Bowling For Soup - Oxford Academy, 8th August 2008
Bowling for Soup played live at the Carling Academy, Oxford on Tuesday, 8th August 2008. There were two support acts on before Bowling for Soup played called Koopa and Go Audio, who made good use of the small stage they were on.
After our 2 hour car journey we found the Carling Academy with ease and waiting in the queue the atmosphere and our nerves were building for the pending interview with the band. Once the doors opened everyone rushed inside and I met the band Manager who arranged a time for an interview. When we entered we were surprised how small the venue was, only holding 500 people, but we soon realised that this created a fantastic atmosphere for a live concert. We soon made our way to the front ready for the first act.
Go Audio began to play. They were really lively and got everyone in the mood for the next support act and Bowling for Soup. They played all their own material, which the crowd didn’t know so we were eager to hear some songs to sing along to. Koopa followed Go Audio and played a superb array of songs ending with 500 miles by the Proclaimers, which really fired up the crowd for BFS.
After interviewing BFS bass player Eric and having photographs with Eric, Jarat and Gary (Chris was asleep – ½ hour before the gig!!!!!!) we went back inside to await BFS. They built the atmosphere by keeping the crowd waiting and letting their roadies tune their guitars, set up the drum kit and amps. The crowd began chanting and screaming for them to come out. I think the chants of “BFS” could be heard a mile away!! Eventually the lights dimmed, the crowd went wild and they appeared like Gods on the stage. They began with “The last rock show” which was an excellent introduction to the gig. They played all their famous songs including I’m gay, 1985, Almost and Punk Rock 101. During the time they played they would suddenly stop and talk to the crowd doing random things including wearing bras, which were thrown at them, burping into the mike and generally being weird!!!!
BFS sounded better live than on their albums and thoroughly entertained their fans.This was an outstanding gig with humour, great music and a memory that will stay with me forever.
