The One Big Happy Tour

One big happy tour (Bowling for Soup, The Dollyrots and Patent Pending)

16th, 20th and 22nd October 2012

Liverpool Academy, Manchester Academy and Preston 53 Degrees

When my sister asked me if I would like to go and see the 'One Big Happy Tour' three times in one week I thought she was mad! I like a good concert as much as the  next person but the same show three times in one week!  Really?!

The One Big Happy tour is made up of Patent Pending, The Dollyrots and Bowling for Soup and has 15 dates across the UK.  We were attending all three of the north west gigs and went to Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.

First to kick the night off where Patent Pending, an absolutely brilliant band from Long Island, New York, comprising of Joe on vocals, Rob on guitar and vocals, Corey on bass, Marc on Guitar and Anthony on drums. 

They opened their set with 'I Already Know (She Doesn't Give a Shit About Me)' which got the whole crowd bouncing.  The song 'Psycho in Love' saw Joe get the whole crowd waving their 'pirate hooks' (hooked index fingers) in the air and singing along....... throw in a couple of cheesy Justin Beiber dance moves during 'Anti Everything' and you have the recipe for success. 

Their set included songs from their new album 'Second Family' and featured songs such as the beautiful 'One Less Heart To Break' and the extremely catchy 'Douchebag' which once it's stuck in your head you will be singing it for weeks! (I should know cos I still am....  seriously find it on youtube! It's genius!).

If you are lucky enough to get right to the front you can get very close to lead singer Joe as he enjoys the odd spot of crowd surfing!

We were lucky enough to get to meet the band after two of the gigs and they are genuinely nice guys.  Their high energy performance opened the show in style and really got the crowd bouncing.

It is safe to say that I will be going to see Patent Pending again the next time they hit the UK. 

Next up were The Dollyrots and although I was undecided as to whether I liked them after listening to my sisters CD they really grew on me over the three nights.  The Dollyrots comprise of Kelly on vocals and bass, Luis on guitar and vocals and James on drums.

The Dollyrots performed songs such as 'Because I'm Awesome', 'California Beach Boy', 'Satellites' and their own punky version of 'Brand New Key'.

For the Preston show we had VIP tickets which included a meet and greet and acoustic set for VIP's before the main doors opened.  During the acoustic show, Kelly and Luis performed an acoustic version of 'Because I'm Awesome' which really was nothing short of awesome!  The Dollyrots sounded great live and brilliant unplugged.

Both Kelly and Luis were around at the end of the shows and were really lovely to chat to.

Then came the moment we had all been waiting for..........  Bowling for Soup!

For those who have never been lucky enough to experience Bowling for Soup first hand, they comprise of Jaret on vocal and guitar, Chris on guitar, Erik on bass and Gary on drums.  Four best friends from Texas and it is clear to see how strong that friendship is when you hear the banter that goes on between them.

The friendship and chemistry is also evident in their performance as even after 18 years together it is evident that they still love doing what they are doing. 

From 'Here come Bowling for Soup' to the last bars of 'The Bitch Song', Bowling for Soup hold the crowd's attention and fit in so many of their songs it's hard to guess just how many they actually play.  Each night they started with the same songs and ended with the same songs but the rest changed from show to show.  In Manchester they got a guy with a BFS tattoo up on the stage and asked him which song he would like them to play and so that night we were treated to 'Suckerpunch' (even though Jaret had to ask the guy how it started as it was a while since they had played it) however in Preston there was a guy in the crowd who kept shouting for them to play 'Two Seater'....  so they did!

BFS played all the favourites from 'High School Never ends', '1985', 'Girl All The Bad Guys Want', 'Me Wena' and 'A Really Cool Dance Song'.  However no BFS concert would be complete without the theme to 'Phineas and Ferb', so they sang that too!

On the Saturday night in Manchester they treated us to their very own version of The Ramones hit 'I Wanna Be Sedated' which actually started out with them playing the introduction to Black Sabbeth's Paranoid.  They also do a very interesting version of Britney Spears' 'Hit Me Baby One More Time'

At one point Jaret informed us that the next song they would play is about their home state of Texas....  he then announced in true BFS style that it was titled 'Ohio' (of course!).

Not to be out done by Joe, Jaret also decided to have a go at crowd surfing during the Preston gig, much to the surprise of the audience (and judging by the looks of panic on their faces the management and crew!)

Add into the mix their musically enhanced photo opportunities, Jaret's ability to 'fish for woos' to earn himself a little more drinking time and being 'Bowling for Soup......  the band you can wave to!', there was never a dull moment.

Whether you hear them as the group or during Jaret and Erik's acoustic set you will not be disappointed.  They sound great both at full belt and unplugged.  Although if you listen to the lyrics of their songs it will make you wonder what they were drinking when they wrote some of them!

I honestly thought that going to see the same three bands three times in a week would be...... well a bit boring, but it was anything but and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I can honestly say that I never saw the same show twice.

I was lucky enought to meet every single member of all three bands and can honestly say that they are some of the nicest and friendliest people that I have ever met.  If you ever get the chance to see any of these three bands do!  They are brilliant and you will not be disappointed!