Source: Matt Higgs
The word intimate can sometimes be thrown around too much when larger bands decide to play smaller shows – the venue aren’t generally all that ‘intimate’ – but the latest one man Jaret Reddick show embraced the true meaning of the word.
Beginning a slightly less conventional show isn’t always easy, but when you’re The Lounge Kittens, tonights support act, it’s just normality. Some people may see covers bands as a token novelty act, but this gorgeous trio provide some of the sweetest harmonies over the quirky charm of Jen Kitten and her trusty keyboard. Starting off with the apt pop-punk melody, covering pretty much all the tracks that anyone over the age of 21 would have probably grown up with, it’s clear that it might take just a little more for the crowd to get involved themselves. Moving on to a bit of Slipknot, a 90’s TV theme medley and their amazingly crafted track from this summer’s Download Festival, there’s no denying the talent behind these three women.
There’s something about the trio’s trademark humour, from Zan’s T-rexican wave to Timia’s zero prisoners attitude, that go hand in hand with the music and makes the 45 minute set flash by in a sea of holographic sequins and sing-a-longs.
Moving on, the past years haven’t been the easiest for Bowling for Soup front man Jaret Reddick but, try as he might, he’s not giving up and on the final night of his ‘Heartache and Hilarity Tour’ in London, he showed everyone that he’s not giving up anytime soon.
With a mixture of acoustic music and anecdotes, which raised more than a chuckle, Jaret really showed a bit of himself tonight. A show like tonights isn’t the type of performance a casual fan only interested in ‘Girl All The Bad Guys Wants’ would necessarily want to go to, this was a night for the diverse, more hardcore fans who want to know a bit more about the stories behind the songs.
Jaret reveals ‘The Bitch Song’ isn’t based on one person in particular but two people who he and guitarist Erik Chandler were dating simultaneously. We get stories about when the band met Val Kilmer and gave him a copy of The Great Burrito Extortion Case; without Kilmer knowing that the lyrics to the song bearing his name, were not the most flattering. A chunk of the songs played aren’t the traditional Bowling For Soup set list tracks and it’s nice to hear something a bit more unusual.
In the end, the crowd gets about fifteen songs spanning the bands back catalogue, but it’s so much more than that. The show isn’t just start to finish laughter, Jaret is laying himself bare, getting personal and at times, quite emotional which made for a truly engaging, inspiring show.
