Although punk will go down in history as a political force of sorts, the cartoon wing of the movement should not be underestimated. In the 1970s, wacko Yank pranksters the Dickies bemused Top of the Pops audiences by cramming rock classics like Nights in White Satin into two riotous minutes. In the 1980s, Geordie nutters the Toy Dolls romped through Nellie the Elephant, while the 1990s saw a succession of snotty-nosed jokers, from Snuff to Blink 182. But perhaps none of them were quite as stoopid as Bowling for Soup.

They nick Spinal Tap's motto ("Have a good time all the time") and claim to be "kids who never grew up", despite being in their 30s. Their appearance is preposterous, particularly that of guitarist Chris, who looks like a cross between a bowling ball and a sumo wrestler. "We're Bowling for Soup and we're all fatter than you, but we're still hip," yells singer Jaret, accurately.

The band's barrage of pop tunes explains their regular disgracing of the top 20. Tunes such as Drunk Enough to Dance and the ridiculously catchy Girl All the Bad Guys Want surf along on a melodious buzz-saw racket that is difficult to resist, even when accompanied by daft lyrics about rubbish sex, masturbation, surf in Colorado (there isn't any) and the time Jaret was whacked in the face with a shovel by his girlfriend's father (one can't imagine why).

Cleverly, they vary the mood with covers (J-Lo, Bryan Adams) and unveil a succession of perfectly timed, if utterly vulgar, puerile jokes. Perhaps most tellingly, when Jaret gets the audience to shout, "We love fat people," he cheekily adds, "You suckers," suggesting that it takes a certain kind of cynical intelligence to be this daft. Perhaps, in the safety of their dressing room, they will debate the question of war, reach for Dostoevsky and plan ahead for future lives involving sensible haircuts.

· At Cardiff University (029-2038 7421) tonight, then touring.