IS IT TIME WE GIVE WHEATUS “A LITTLE RESPECT?”

LIVE REVIEW | WHEATUS w/ Thomas Nicholas Band | BRISTOL ELECTRIC | 11th December 2025 by Ollie Hayman

Wheatus are one of those bands that people know for maybe one or two songs, and that’s about it. But their back catalogue stretches much further, hitting that noughties nostalgia so well. With 25 years passing since their debut and self titled album – both containing their two biggest hits – they decided to take their live shows to the UK and Europe – but it wasn’t like any normal show. Supported by Thomas Nicholas Band, we got down to Bristol’s Electric to relive that early 2000s nostalgic magic.

Thomas Nicholas Band

Thomas Nicholas is a face that any avid film watcher may recognise. Best known for his lead roles as Kevin in American Pie (1999) and Henry in Rookie of The Year (1993), his first musical release wasn’t until 2008. Although the majority of his music is original work, his 2017 album ‘Frat Party’ is an album full of covers – one of which he’s turned into an American Pie parody! Some other recent releases include a parody of ‘1985’ by Bowling For Soup called ‘1999’, as well as a cover of Sum 41‘s ‘Fat Lip’. He was a great opener who definitely woke the Bristol crowd up! The band’s duo were truly made for midwest emo – being an informal opener to what would later become one of the most informal gigs known to man!

Wheatus

The Wheatus set was arguably one of the strangest things I’ve ever witnessed at a gig. All nine (yes, nine) members of the band came onto stage like it was their local pub, but brought the energy of playing a headline arena show. Their setlist was a mix of an order they wanted to play – but also taking audience requests for music and not taking themselves seriously when doing so. It’s a gig that shows that fame never really got to their heads – and after an audience member was taken ill midway through, they carried on taking the night easy. Playing a massive setlist full of their most well known and their deepest cuts at some points, they even remarked how one of the songs they played was “just a terrible fucking song” – but still performing like it was the last time they’ll ever play it!

It’s always wonderful seeing a band who were only really ‘radio played’ for a couple of songs – both of which are still well known, even if they hate the songs because they’re overplayed. This never seemed the case for Wheatus, who even played their hit ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ twice – playing an apt Christmas themed parody and finishing their set with the hit song. The last time they played Bristol was at Thekla – a 600 capacity boat on the other side of the city – which they were more than happy to joke about while also showing they care about where they play, going as far as making jokes about calling for the London Mayor’s resignation after 4 inches of snow in London before playing ‘The London Sun’.

Wheatus are the definition of a fun live band. Yet, their fun doesn’t distract from the absolute love and energy the band have for live music, or the skill and effort they’ve put in to get where they are nowadays. When they’re back over here, they’re well worth buying a ticket to go and see – no two gigs on this tour were the same and it’s definitely something that could be a regular occurrence for the legendary band. The true nostalgia of the entire gig took the entirety of the venue back to their rebellious teen years – with the crowd still happily moshing and singing to every last song. Wheatus truly do need, a little respect!