Bowling For Soup Serves A Hearty Helping Of Fun At First Ave!
So these guys are notorious for being a good time. Having never seen them live before, my curiosity was revved up and ready for a show.
Popped into Pizza Luce for a $5 pep slice and $5 beer before making my way over to the First Ave. Chatted with the warm and friendly staff, watched a bit of Nicolas Cage’s “Drive Angry.” It’s real bad if you have not been forced to watch it. I will not stop telling y’all about the hot deals I find, because hope you’d do the same for me. Hard to find an affordable bite and sip these days, gotta point them out when you do sniff out a few.
Opening support for the night was a banger of a band, rosecoloredworld aka RCW. Rocky and punky, the Los Angeles based group really looked like they were having a good time. Lead vocalist, guitarist, and gal with sick ass boots which I was immediately envious of, Addison Scott is exactly who you want fronting a band. She knows how to make sure to hit every corner of the room with thematic gazes and headbangs without missing a beat. Drummer Luke Caro and bassist Hutton Smith equally so. Though only having about a half hour on stage, made a memorable impression. Especially loved the cover of “Creep” by Radiohead, and I don’t even like that song by Radiohead. They do have a new album coming out on December 11th, “ A Gift Of Desperation,” which I will not for sure be checking out. Great energy and stage presence, loved their set.
Woo! Who’s ready for Ballyhoo1!? Always down for some funky jams, and know they deliver. According to our lord and savior, Merriam-Webster, Ballyhoo means “a noisy, excited commotion or flamboyant, exaggerated publicity designed to attract attention.” A most perfect description for their style and vibe. It’s just so easy to rock out listening to them. Though mostly happy and bubbly, did have one solemn moment after playing New Found Glory’s “My Friend’s Over You” in honor of their fellow musician Chad Gilbert who just recently passed away a day before. Really cool they did that, know it must be on their minds when performing. Was a nice tribute to a talented man taken far too soon. My favorite song Ballyhoo! played during their dozen performed was “I Guess I’ll Go Fuck Myself,” encapsulating a mood myself and every other human needs to expel occasionally through loud noises and uncouth words.
The crowd was popping for Bowling For Soup. Not quite a sold out show, but for a Monday night, pretty well filled out. Lead singer and golden personality Jaret Reddick is a blast and a half. Even after coming off of some heavy events, aka Riot Fest just a day previous to our show, he had such exuberant verve. After opening with their chanting “Bowling For Soup” theme song and then right into “Almost,” everyone was hooked. Remarking that he “just accomplished a [personal] world record” having performed TWO songs without pounding a beer. The crowd cheered and egged him on, he laughed and said in retort to their jeers “peer pressure doesn’t work on me, I’m fifty and already famous.” Mmk, well I love him even more now. Reddick, having oodles of talents and accolades under his belt, also wrote the Phineas And Ferb theme song, so of course you gotta perform it and invite eager audience members who arrived in costume. Ending the night with their mega-monster hit “1985,” their entire set was seemingly effortless and yet still filled with so much vigor. Cannot wait to see them again. Make sure you do!
