A Hangover You Don’t Deserve? For many fans, it might have felt well-earned after Bowling For Soup’s unforgettable 20th-anniversary show. But we will come back to that shortly.
Arriving at The Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, the air buzzed with nostalgia and excitement as fans of all ages—many sporting vintage Bowling For Soup tees—lined up to relive their pop-punk glory days. The queue stretched on endlessly, winding through the streets like a pop-punk pilgrimage—fans clearly weren’t about to miss their chance to celebrate with their favourite Texans.
Fans braved the long wait to see a stacked lineup featuring rising stars Magnolia Park, the ever-energetic Jon Mahon, nostalgic icons Wheatus, and, of course, the headliners—Bowling For Soup.
Opening the night with an electrifying set, Magnolia Park brought an infectious energy that immediately set the tone for the evening. Kicking things off with “Misfits,” the band made it clear they weren’t here to warm up the crowd—they were here to make a statement. Their blend of pop-punk and rock kept the energy high as they tore through fan favourites like “Do or Die” and “Crave.”
As they closed their set with the high-energy duo of “Shallow” and “Animal,” the band left the stage to applause, proving they’re not just an opening act.
Hyping up the crowd during the short changeovers was Jon Mahon, and let me tell you—he absolutely smashed it. A DJ who knows how to get the crowd fired up, Jon was on point from the moment he took the stage. A seasoned DJ from Kerrang, Jon took the chance to let us know that this was his "hometown" gig. Well, kind of—he’s actually from Walsall, but let’s not get bogged down with the details, right?
There was also a nice surprise when Jon dropped his own single, “You Got This.” The track was upbeat and instantly catchy, and you could see the crowd dancing along with him. Jon’s not just there to fill the space between acts—he’s genuinely adding to the already incredible line-up.
Next up, we had Wheatus, and if you thought they were just one-hit wonders, think again. These guys came out punching with a killer cover of "Growing on Me" by The Darkness, and the atmosphere in the room was instantly cranked up to 11. Then they hit us with our favourite cover of Erasure’s “A Little Respect,” and honestly, it was like they just casually said, "Yeah, we can do that too." The crowd? Absolutely loving it. This was of no surprise of course being one of their most successful singles.
But let’s be real—everyone knew what was coming next, and when they launched into “Teenage Dirtbag,” the place lost its mind. The entire crowd belted out the chorus like we were all in a 90s teen movie, and honestly, who could blame us? It’s a classic, and Wheatus absolutely nailed it.
And then, the moment we’d all been waiting for: the Bowling For Soup boys took the stage. But before they even appeared, we were treated to a loading screen that dragged on just long enough to get the anticipation building. Classic move, right? Finally, the three-piece (now down a member with Chris Burney retired) walked on stage to the roar of the crowd.
They kicked things off by blasting through “Almost” and “Trucker Hat” back-to-back without a pause. The crowd was loving it, singing along like it was 2004. After that high-energy start, they finally took a break to chat, and as usual, Bowling For Soup knew how to entertain the crowd with their signature banter. And then, bam—“1985” hit. It was like the entire crowd was transported right back to the mid-2000s with an eruption of confetti. Jaret Reddick admits that this would be the earliest in the set this song would be played, thanks to Rob Felicetti insisting the album be played in order.
From there, the set flowed seamlessly with more classics from A Hangover You Don’t Deserve, including fan favourites like “Ohio (Come Back to Texas)” and “Ridiculous.” The band kept the crowd engaged with banter and one-liners, which is the secret sauce to their live shows. It’s never just about the music—it’s about the connection they have with the audience and their fans. Whether it was Reddick bantering with Wiseman about now having a microphone or the ever-present wit from Felicetti, you knew it was all part of the package that made this show stand out.
And just when you thought the night couldn’t get any better, they pulled a fan up on stage for a spin of the wheel, landing on “The Bitch Song.” The crowd went wild, and the lucky fan, Mason, soaked in the glory like a true rock star, even getting a bundle of goodies from the band.
They wrapped up the main set with “Two-Seater” and a heartfelt dedication to Chris Burney with “Friends O’ Mine.” But this wasn’t just another show—it was a celebration of the band’s legacy and their deep connection to their fans.
As if we hadn’t had enough, the encore hit us with the “Phineas and Ferb Theme” (yes, you read that right) and the anthem that never gets old: “Girl All the Bad Guys Want.” By the end of it all, everyone in that venue had one thing on their mind: maybe this is a hangover I deserve, but maybe it’s totally worth it.
Bowling For Soup never fail to deliver, and this show was a reminder of why they've been around for so long and still pack out venues. They know how to make you laugh, make you sing, and most importantly, leave with a smile.
