The boys in Bowling for Soup are wed to comedy and happiness.
If punk rock represents rebellion against convention, then give Bowling For Soup the Mohawk crown.
In today's cynical climate, Bowling For Soup takes the most extreme punk stance imaginable: They have fun. They smile. They joke with their audience.
Their Friday night performance at the Grand Emporium was hysterical. Should the hits stop coming, Bowling For Soup could become the biggest act in Branson. Imagine a heavily tattooed version of the Baldknobbers.
"I think rock and roll is really funny when it's serious," the Texas band sing on their most recent album. "Don't hate us because we're happy." That peppy statement of purpose characterized their 75-minute performance.
Those only familiar with the band's biggest hit, "1985," should know that there's plenty more where that came from. Virtually everyone in the capacity audience of about 300 sang along to "Punk Rock 101," "Almost" and "Love Sick Stomach Ache (Sugar Coated Accident)" -- favorites just as hook-filled and criminally catchy as "1985."
The band doesn't rely entirely on gags. The affecting new ballad "When We Die" verged on maudlin. And for all his ridiculous antics, the very large Chris Burney is a sharp guitarist. The intimate setting allowed direct interaction between fans and band. One kid passed his report card -- straight A's -- to the stage. Another fan provided the band with shots.
"I've been to a Chiefs tailgate," vocalist Jaret Reddick boasted. "I got hammered drunk." And the band's set was punctuated by numerous "beverage breaks," which afforded them ample opportunities to engage in bathroom humor. Such course banter might have been inappropriate for the children sprinkled throughout the audience, but adults knew it was all a part of Bowling For Soup's good clean fun.
Several bands preceded Bowling For Soup. Minneapolis' Quietdrive traffic in a form so common that the style merits its own moniker. Call it "Red Bull rock." The twitchy guitar-based pop is heard to best effect on a secondary stage at the annual Warped Tour. Bowling For Soup fans appreciate a good cover, and Quietdrive managed to win them over with a convincing interpretation of Cindy Lauper's "Time After Time."
The sniveling songs of San Francisco's Ronnie Day might have spelled trouble if performed before a less accommodating audience. Day's charisma and maximum effort sold the audience on his heart-on-sleeve songs. Five Star Crush came across as the little brothers of fellow Kansas City band Roman Numerals. Their infatuation with early '80s bands like the Cure runs so deep that the vocalist sang with an affected English accent.
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
"Red Bull rock." Nice one.
Posted by: Jason | April 17, 2007 at 03:45 PM