BEING amongst the clown princes of music, the traditional juvenile fare of Bowling for Soup’s songs isn’t an apparent snug fit with the usually more staid format of an acoustic gig.

They’ve traditionally sung about being the loser kids at school, acclamations of being gay, their love of Texas and the stars of 1985. And the first single off their last album was even called My Wena, a thinly veiled tribute to the male member, after all.

But, according to lead singer Jaret Reddick, the small-scale acoustic tour is merely continuing a long tradition from the band’s earliest days.

Reddick and bassist Erik Chandler are leaving guitarist Chris Burney and drummer Gary Wiseman back in Texas for the two-man tour, which hits Oxford’s O2 Academy next weekend.

On the phone from Dallas, Reddick told The Guide: “A few years into having the band we started these acoustic shows as another way to get our name out there.

“We’d play pubs for tips and got a decent living – one that meant we could quit our jobs and concentrate on the band.”

Reddick and Chandler hitting the road for smaller acoustic gigs is not unheard of in the States but this is the first time in the UK.

The pair did a few performances for selected VIP guests during the full band’s last headlining tour in October and their promoter saw an opportunity for this tour, which will take in 14 venues.

“They were well-received and so we said we should give it a shot,” Reddick continued.”

But what of the dichotomy of trying to sing a song like My Wena strumming away (so to speak) on an acoustic guitar?

He said: “You will see both sides of Bowling for Soup, absolutely exclamatory.

“We do all the songs and you will hear My Wena and an acoustic version of I’m Gay.

“A lot of our songs still translate well. The acoustic thing is where we really fine-tuned the whole band thing.

“One of the things I learned in writing is that if the song doesn’t sound good on acoustic guitar it won’t sound good when the band plays it.

“The way the show runs is that there are fewer people and so they are up closer. The banter is there between songs and even more personal.

“I don’t think anyone will be disappointed from a Bowling for Soup point of view – just their ears won’t be ringing.”

Reddick stresses bandmates Burney and Wiseman have no problem with he and Chandler playing as a twosome.

“No, they get to sit at home, drink beer and still get paid,” he revealed.

Dismissing them as a comedy band is too strong, but Bowling for Soup were long known for their less than serious take on music. Despite this, My Wena, allegedly about a girlfriend, pushed the boundaries further.

Reddick recognised this as he penned it but added: “I’m in a funny band, so we write funny songs and see where that goes.

“Yes we’ve all turned 35 except for Gary and I’m not sure what people expect but we’re singing songs about farting and wenas.

“But what would the point be if we grew up? If we turned all political then people would just be finding that funny.”

It’ll be a busy year for Reddick and Co. because writing on the next album starts in May with studio time in June and a release ahead of the full October tour.