With a stacked line up of Bowling for Soup, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls and American Hi-Fi, the “Bowl My Bones” tour brought a healthy dose of rock-pop-punk nostalgia to the O2 Academy on 29th June.

American Hi-Fi got proceedings underway in atmospheric fashion, taking to the stage under deep red lighting and swirling smoke. It didn’t take long for them to win over the Glasgow crowd who responded enthusiastically throughout the set. A particularly warm reception came when the band reminisced about playing King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut many years ago, prompting a huge cheer from fans who clearly appreciated the nod to the city’s rich live music history.

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls followed with a performance that was anything but sleepy. Turner proved adept at keeping the audience engaged between songs, while the band’s relentless energy ensured there was barely a moment to catch a breath. The crowd enthusiastically sang along to much of the set, creating the kind of communal atmosphere that has become synonymous with Frank Turner‘s live shows. One of the evening’s standout moments came during the band’s well known Wall of Death, or rather, Wall of Hugs. As the crowd split down the middle, the usual expectations of chaos were replaced with something far more heartwarming as fans rushed forward to embrace one another instead. It was a wholesome reminder of the welcoming community that surrounds Turner’s music.

It was then time for Bowling For Soup and they showcased their big personalities before they had even stepped on stage. Live backstage footage was projected onto a giant screen, allowing fans to watch the band joking around and preparing for the show moments before making their entrance.

The trio delivered a performance that was overflowing with fun, fuelled by relentless energy, humour and constant interaction with the audience. Bassist Rob Felicetti barely stood still, spending much of the night kicking and jumping while singer/guitarist Jaret Reddick joked with the audience like they were old friends. Drummer Gary Wiseman didn’t let up the whole night, smashing the drums to keep everyone bouncing.

“High School Never Ends” had the packed Academy dancing and singing along, while the band’s cover of Fountains of Wayne’s “Stacey’s Mom” proved a perfect addition to the setlist, drawing huge cheers from a crowd largely raised on music from the early 2000s. One of the most memorable moments came during, “Girl All The Bad Guys Want”. Inviting two young fans onto the stage to perform alongside them transformed an already energetic performance into something really special. Their excitement was impossible to miss, and it was one of those moments that will undoubtedly stay with them long after the final encore.

As the lights came up, the crowd spilled out of the Academy still buzzing from a night that perfectly balanced nostalgia with outstanding live entertainment.

Article: Kim Sabetelli