St Luke’s provided an intimate setting for what feels like a bit of a homecoming performance by Wheatus, that allowed fans to get up close and personal with the band, creating a unique atmosphere of nostalgia and excitement. The energy in the room was palpable, and the band fed off it, giving a performance that will be remembered by stalwart fans for years to come.

Admittedly – a few eyebrows were raised when I mentioned to my friends that I was going to see Wheatus, a band that shot to fame soundtracking a ‘That film’ that really hasn’t aged well. A band whose music will unfortunately follow you around for the rest of your years with ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ being played at every wedding, Christmas and milestone birthday celebration known to man.

But this is a contentious issue I have with people who snub bands who write music that is comical. Can a band be satirical and still be good? For me the answer is a thousand times yes. In fact, if not more so. Why can’t music be tongue in cheek and still functionally sound?

Wheatus put on an electrifying performance that brought back the spirit of the early 2000s with a modern twist. The band, led by the charismatic Brendan B. Brown, delivered a high-energy show that had the crowd on their feet from start to finish.

This is a band that are proudly flipping the bird to pretence within music. “This is your night, you make the rules, fuck bands that have a set-list. Bands shouldn’t be allowed to make a set list. What do you want us to play Glasgow” And just like that Brown, establishes the tone for the evening. The audience are 100% in charge of what will be played, when and how.

From the moment they opened with “Hump & Dump” the audience was transported back in time to the days of scruffy hair, flannel shirts, and carefree youth. Brown’s vocals were as powerful as ever, and his interaction with the audience created an intimate connection that made the night feel like a reunion with old friends.

With Brown being the only remaining founding member of the band it appears that he has hand picked a group of individuals each with their own merit. Matthew Milligan is an accomplished bass player that lays down a funk-based backbone to their overall sound. For me percussion has always been the driving force behind the signature sound of Wheatus. Purveyor of all things snare and kick drum realeted, comes from new recruit KC Marotta – anyone that has 9+ cymbals and high hats in the mix means serious business.

With tracks like “BMX Bandits”, “Truffles” and “American in Amsterdam” the audience are treated to an eclectic mixture of the bands back catalogue. Although it’s been a hot minute since they have toured, the band’s musicianship was on full display, with tight guitar riffs and infectious melodies that had everyone singing along. The setlist was a mix of their classic hits and newer tracks, showcasing their evolution as a band while staying true to their roots.

After the audience have called out almost two hours of hand-picked favourites the set reaches its crescendo with – you guessed it; “Teenage Dirtbag”. As you can imagine the sold out crowd are singing along with great gusto. There is even an acapella moment thrown in while Brown happily watches the audience sing the chorus back to him while collecting a small stuffed animal a fan in the front row, who has brought in as a tribute.

With a set this strong and a performance that sparks so much joy and frivolity for the audience, I say to the naysayers, if this isn’t what music is about, unifying a collective and offering escapism through playfulness, then what is?

Words & Pictures : Angela Canavan