US Bowling for Soup are great hang-over cure

Jul 15 2008 by Johnathon Menzies

AMERICAN skater rock band Bowling For Soup proved an unconventional success as they opened the Main Stage on Sunday at T in the Park.

After shaking off many hangovers, the initially subdued crowd were soon whipped into shape by the Texas-based band’s charismatic, if slightly brash, frontman Jerret Reddick.

The 35 year-old’s comic interludes and banter with larger-than-life lead guitarist and backing vocalist Chris Burnley in between hit singles such as High School Never Ends and Girl All The Bad Guys Want, were well received and raised more than the odd smile.

This elevated the 35-minute set into something more worthwhile than it may otherwise had been, given that the bulk of material belted out by the four-piece was firmly planted in the genre of music most closely associated with US teen comedy movies such as American Pie.

Bassist Erik Chandler and drummer Garry Wiseman showed sufficient skill to keep the up-tempo set progressing.

Durability is the by-product of 14 years worth of experience spanning eight studio albums, and ensured that the predominantly young crowd were treated to the sort of lunchtime theatrics that often slips under the radar at festivals such as T.

The acts lower in the running order tend to get swallowed up by the headlining stars but after utilising age-old tricks to engage the crowd - such as encouraging the simultaneous belting out the chorus line to the 2004 single 1985, and numerous off-the-cuff remarks concerning the intake of alcohol - Bowling For Soup managed to make the cavernous main stage seem a much more intimate venue.

Which will have no doubt have left many boisterous revellers longing to renew acquaintances with this particular pop-punk outfit as soon as possible.