As the audience anticipated the start of the show, Vengaboys was played over the PA system and the crowd joined in. I’m not sure the connection but rock fans seem to have an affinity for the Dutch Eurodance group as seen by their performance at Download this year. This set the atmosphere nicely.
First to the stage were high energy pop punk cover band Punk Rock Factory. The Welsh punks started their set with a recent Disney favourite “How Far I’ll Go”. The stage was bathed in blue and white light with band members Peej, Benj and Ryan being animated, moving across the stage. Backed by the band logo on the giant Wembley screen the group called “Wembley make some ducking noise” and the crowd dutifully obliged. Continuing the Disney theme that ran through the set, the band moved onto “Friend Like Me” with singer Peej crab walking across the stage winking at the audience. In addition to the Disney theme a few children’s TV shows were covered including “Sponge Bob Square Pants” where the crowd happily joined in the singing and “Go Go Power Rangers” where the band were joined on stage by Power Rangers UK. The Power Rangers Group pulling martial arts poses all clad in the 6 coloured ranger costumes. Normally the band only plays covers but this year they wrote their own Christmas Song “Slay the Bells” and performed it for the London crowd. This was the first of two Christmas songs as the set came to an end with a cover of “Fairytale of New York”. As it came to a close the band acknowledged the crowd “Wembley, thank you so fucking much”. To close the band had John Cena’s music play as a tribute on the date of his last match.
Setlist: 1. How Far I’ll Go, 2. Friend Like Me, 3. Mamma Mia, 4. Under the Sea, 5. C’est la Vie, 6. Slay the Bells (Original), 7. Sponge Bob Square Pants, 8. Go Go Power Rangers, 9. Life is a Highway, 10. Let it Go, 11. Fairytale of New York
The second band up was New York based rockers Wheatus. The band had set up on stage with an unorthodox arrangement. Positioned centrally were two different style percussion sets faced each other giving the audience a side on view with a drum screen between. Singer/guitarist Brendan Brown positioned off to the left and backing singers behind the percussion section, bassist Matthew Miligan off to the right. The group started the set with “Leroy” followed by the band’s 2001 cover of Erasure’s “A Little Respect” which reached the top 3 in the UK charts when released. Throughout the set Brandon encouraged people to sing along and they did. For fourth track “Fourteen” the group were joined on stage by a guest saxophonist increasing the musicians on stage to 10. For “Hump’Em N Dump’Em” percussionists Gui Fuentes and Dustyn Murphy swapped instruments showing the band members musical versatility and Brandon explained that the song was about Superman’s Landlord. Explaining that it had been 22 years since Wheatus played in the UK the group announced their greatest hit “Teenage Dirtbag” was up next. The crowd sang the song unaccompanied before the instruments joined in. There was a brief interval in the song where Jaret from Bowling for Soup entered holding a bucket hat and proceeded to place it on the kneeling Brandon’s head. The song recommenced and the set closed to applause from the crowd.
Setlist: 1. Leroy, 2. A Little Respect, 3. Valentine, 4. Fourteen, 5. Hump’Em N Dump’Em, 6. Wannabe Gangstar, 7. Lemonade, 8. Hey, Mr. Brown, 9. Teenage Dirtbag
Bowling for Soup didn’t come just by themselves, they brought their family and friends. On the back left and right of the stage several banks of tiered seating had been erected to house those the band had invited. Before the band entered, the screen at the back of the stage displayed a neon warning followed by a count down full of joking line finishing with “Here Comes Bowling for Soup – Hey” and as the band ran out it changed to “Fuck Yeah”.
From the first track, “The Bitch Song”, the crowd were actively involved singing along as smoke jets blasted vertically and lights sequenced on the stage. Jaret addressed those gathered “How we feeling? Cause you’re looking fantastic” to huge cheers followed by “This is a dream come true for us”. The second track was fan favourite “High School Never Ends” and it didn’t take long for the crowd to reach full volume. Jaret started singing the lyrics to “Teenage Dirtbag” to the tune of High School Never Ends before proceeding to do the same with other song lyrics. The first appearance of the pyros lit up the stage and introduced the third song “My fucking knees are killing me already because motherfuckers getting old sucks but everyone’s doing it”. The band frequently had comedic interactions with the crowd giving the whole event a fun light-hearted vibe. Jaret’s commentary had the audience regularly laughing with one example being during “Ohio” where he started with “Right I wanna see everything in this place put their hands in the air like this and if the person next to you isn’t doing that then they’re a fucker” before then waving his arms in the air with the crowd joining in. He followed with “Now everybody jazz hands, now everyone flip that guy off” (referring to a guy who wouldn’t put his hands in the air).
After “Ohio” Jaret swaps out his electric guitar for an acoustic and the evening took a more serious turn with the issue of mental health being addressed. Jaret talked about his own personal struggles and how as the happiest guy in the world, if it can get him, it can get anyone. He proceeded to play “Turbulence” while heartfelt messages were displayed on the screen such as the world is better with you in it, you’re doing your best, we need you, don’t give up on yourself, we are grateful you exist and it’s ok to not be ok.
Following on, Bowling for Soup adopt their more comedy based routine and call Brandon from Wheatus back to the stage as well as Simon Tuckwell, The Heavy Metal Hairdresser and raffle winner Alex to shave off Brandon’s hair. The money raised in excess of £1000 to go to mental health charity UPRAWR. A girl in the crowd is spotted holding up a sign says it was her dad’s birthday and when asked the father’s name it was Dick to which Jaret replies “I haven’t seen my dick since 2014”.
The group then moved onto UK fan favourites “Punk Rock 101” and “Emily”. Commenting on the latter Jaret explained “We had a single that came out here but not in the states. It’s about my ex-girlfriend, who can’t be here today as I shot her in the face not with a gun”.
Jaret then spotted some people dressed up as platypi and tried to figure out the plural settling on “Platipussies” before playing the theme tune to children’s cartoon Phineas and Ferb, “Today is Gonna Be a Great Day”. Clearly there were many fans of the show in the building as they nearly raised the roof with the volume that it was sung. After “1985” the band announced that they would be back in the UK next year touring with Frank Turner before leaving the stage to chants of one more song. The band returned announcing a new album. Jaret explained “We have a new album coming out. We know when a band has been around 31 years you don’t want to hear new shit. This song is from the album” before playing “Holding on to the Hate”. The band closed with “Girl All the Bad Guys Want” with pyros and co2 canons erupting from the stage as well as confetti being blasted aloft.
Overall it was a fun filled evening showcasing why Bowling for Soup have become a fan favourite over the last 3 decades. I can’t wait for them to be back next year.
Setlist: 1. The Bitch Song, 2. High School Never Ends, 3. Getting Old Sucks (But Everybody is Doing it), 4. Almost, 5. I Don’t Wish You Were Dead Anymore, 6. Ohio (Come Back to Texas), 7. Turbulence, 8. Punk Rock 101, 9. Emily, 10. Today is Gonna Be a Great Day, 11. Suckerpunch, 12. Me With No You, 13. 1985, 14. Holding On to That Hate, 15. Girl All the Bad Guys Want
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