Live and Very Attractive - Bowling for Soup DVD Review
Bowling for Soup
DVD Review
Bowling For Soup's DVD package features a cd from their live show from Manchester Apollo in late 2007. It also has two DVDs which includes the full concert, band commentary on the whole show and unique backstage antics rarely seen on a bands DVD.
The bands first DVD has the whole fourteen song set which includes classics such as 'Girl All The Bad Guys Want' and newer hit 'High School Never Ends'. The band play remarkably well on the night, Jaret Reddick's [Singer] voice works a charm. Manchester Apollo's crowd are also enthused throughout the night, handclapping and singing are on show for the majority of the production. Bowling For Soup are renowned for their crude stylings and their show is no different. During the two hour DVD, drummer Gary Wiseman discusses guitarist Chris Furney's pooing habits, Bassist Erik Chandler mentions Jaret's legendary 'Blue Poo' and the general theme throughout is poo related. What else would you expect from the band?
Jokes aside the band play a fine array of hits. Bowling For Soup play a set which features every current hit to date, ending with a cover of Johnny Cash's 'Ring Of Fire'. If the band does have a fault, it's that their regular stoppages get a little tedious eventually. They frequently interrupt songs for 'beverage breaks' or 'photo opportunities' which while funny at first, eventually just frustrate you. They also make a few references to The Bloodhound Gangs previous performance earlier on in the night which unless you were there [Luckily I was] you won't understand what they're on about. Still an enjoyable DVD.
The second DVD features the band's commentary on the show. It's like all commentaries to some degree, mildly entertaining, goes on a while and you'll only watch it once. It seems a little unnecessary to add this with the band having already got a live cd and DVD but oh well.
Finally the CD features the entire show unedited. The songs sound just as good on cd as DVD, 'The Bitch Song' and 'When We Die' being some of the better tracks. Annoyingly though, the bands banter with the crowd has been recorded onto the cd, with none of the jokes being understandable without the visuals. It damages a good live cd especially if you listen to it before you watch their DVD.
The band has made an interesting DVD/cd package. The DVD carries the unique touch of having interesting backstage discussions that lets you see what they're really like. Bowling For Soup also provide a fare share of witty banter, playing to the home crowd by commenting of the old Welsh sheep shagger theory after a sheep was thrown onto the stage. Still, the production is flawed with the needless second DVD and unedited cd. Had they have cut out the speaking on the cd; this would be a great live package. Unfortunately, it isn't, but it's still a decent deal especially at its low price. Enjoyable, recommend to all 'Soup fans and pop punk fans alike.
