LIVE REVIEW: Bowling For Soup @ The 100 Club, London

There’s something magical, mystical, and mythological about acoustic renditions of otherwise electrifying rock songs. BOWLING FOR SOUP made a name for themselves almost three decades ago with their pop-punk silliness and wholesome punk rock that would make you laugh through the tears. Having quite literally just wrapped up their full electric UK tour one month prior, vocalist/guitarist Jaret Reddick and bassist Rob Felicetti returned with a string of intimate singalong shows, ending in London’s legendary The 100 Club. With only half the members and two acoustic guitars to their name, it begs the question: is the bowl of soup half empty or half full? 

Kicking off the warm, cosy, intimate evening is Nottingham-based alternative rockers LACEY. The only thing missing in between the sun-bleached rug and candlelit stage is a crackling fireplace. Since saving half of BOWLING FOR SOUP’s previous tour when drummer Gary Wiseman had to fly home prematurely due to an illness, LACEY’s skin-hitter Dave Pearson traded in the splintered sticks  this evening for a six-string acoustic. With vocalist Graham Turner also armed with an acoustic and Josh Lewin brandishing the lead electric, tracks like Run Away, Older, All Too Far, Answers, and upcoming single Dream In A Little Less Colour were granted an ethereal aura to them. The trio’s impeccable chemistry helped to add an almost celestial air to their harmonies. It wouldn’t be a singalong without a medley of classics, and onlookers were perfectly warmed up after howling along to anthems by JIMMY EAT WORLD, GOOD CHARLOTTE, FALL OUT BOY, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, and WEATUS. Job quite literally well done.

Rating: 8/10

Sandwiched between three quarters of LACEY and two quarters of BOWLING FOR SOUP, is one quarter of US rock n’ rollers DON’T PANIC. Vocalist and guitarist Ted Felicetti flitters between solo tunes and utilising LACEY as his backing band, complete with a cajon. Whether it’s tracks like I Woe, Second Chances, Ramona, and Fall of 99 with assistance in tow, or Watership Down, Regret Is A Terrible Roommate, and What’s a Guy To Do? on his own, the chemistry and banter lacks in both camps. A one-man band is never an easy task, and the acoustic versions of these high-energy tunes don’t do them justice. 

Rating: 7/10

When your band is 28 years old with a string of successful hits, you earn the right to do things for fun. Not because you have to, but because you want to. And that pays off for BOWLING FOR SOUP. Amongst the cosily decorated set, is a backdrop of humorous family portraits of Jaret and Rob, looking like an awkward 70s father and son duo complete with knitted jumpers. Despite the band’s most recent album, Pop Drunk Snot Bread, being Rob’s second full-length with the quartet, the camaraderie and connection is already palpable. The energy and aura is more contagious than COVID too, with a host of naturally funny jokes and banter being thrown around between songs, including improvised moments of NEIL DIAMOND’s Sweet Caroline and TOM PETTY’s Free Fallin’. 

Kicking off the set with Trucker Hat, Ohio (Come Back to Texas), and The Bitch Song, Rob trades in his bass duties for slide guitar solos galore, whilst Jaret shows off his kazoo skills on new single I Wanna Be Brad Pitt. As an ambassador for mental health and the recent scare with drummer Gary, Turbulence and Royal Family, taken from Jaret’s solo country record Just Woke Up, are dedicated to the constant ups and downs of life and the people around us that make them bearable. Also taken from their latest record, Pee Break is a genius idea and more bands should take a leaf out of BOWLING FOR SOUP’s book.

Whilst the first half of the set ebbed and flowed effortlessly, the continued procrastination between tunes meant that the band’s biggest hits, and therefore most singalongable, were rushed as time ran over into curfew. Despite that, Almost, Punk Rock 101, Girl All the Bad Guys Want, and 1985 ensured that sore throats would be had the following day. 

An intimate acoustic singalong bridged the gap between musician and fan more than social media ever could or ever will. Reiterating that we’re all family at the end of the day, the fans have been there for BOWLING FOR SOUP since day one and BOWLING FOR SOUP endeavour to return that favour tenfold time and time again. 

Rating: 8/10

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