Wheatus @ Sonia 3/20

Photo credits: Deanna Petropoulos

Review by Mina Jones

Wheatus took to the stage at the Sonia in Cambridge, Mass., a stop on their 25th-anniversary tour celebrating their self-titled debut album, “Wheatus” on Thursday night. The American rock group has developed a strong following over the last 25 years since their debut album release, attracting both longtime fans and new listeners introduced from music revivals. Their timeless music style creates a sound that is nostalgic for many people. 

Their performance, in such an intimate venue like the Sonia, created a raw, honest, personal experience for the audience, aspects that align with the group’s “teenage angst,” punk-rock, garage band aesthetic. The venue was filled with fans, both old and new. The lack of elaborate visuals and lighting effects during the performance greatly contributed to Wheatus’s identity as the all-heart rock group from the early 2000s.

The first performance of the night was “Break It Don’t Buy It,” a song off the group’s fifth studio album, The Valentine LP. It was a calmer, moodier theme, different from what I expected, as a listener who is only familiar with their gritty, edgy “Teenage Dirtbag.” The moment the song began, the crowd was brimming with excitement in anticipation of the night ahead.

A little later on, the group played their cover of “A Little Respect,” originally by 80’s-pop group, Erasure. Wheatus did a fantastic job with paying homage to the original song, while also making sure to put their own alternative-rock-influenced spin on it. 

“Sunshine” was another standout performance of the night. As someone who isn’t very familiar with Wheatus’s music, this song instantly drew my attention. The light-hearted tune made it feel like a warm summer’s day, which was a nice contrast with the heavier rock themes exhibited in the other songs. The lead singer, Brendan Brown’s vocals and impressive guitar riffing had an aged, yet authentic quality that strongly contributed to the emotional weight of the song. This song seemed to be a favorite of the group, as after the song was requested, Brown said, “Thank you for calling sunshine.” 

And, of course, “Teenage Dirtbag” was the most anticipated performance of the night. Almost anybody who has navigated the challenges of growing up is familiar with this timeless anthem. Throughout the show, the group constantly teased the audience with the song, but everybody knew that Wheatus was saving it for last. As soon as the echoed drums began, the audience was instantly captured by nostalgia and transported back to their youth. Though 25 years have passed since the original recording, the sound was very clean, Brown’s vocals and the talent of the band did not disappoint. As expected, this performance had the most audience participation, and the group incorporated them in the song, encouraging them to sing “Noelle’s” part in bridge. 

One thing about Wheatus is that they know how to work a crowd. The call-and-response aspect involving the audience is what made the show such a standout experience. Brown’s easygoing, self-aware banter with the audience created a relaxed atmosphere; he was constantly cracking jokes about the band’s history and changes in the industry between songs. “We haven’t rehearsed that one too much,” he said. “Let’s play a song that we know how to play before we play one that we don’t.” This received laughs from the audience. The bass guitarist, Matthew Milligan, even shared his LetterBoxd user with the crowd, forming that connection with the newer fans. It is Wheatus’s honesty and relaxed style during shows that sets their performance apart from others. 

It is clear that the group feels so much freedom when performing; they seem like they are having just as much fun as the audience. On stage, the band was very relaxed, and the structure of the show was flexible, and constantly ebbing and flowing. “There’s no setlist,” Brown said. “There’s just a set concept.” In a world full of concerts with perfectly curated setlists, it was refreshing to watch a group perform that felt comfortable and so much freedom.

A fun, standout moment was at the end of “Sunshine,” the band was experimenting with playing the descending riff over and over again, Brown layering the lyrics to Vanessa Carlton’s “Thousand Miles” over it. It’s relatively uncommon to see a music group just simply messing around and having fun while performing their art. “I didn’t want to stop,” Brown said. “I got stuck in a really good loop and I was like ‘It feels good, just keep going.’”

Wheatus’s 25th Anniversary debut album show was a great reminder of why the band and their music have aged so well. Their performance felt raw, fun, and unpolished, but in a refreshing way. The group was true to their roots, and though 25 years have passed, this time did not affect their ability to entertain and command the room, creating a joyous experience for the entire audience. It is truly the group’s heart that sets them apart, their authenticity and enthusiasm for their work shone through in every note they played.

For the 25-year-long fans, Wheatus’s concert was a night filled with good music, old friends, and nostalgia. For the newer fans, it was a testament to why Wheatus is more than a one-hit wonder. Regardless, their fabulous performance proved that their music still belongs in 2025.