Live Review: Bowling For Soup - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
16th February 2024
Support: Less Than Jake, The Vandoliers
Words: Cat Finch
Photos: Tim Finch
Bowling For Soup brought their infectious energy to Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall in a night filled with pop-punk anthems and nostalgic vibes. Supported by The Vandoliers and Less Than Jake, the evening promised a line-up that catered to both old-school and contemporary punk rock enthusiasts.
Kicking off the proceedings, The Vandoliers set the stage on fire with their raucous blend of country and punk. Tracks like ‘Endless Summer’ and ‘Troublemaker’ showcased their versatility, while their unexpected cover of The Proclaimers' ‘I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ injected a fresh twist into the set, earning them a warm reception from the crowd.
Following suit, Less Than Jake ramped up the energy with their signature ska-punk sound. From the infectious energy of ‘All My Best Friends Are Metalheads’ to the anthemic chorus of ‘The Science of Selling Yourself Short’, the band delivered a high-octane performance that had the audience skanking and singing along from start to finish.
Between songs the banter is high, along with sharing their love of Nando’s they show their knowledge of the local area, talking about Dudley and the iconic watering hole that was JB’s as the apt introduction to ‘History of a Boring Town’. What a show and one Bowling for Soup will have to work hard to beat.
As the anticipation reached its peak, Bowling For Soup burst onto the stage, greeted by a roar from the eager crowd. Opening with the catchy ‘Emily’, they wasted no time in delivering hit after hit, including fan favourites like ‘Ohio (Come Back to Texas)’ and ‘High School Never Ends’. The band's infectious enthusiasm was palpable, with frontman Jaret Reddick's banter keeping the audience engaged between songs.
Highlights of the set included the sing-along choruses of ‘Girl All the Bad Guys Want’ and the nostalgia-inducing ‘1985’, which transported listeners back to the heyday of early 2000s pop-punk.
The Bowling For Soup show in Wolverhampton was a triumph of punk rock camaraderie and infectious energy. With a superb line up and a setlist packed with hits, it was a night that reminded us why this genre continues to resonate with audiences of all ages.
Photo credits: Tim Finch Photography
