LIVE REVIEW: Bowling For Soup & Less Than Jake @ Utilita Arena, Cardiff

Cardiff’s Utilita Arena is hosting a momentous occasion tonight, as we’re about to bear witness to the biggest show ever, and their debut arena show, from BOWLING FOR SOUP. The Texan four-piece boast a 30-year career, which has taken them all over the world on numerous tours. It’s pouring with rain in Cardiff tonight, but the sold-out show on their co-headlining run with LESS THAN JAKE has brought 7,500 people to the city centre arena.

An unusual addition to the line-up, host/DJ MATT STOCKS is on hand to hype up the audience between bands. First to the stage is another band hailing from BOWLING FOR SOUP’s home state of Texas. VANDOLIERS all but sprint on to the stage. Their excitement is obvious, this is the biggest crowd they’ve ever played to, something that vocalist Joshua ‘Hollywood’ Fleming repeats a handful of times throughout their set, with a smile beaming across his face.

Their genre-muddling country-punk sound is fresh and fun, and the band is incredibly entertaining to watch. From fiddler to trumpeter, the entire band oozes enthusiasm, and for a band who have never played to an audience of this size, they work the room like seasoned professionals. Between alternating country and punk tracks, they throw in a rendition of THE PROCLAIMERS’ I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) which is delightfully received by the 7,500-strong audience. If they weren’t fans of VANDOLIERS before, they certainly are now.

Rating: 10/10

After a short intermission with DJ MATT STOCKS, who mostly just dances badly to the music that’s played during set changes, LESS THAN JAKE burst into action, taking full advantage of the huge stage. The crowd is already buzzing from VANDOLIERS performance, but LESS THAN JAKE elevate the mood even more, and there’s not a single person standing still during their set.

Between songs, frontman Chris DeMakes and bassist Roger Lima share some on-stage banter and acknowledge the significance of tonight’s show, remarking “all of the other shows on this tour were just practice for tonight!” Their hour-long set is one big party, and is filled with hits from their 25+ year career. From the chaotic All My Best Friends Are Metalheads to the infectious The Science Of Selling Yourself Short, they deliver a flawless set, showing us exactly why they’ve earned their legendary status in the ska-punk scene.

Rating: 9/10

We’re treated to another unnecessary and slightly bewildering experience with DJ MATT STOCKS, before a five-minute countdown appears on the screen at the back of the stage, and the agonising wait for BOWLING FOR SOUP begins. As the timer ends, members of VANDOLIERS and LESS THAN JAKE join BOWLING FOR SOUP on stage, taking up a spot at the back where a bar area has been set up. BOWLING FOR SOUP throw themselves into Emily, and the party atmosphere is reignited.

The band are on top form, playing to the crowd and engaging in banter with them (including one man on his stag do, who frontman Jaret Reddick couldn’t believe would choose to attend a BFS concert over going to a strip club). VANDOLIERS make a surprise appearance, joining the band to perform Ohio, and later in the set, the band are joined by PUNK ROCK FACTORY for Today Is Gonna Be A Great Day from Phineas & Ferb.

Some technical issues during Punk Rock 101 means there’s a quick break in the set, during which the band take photos while RICK ASTLEY’s Never Gonna Give You Up plays, prompting some jokes about RICK ASTLEY himself joining the band for a song.

Technical issue dealt with, the party continues without a hitch. There are smoke machines, pyrotechnics, and confetti cannons throughout the set which add fun visuals and help maintain the party spirit. The set ends with a needlessly sped-up version of Girl All The Bad Guys Want that leaves everyone gasping for breath as they try to sing along. Finally, the night is rounded off with an equally up-tempo version of 1985 for the encore, concluding BOWLING FOR SOUP’s biggest ever headline show. It’s safe to say they pulled it off. The entire show has been one big party, and not a single person is leaving the Utilita Arena disappointed.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Cardiff from Serena Hill Photography here: 

Like BOWLING FOR SOUP and LESS THAN JAKE on Facebook.