winner of the guitar giveaway raffle, to one lucky winner before we go out on a high with The Bitch Song (from 1998’s “Tell Me When to Whoa”) and their greatest hit Girl All The Bad Guys Want (from 2002’s “Drunk Enough to Dance”). Both have the crowd on fire, singing at the top of their lungs to every line.

A short break before they return with a two song encore and first we enjoy Since We Broke Up before the night closes on 1985 (again from 2004’s “A Hangover You Don’t Deserve”). Who doesn’t remember the brilliant video with Jarret and Co dressed up as Robert Palmer and his female dancers (from the Addicted to Love video) trying to impress the mom across the road, Debbie, played by Joey House.

With the lights flashing, and drinks held high it’s hard to image how three bands have just flown by in the blink of an eye. The place is going wild, and rightly so. All three bands have delivered in style !

The quality of the music and musicianship is second to none tonight. All three were tight and above all else, we all had fun….. lots of fun, and that’s what it should all be about shouldn’t it ? Sending everyone home with huge grins on their faces with memories to last a lifetime.

Stunning…. Simply stunning.

Setlist

Emily (Drunk Enough to Dance 2002)

My Wena (Sorry for Partyin’ 2009)

Out the Window (Drunk Enough to Dance 2002)

Ohio (A Hangover You Don’t Deserve 2004)

Life After Lisa (Drunk Enough to Dance 2002)

Last Rock Show (Drunk Enough to Dance 2002)

Punk Rock 101 (Drunk Enough to Dance 2002)

Two Seater (A Hangover You Don’t Deserve 2004)

Getting Old Sucks (But Everybody’s Doing It) (Pop Drunk Snot Bread 2022)

Phineas & Ferb