A not-so-mere seventeen years ago Jaret Reddick [front man], Erik Chandler [bassist], Chris Burney [guitarist], and Gary Wiseman [drummer] formed Bowling for Soup [BFS] after meeting at an all ages coffee shop/music venue that Chris used to run.  And now, a little older and a whole lot sillier, they are still going at it non-stop.  Whether they are in the studio recording one of their handful of albums or travelling all over the world on tour, this Texas-hailing foursome is finally realizing what it’s like to be in control of their own careers.

While BFS didn’t necessarily feel creatively constricted while signed to Jive Records [other than “a song or two being added or deleted because an A&R guy needed to feel important”] they knew “the split was inevitable.  It was December 2009 just after Sorry for Partyin’ dropped.  We were bummed about the timing and that the album never got a shot – but we were stoked to be on our own!” Reddick exclaimed.

This over-the-top bunch never intended to pursue the comedic pop-punk genre, “it just happened,” the front man said.  While their first albums had hints of wit spread throughout them, they were noticeably more serious than their more recent work.  “The songs didn’t get overtly funny for a few years.  I think it started on stage really.  We used to do 4 hours shows…sprinkling covers and our own songs to fill the night.  We started telling jokes and doing magic tricks to entertain ourselves and cure boredom, I guess.  And that stuck,” the singer recalled.

Their newest self-made effort, Fishin’ for Woos, further validates that, “BFS has always done whatever the fuck we want.  It’s definitely a BFS album.  We recorded it not knowing who would put it out or when, but knew we had to make a great album.  I wrote it in 3 weeks and we recorded it in 3 more.  The guys heard the songs 3 days before we hit the studio and we kept the recording simple.  It was a very fun record to make!”

Luckily for the die-hards out there, one of the all time unanimous fan-faves, “Guard My Heart” made the cut onto Fishin’ for Woos.  And why now?  “No real reason.  It just never really fit with what we were doing.  I think when you have 11 albums it’s okay to put one that doesn’t match the rest out there for fans sake.  That one has been a fan favorite for years and we never really meant for the public to hear it.  The internet is fun!”  Reddick also noted that his favorite song on the new album right now is “Let’s Pretend we’re Not in Love.”

“And it’s hard to pick my favorite song ever.  They are like kids, ya know?  Sometimes you like some more than others, but you buy them all equal amounts of gifts on Christmas!”

Beyond their strong hold on studio recordings, BFS is most certainly an always-touring band who spends many days and nights on the road.  “A laptop, socks, iPhone, baby wipes, toothbrush, beer, and friends,” are among the necessities the band can’t live without while traveling.  And it seems that beer might be the most important one of all since Jaret described his pre-show ritual as “drinking about 40 beers” before taking the stage!

BFS has played shows everywhere and a few of their worldwide experiences stand out from the rest.  The singer remembered shows in China being “crazy”.  Apparently an opening band once showed up, that had driven 4 hours, and an agent from the government just said, “nope, you can’t play, there are too many people here.”  And on another occasion a few years back the band appeared at a German metal festival where they performed before Lamb of God and after Machine Head.  Reddick commented that they “should’ve been killed, but the crowd was amazing!”

These dudes have already been around the block a few times, but they are far from being done with their wildly well-received music careers.   Now that BFS is free to do whatever they want, whenever they want – nothing but “insanity” can be expected from them for the rest of 2011.  “We are re-releasing our first 3 albums and working on another Christmas album.  Erik will release a solo record.  And my new band, People on Vacation, will release our first album.  We are also trying to get a b-sides comp together.  It is gonna be a great year!”