Bowling for Soup - 20/10/09

The minute i heard that Bowling for Soup were doing another tour i instantly decided i was going. When i found out they were playing a show in Cambridge so i didn't have to pay more than the ticket's worth to get to the show, i was over the moon.

When we got into the show, we got a drink and went to stand near the front. We were only there for about 10 minutes before the first band, The Leftovers, came on. When you ordered tickets for the tour, you were given a free download album, featuring songs from each of the bands on the tour. I listened to this, and decided the Leftovers were pretty good, so i listened to their entire album. They came on stage with so much energy, and were one of the few support acts i'd seen that could get the crowd inerested in the show so much earlier than the actual band come on. They played some fantastic songs, starting with Untouchable, following it with Can't Stop. They then had a little chat and dedicated the next song, Telephone Operator, to "Everyone out there with a phone". They even managed to get the crowd to join in, in a sing and repeat moment with their final song, Party 'til we Die.

Up next, came MC Lars. I first saw him supporting BFS back in 2005, so was happy he was touring with them again. I wasn't entirely sure people would like it that much, as it is very different to the music they came to hear, especially as he favoured his older tracks to his newest slightly more mainstream releases. Anyone who can get away with telling the crowd to "Give it up for Herman Melville" before rapping about Moby Dick, has got something special and should run with it. Then on wanders Jaret for a quick song about music downloading, happily titled "Download This Song". He then played Hot Topic (is not punk rock), Space Game and finished with iGeneration. I was really surprised he didn't play a single track from his newer albums, but i think it is brilliant that he still plays his old stuff to crowds.

After a short wait, Zebrahead came on. I saw these supporting BFS in 2007, but didn't pay any attention. I then listened to some of their music and really like it so was quite looking forward to their set. Unfortunately i was really dissappointed. Before they came on, they played some music that really built up atmosphere and everyone was waiting for something amazing to heppen, then they casually walked on the stage - somewhat dissappointing. The singer spent an awful lot of time with his back to the audience, singing towards the drummer, and for some reason decided it would be a great idea to get everyone in the crowd to sit down. When the venue is full, you can barely stand up, let alone sit down so was this not only uncomfortable, but also stupid as he expected us to sit down, then jump up. It was more inconvenient than fun. They played a lot of songs, but i couldn't really make out when one ended and the next started, apart from the times when they talked. They did, however cover Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" and while this song was significantly better than the original, it seems like they are struggling for ideas as their new album is entirely covers of female pop stars. They are amazingly energetic, onstage, however and i don't think any of them stopped moving for more than a few seconds at a time, but on one of their last songs, they decided it would be great to try and persuade everyone to shout 'Minge' at certain parts of the song. This is a band that would probably be fun if you were drunk, but sober are just annoying and immature, and seemed out of place for an otherwise almost family friendly concert. I will stick to listening to the CD, rather than going to see them, i think.

After a longer wait, a video come up projected onto the screen, and it Showed Jaret and Erik sitting on a sofa explaining about this contest that you could enter. You vasically had to sign up to the mailing list and you would be entered into a competition written specifically about you. They then gave a short example for Ian, that consisted of "Your name is Ian... You really like beeein' outsiide!" Not gold perhaps, but you get the idea of what they were thinking. They then played the most amazing song i have ever heard, introducing the band and the show, then they came on straight into the brilliant "I'm Gay". This was a great song to start with as it got everyone into the spirit of what they were in for and is generally a fun song. Then the Bitch Song comes on, and everyone goes nuts. For the first time, Bowling for Soup played with the aid of a projector, and it played clips of some of their videos, and showed pictures and stuff while they were playing, which was a good idea as it was somethign else to look at while enjoying them, but it meant that they actually used a set list for a change, or the video would all be in the wrong place. They then played Almost and My Wena, with a video in the background depicting a 7 foot penis trying different things and generally failing. They then played No Habo Ingles, which was brilliant, i was so happy they played such a variety of material. Their new album is probably inching it's way to my favourite every time i listen to it, but i would have been dissappointed if it was all they playe,d luckily they threw in some older songs too, for good measure. They then played Ohio (Come Back to Texas) got halfway through, and in traditional BFS style, walked off. The Leftovers came on and finished the song off, when BFS came back on to power their way through High School Never Ends. They then spiced it up a bit by covering Hot Or Cold by Katy Perry, and Punk Rock 101 Halfway through they stopped for an official Bowling for Soup photo break, and all got together to pose for photos. They then wandered back and started talking. After a while Jaret said "Suppose we shoudl finish the song?" to which Chris replied "I suppose.." and they went straight back into it exactly where they had left earlier. They then went into the amazingly popular Hooray for Beer, much to everyone's enjoyment as they all got more beer. If Only, was followed soon after, aided by a video, as parts of the song is recorded answer-phone messages, the video showed these, and the band played along to the other bits. They then calmed it down a bit by playing When we Die, it seemed slightly out of place in amongst the happy jump around style of the show, but it's a brilliant song and worked well. Just before they left, they played the one song i had been waiting for all night. Really Cool Dance Song. As soon as this started playing the crowd went nuts, I really hope it gets released as a single, because it is such a good song, it would just rocket up the charts. They played that and i was so happy. But they stopped halfway through the song as the keyboard bit dropped out, but they finsihed their wonderful set with Jaret saying "If you don't know this song, the guy next to you is going to kick you in the nuts" before going into 1985. Everyone sang along, especially when we were pitted against Ireland to sing it in our best mexican accents. We won. Obviously. Bowling for Soup are simply amazing live and i can't wait for the next tour.