Bowling for Soup Strike #4!!
2005-02-02 @ 11:26 p.m.
'Tonight, tonight, he finally got it right, even losers can get lucky sometimes, all the freaks go on a winning streak, shouting all around, cause the geeks get the girls... '
*sigh*
What a fantastic night ladies and gentlemints, let me tell you!!
Some old bridges that were not crossed for fear of starting old fueds have been rebuilt. If that makes any sense. Brynne and I discussed everything that happened last year in a non-resentful way, and it was kind of nice to get most of everything out in the open. I feel like we've taken a step towards maturing more.
Brynne and I took the L down to the House of Blues to see Bowling for Soup(and their much enjoyed openers) for our Groundhog Day.
I think that I've been to the House of Blues enough times now to know almost everything necessary to know while in it. We had to wait in line a bit, but not that long really, and it wasn't terribly cold out. Thank goodness, I was really about to be pissed at some security guards.
We walked in, checked my coat, went to the washroom, and then saw the ending of Mc Lars's set. He's a white rapper who's pretty nifty but odd. Then again, this was a Bowling for Soup concert, so, what can you really expect but all the humor that can be shoved into four hours.
We walked down a ramp thing into the pit, that, surprisingly enough I have never been down before. I'm going to have to remember it, because it takes you directly to the front of the stage.
My baby band, my Bowling for Soup have all grown up. When Brynne and I first saw them we were passing their booth at Warped Tour, the second time we saw them was at the Metro(we've concluded was also the best of them live) where no more than three hundred people were at), and the third time at the House of Blues, a slightly more crowded show. This evening the place could be considered packed for Bowling for Soup, and the fan demographic has definetly changed, a lot. What once used to be a bunch of people who love comedy and good music rolled into one, who understand the punk rock ethic, is now a bunch of people who heard '1985' on the radio, decided the lead singer was cute, and are generally under fifteen years of age. It was a little bit hard to adjust too, okay, it was really hard, but we didn't even mind the change too much until Bowling for Soup actually came on. I'm so proud of them for making it, this band I didn't think would go anywhere, but sometimes I miss when no one knew who they were and we could just stand outside the venue or go to the bar next door and hang out with them. Oh well, I'm proud to say I was around from the very beginning. Brynne was too.
Anyway, Riddlin' Kids were the next band on stage. They kicked ass! I've always like them, but I would definetly go see them live if they were headlining. They were a lot of fun to dance to, and they had a ton of stage presence. The guitarist was fantastic(Iron Maiden!) and they were all very talented. I got to here 'Stop The World' and 'I Feel Fine' (they're not-so-mainstream-hits), and that made me happy. There was quite a bit of PDA coming from a couple near us, and I found that really amusing. I'm so glad that they participated in this tour. They're from Texas too, like Bowling for Soup, so I would never be able to visit them. I'm convinced that if I ever go to Texas I'll somehow end up in the electric chair. Don't ask.
Anyway, the time between sets wasn't too bad, and American Hi Fi were next. They were amazing!! I would totally go see them headlining too! Brynne and I had a great time dancing and moving around to them(Brynne even got a little agressive when some boys started their version of a 'pit' :-P). Bowling for Soup later commented on how they like to jog a lot, and that's how they're so skinny. :-P They played all of the songs I know by then, opening with 'The Art Of Losing', they played 'Flavor of the Week', 'The Breakup Song', 'Another Perfect Day', 'The Geeks Get the Girls' and so many others. It was fun to bounce to them, and they were very entertaining. If I didn't know the chorus to the song, I definetly knew it by the end of the song.
The opening bands for tonight were perfect, I couldn't have asked for better. The crowd was cool for them too, it was only when Bowling for Soup came on that the crowd took a turn for the worse. At some point Brynne and I saw some girls screaming 'Shut up and play!' which is great you know, if talking wasn't their gimmick. I was pretty fed up so I simply asked them 'Have you ever been to a Bowling for Soup concert before?' they said no, and Brynne and I told them how Bowling for Soup concerts involve a lot of talking and jokes. The girl said 'I know, they just lost me as fan.' In my head I was just like, 'Good, you aren't good enough to be their fan.' Like really, sometimes it just makes me so distraught that people go to concerts just to complain, they're a band that are playing because they love music and they expect the crowd to feel the same, if you don't love music, and everything that goes along with it, get out. Without their comedy I wouldn't have gone to see Bowling for Soup four times by now.
Anyway, other than the crappadelic crowd, Bowling for Soup were great as usual. They were a bit more mellow tonight, but I have a feeling that was just because a lot of people from their label were there. No beer breaks. :-( Some things don't change though, they still played their version of 'Oops I Did It Again' which is a huge hit. They told us how beautiful they think Chicago is, and how they would move here if it wasn't so cold. They're so funny.
Their stage design has improved too, now they have giant \m/ blow up hands, two different banners, and confetti for 'Girl All The Bad Guys Want'. Bowling for Soup really know how to put on a show, they can all sing very well, they're wonderful harmonizers, they're very talented, even if some of their stuff seems pretty generic. They like making fun of the majority of the people who listen to them, and it just cracks me up.
They didn't play 'Running From Your Dad'(and I can still see your dad, running after me with a shovel in his hand, I don't remember much after that...) but that's okay, I've seen it live twice and I'll never forget it. I swear, I know that song by heart.
They played covers of Lynard Skynard's 'Sweet Home Alabama' and some other countryish stuff. Then they brought out the singer of American Hi Fi and had him sing a cover of Cheap Trick's 'Surrender'(who hasn't covered that song?) and it was really awesome. It was especially awesome when the singer kept lifting his shirt up, kind of random but nice none the less!!
They must have played an hour set, and played all of the favorites, well, most of them at least. Apparently we sing a lot louder than Denver does. Then again, what would anyone else expect?
There's a bunch more jokes that were told but it's late and my brain is slow, but if you know me in person I'm most likely to repeat them to you anyway.
After parting ways with Bowling for Soup(and the singer Jarett talking about how he was an extra red candy cane) Brynne and I made our way to pick up my coat, which we did. Then we made our way outside, and her dad picked us up, and dropped me off.
Tonight was so much fun!
'All the bitches in the back, come on come on, get up get up...'
This is the kind of thing that I really needed to boost my mood. I feel rejuvenated musically(maybe not physically :-P) and I'm excited.
Yeah. Tonight was just really really great. No better way to spend a Wednesday evening.
-SaM
Last 5
Cool Kids, They Belong Together - 2005-03-16
Sleep Soundless - 2005-03-14
The Best Thing I Need - 2005-03-14
To All Of Ye Good Men - 2005-03-13
The Black Label Society are Blasting My Ears So Good - 2005-03-11