It’s always a good day when Texas pop-punk veterans Bowling For Soup drop something new, but this time they’ve thrown a bit of a curveball. The band have joined forces with Los Angeles electro-pop duo able machines to release a cover of Elastica’s massive Britpop anthem, “Connection”.
If you aren’t familiar with able machines, it’s the project of singer-songwriter Tay Côlieé and producer Linus Dotson. You might know Dotson better as Linus of Hollywood, or as a member of Nerf Herder (the guys who wrote the Buffy The Vampire Slayer theme). The track is out now and comes accompanied by a music video that’s a bit of a love letter to retro sci-fi, filmed at various spots around LA including locations used in Star Trek.
You can check out the video below:
Bowling For Soup frontman Jaret Reddick explains how the collaboration came about, noting the song has been a tour bus staple for years:
I have always loved this song! We used to play it in the van non-stop! One day I was listening to a new able machines song and just thought… My best friend, Bowling For Soup’s producer, Linus of Hollywood is in an electronic band! We should do this “Connection” together! Even the song title is perfect for this collab! Luckily, Linus and Tay liked the idea, and ran with it! I am so stoked for how this turned out… The video is next level!
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Away from the studio, the band are gearing up for a massive return to UK shores. Following their career-best show at Wembley Arena last December, Jaret, Rob, and Gary are heading back over in Summer 2026. This isn’t just a standard run, though; they’re teaming up with folk-punk royalty Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls for the ‘Bowl My Bones’ tour.
It’s a lineup that makes total sense if you’ve been paying attention. Jaret and Frank have been mates for years, famously hosting livestreams together during the lockdown days where they’d natter about classic heavy metal. It’s the first time they’ve properly hit the road together, something fans have been asking for since those streams began.
The run kicks off in Margate on 25th June and hits some cracking outdoor spots like the Piece Hall in Halifax and the Eden Sessions. A heads-up for our Scottish readers – the Glasgow date is apparently flying out the door, so get a move on if you want to catch them at the O2 Academy.
Frank Turner is clearly buzzing about the double bill:
I love summer, I love touring, and I really love Bowling For Soup. So let’s cut to the chase and do them all at the same time! These shows are going to be a lot of fun, I’m honoured to be part of the adventure.
The feeling is mutual from Jaret:
Discovering Frank Turner’s music happened at an important time in my life. I needed it, but I didn’t know how much. Now, many years later, I get to call him friend, and touring with him and The Sleeping Souls in his home country of the UK seems unreal to me. I think these are going to be special Summer nights that none of us will forget! Stoked!!!
If you fancy catching the ‘Bowl My Bones’ tour, here are the dates for your diary:
- June 25th – Margate, Dreamland
- June 26th – Southampton, Southampton Summer Sessions
- June 27th – Lincoln, Live At Lincoln Castle
- June 29th – Glasgow, O2 Academy Glasgow
- June 30th – Halifax, Live At The Piece Hall
- July 2nd – Scarborough, Scarborough Open Air Theatre
- July 3rd – Llangollen, Live At Llangollen Pavillion
- July 4th – Cardiff, Cardiff Castle
- July 5th – St. Austell, Eden Sessions
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Check out our Classic Covers playlists from 2021 onwards
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