Walking to the O2 Institute in Birmingham on a cold November evening in 2025, I realised I was feeling something I don't often get before a gig, and that was genuine giddiness. On the roster for tonight is Thomas Nicholas Band and Wheatus. Now, I am sure that everyone knows Wheatus for one song in particular, but they are certainly more than one hit wonders.
The night started in the usual way with the venue having three shows on that night, and there were Wheatus fans queuing for what seemed to be half the length of Digbeth! I headed into box office to grab my photo-pass and headed into the venue. What sets this show off against others I have been to recently is the atmosphere before the show. The beers were flowing and the fans were all discussing the shows they've been to prior! One fan I spoke with had seen them 20 times already!
Tonight's opener was one I had been desperate to see live ever since stumbling across their track, "We're Gonna Be Okay." The lead singer, Thomas Nicholls, is probably better known for his time with American Pie as Kevin Meyers, or his role in Rookie of the Year but music is his passion, and it shows. With four studio albums released since 2008 and hits such as "Stifflers Mum," I knew I would be in for a great night!
The duo took the stage to a warm reception, and instantly connected with the crowd. Their short but energetic set was packed with nostalgia and laughter as anecdotes from the band's past were shared with the room.
With a short break, it was time for the headline act: Wheatus! This was my second time seeing them this year, and saying I was excited for it was an understatement! Their live shows are famously frantic, but in the best possible way, and tonight was no exception.
True to form, the set list was designed entirely by the crowd. The band had barely taken the stage and the first song "Hump’Em N’Dump’EM" was demanded by the crowd, and the band cracked straight on. From there, we had "Chan’s the Man" and "Basket Case" (Green Day cover), a very apt opener for the band, and a sign of things to come.
What sets Brendan Brown apart as a front man isn't just his stage presence or his vocals, but his desire for the crowd to have the best show they can. Midway through the first three songs, Brendan realised that some of the balcony couldn’t see the show, and reorganised the stage to make sure everyone could enjoy the show. It's small moments like that which prove how deeply he cares about his fans.
As more requests came in, the atmosphere in the room only escalated. "Leroy" had the room singing back every word, and "Christmas Dirtbag" made an early appearance. A sign of songs to come, maybe? A cover of "A Little Respect" by Erasure was one of the highlights for me. The set list, albeit designed by the crowd, seemed to be hit after hit. The setlist transported me back to early 2000s where I’d sit in my bed with my Sony Walkman, pretending I was doing homework. We all remember those days, right?
As the night drew to an end, the band performed "Fair Weather Friend," a track that I hadn’t heard before, but have had on repeat ever since. The crowd, however, knew every word and sang them back. "Hey, Mr. Brown" was the second song of the encore, and was building up for the anticipation, which everyone was waiting for.
The unmistakeable opening chords of "Teenage Dirtbag" dropped, and the crowd screamed. Every. Single. Person. They screamed the lyrics back in ways only a generational anthem could summon. It didn’t matter if this was your first Wheatus show or your twentieth, it was as if the crowd had been waiting solely for this moment.
I think tonight was proof that Wheatus are far more than just “the band that plays 'Teenage Dirtbag',” even if that hit still goes hard!
