“My name is Erik…. And these are some songs”.
Thus Erik Chandler kicks off the third night in Bowling For Soup’s acoustic UK tour with an impressive series of woops and cheers from an excitable audience crammed into York’s packed Duchess. The tour has become a much-celebrated date on the BFS fan’s calendar, famed for its heady mix of stripped-down classics, energetic covers and hilarious on-stage banter. Now in its third year, it’s clear this is not just your average set of shows for BFS bandmates Erik and Jaret, who spend as much time teasing each other and the audience as they do playing songs. This was not just a gig, it was a stand-up comedy night.
Opening the show with his solo material, bassist Erik Chandler’s voice is so calming it should be projected on loudspeakers at anger management clinics. ‘Push The Pedal’ is an apt title for his first song, as pushes firmly down on the accelerator and kicks off the night with a compellingly haunting melody. Charmingly unaware of the affect his dulcet tones is having (a woman to my left has both hands clutched to her heart for the entirety of the song) he starts a slow clapping rhythm, getting the audience to set the beat for his next uplifting tune ‘Malibu Classic’, good-naturedly warning “now don’t speed up!”. Charged with this important power, Chandler has audience enthralled. By his final song, ‘Tonight’s the Night’, the chest-clutcher to my left seems on the verge of fainting and I start to worry it is not admiration that is afflicting her but genuine illness. Still, the power with which he sings is simply mesmerising. This is a man that has poured his heart out to the crowd, and we love him for it.
After a short break, it’s People on Vacation’s turn to take the stage. Dressed in a red chequered shirt, three quarter length shorts and spiked up hair, Jaret Reddick couldn’t clash more with straight-laced Ryan Hamilton sporting an understated black shirt and sensible glasses. But as the first lyrics spring forth in perfect harmony “I get you, you get me”, it’s clear these two have become the musical equivalent of Laurel and Hardy. The melancholy edge to their songs bears the influence of Hamilton’s other band, Smile Smile, but Reddick’s catchy hooks and guitar prowess shines through. Playing through tracks from their EP, the music is almost overshadowed by the rapport; Ryan introduces their last song “We are the lucky ones” before they go off on a long tangent debating whether the title should be shortened to the more succinct “Lucky Ones”. Eventually Ryan closes the debate with a firm “I like long titles”.
The two support acts are the perfect warm up, establishing a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Chandler and Reddick re-take the stage as Bowling For Soup to thunderous applause, that fades away as they take a long time to settle on their stools (“We seem to have a situational…. Situating… thing here…” explains Chandler eloquently as they try to get comfy). Once they finally get started, the set list is a pleasing mix of stripped-back BFS classics and fan favourites that have the crowd singing along. Indeed, one audience member feels so at ease with the pair he frequently yells out song requests, causing much confusion when he bellows “Go on dude, do surf Colorado!” to which Chandler, frowning slightly, replied “I’m pretty sure that guy just said ‘Go on dude, stick your fist up Nando’? … who is this Nando? Will I get some free chicken out of it?”.
Despite only half of the Bowling For Soup gang being on stage, the camaraderie and ease with which the pair play made the night exceptional. Ending on the hit ‘1985’, it is amazing how two guys with two acoustic guitars can work a group of people into such a frenzy. After wild calls for an encore, Chandler and Reddick return with Hamilton in tow, who’s looking slightly worse for wear after apparently consuming “a few beers… or twelve…”. The closing song ‘Turbulence” is a poignant moment. As the audience sings in harmony “We’re all just passengers tonight, and we’re all just travelling through our lives” the only thing that’s missing are lighters to wave above our heads.
If that was the only thing lacking from the night, Chandler and Reddick can call the tour a success. The woman on my left certainly was impressed. As we grabbed our coats, the fading notes ringing in our ears, she seemed on the verge of tears. Whether from the fact that the show had ended, or she genuinely had a pain in her chest, it’s clear that Bowling For Soup boast a loyal fan-base… and none were disappointed.