Wheatus / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham

Sep 26

Sep 26 Wheatus / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham

Back at the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham to see Wheatus. Whether you’ve heard of the band, I can guarantee that everyone’s heard their biggest hit Teenage Dirtbag. I was looking forward to this one.

Heading into the pit at the front, and catching up with the security staff before support MC Frontalot hit the stage. I hadn’t seen who the support was and so had not had chance to check them out on Spotify and I was in for a surprise. Out stepped Damian, better known as MC Frontalot, an American rapper and web designer !!! Dressed in shirt, tie and slacks, he looked like he had just left the office.

In 2000 he released the song Nerdcore Hiphop, and the song became an immediate hit, and the rap subgenre of nerdcore was brought to the national attention.

What can I say ? It was brilliant, in a nerdy kinda way. Rapping to tracks from his laptop, MC Frontalot actually can rip out a line and has an engaging stage presence, interacting with the audience between every track. But of course being Nerdcore, the subject matter is somewhat different to most rap, with subjects such as the complex love/hate relationship one has with your desktop PC, which gives it an accessible and fun side.

I guess it’s the kind of marmite kind of act, you either love it or hate it, and I can see that some would see it as ‘cheesy’ but I loved it.

With a big smile, we waited in the pit for Wheatus to come out. Formed in Northport, New York in 1995, they rose to fame with their worldwide 2000 hit Teenage Dirtbag which appeared in the films Loser and Bully, and TV shows Generation Kill (HBO miniseries) and Girlboss (Netflix Original Series). It’s a phenomena, having been streamed over 500 million times on Spotify alone, and 262 million video views on YouTube.

While setting up BBB (Brendan B Brown) singer and guitarist came out to cheers and set up his acoustic. I spotted him lean out and chat to a couple of folk in the crowd. The reason soon became evident. Unusually the band took up positions round the slides of the stage, leaving a large space in the middle. Drums at the front on the right (KC Marotta who was excellent all night) singers at the back with keys (Brandon Ticer) and then Brandon front left, almost pressed to the wall.

They started off with Through and A Little Respect and the place was rocking. Brendan welcomed the crowd and told us that there was no set list. This wasn’t about them playing what they wanted us to hear, this was for us, and they would play whatever we wanted. I loved it, and I wish more bands did this kind of thing now and then. It shows a great confidence in their knowledge of their back catalogue for a start and respect for their fans. Amongst all the humourous ones (such as Spongebob lol) we got Wannabe Gangstar next. At every break someone shouted out for Teenage Dirtbag and we’re told with a laugh ‘ its far too early for that one yet’.

Matthew Milligan (on bass) was moving around next to the drums and blasting out some great bass riffs with confidence. Every now and then Brendan would wander out and interact with Matthew, but this was about excellent delivery first and foremost. I also enjoyed KCs performance on the drums, a charismatic personality with long flowing blonde hair. He was lapping up the attention at the front and was grinning ear to ear throughout the set.

Highlights of the set for me included A Little Respect, Love Is A Mutt From Hell, Dynomite Satchel of Pain and of course Teenage Dirtbag. Every song was met with roars and cheers from the crowd.

As often is the case, the time flies and before you know it, we’re at the end, which of course meant that song. Joined on stage by MC Frontalot, the crowd as one joined in with the popular anthem. What was so great to see, was the band seemed to be having just as good a time as the crowd.

A great night. Filled with fun and great entertainment from start to finish. I don’t think a soul left the venue tonight without a big grin, including Brandon ! Thoroughly recommended.

Set list

Through

A Little Respect

Wannabe Gangstar

Leroy

Truffles

BMX Bandits

Mullet

Lemonade

Love Is a Mutt From Hell

Real Girl

Fourteen