Bowling For Soup covering a Britpop classic wasn’t exactly on our 2026 bingo card, but here we are, and honestly… it works way better than it has any right to.
The pop punk legends have teamed up with LA-based electro pop duo able machines for a fresh take on Elastica’s iconic “Connection”, and it’s one of those collaborations that feels weirdly obvious once you hear it. Big hooks, playful energy, and that unmistakable Bowling For Soup charm, all wrapped up in a track that originally soundtracked the peak of 90s Britpop cool.
Instead of trying to reinvent the song or strip it back, this version leans into fun. It keeps the attitude of the original but adds a slick electronic edge, giving it a modern polish without losing what made “Connection” such a staple in the first place. It’s nostalgic, but not stuck in the past, which is kind of Bowling For Soup’s whole thing at this point.
The video doubles down on that vibe too. Shot around Los Angeles, it’s packed with tongue in cheek sci fi nods and retro visuals, filmed in areas famously used in classic shows like Star Trek. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why it works. You can tell everyone involved was just having a good time making it, and that energy carries straight through the screen.
Jaret Reddick has spoken about how long he’s loved the song, saying it was a constant soundtrack in the van back in the day. The idea for the collaboration came together naturally when he realised his longtime producer and friend Linus of Hollywood was also part of able machines. Even the title felt too perfect to ignore. From there, the idea snowballed, and the result is a cover that feels like a genuine passion project rather than a box ticking exercise.
If you’re not familiar with able machines, they’re a duo built around contrast. Darker lyrical ideas paired with tight pop melodies and electronic textures. The project started back in 2019 when Tay Côlieé answered a Craigslist ad posted by Linus Dotson, and it turns out they’d been orbiting the same musical circles for years without realising. Linus brings serious pedigree too, with production and songwriting credits that stretch from Bowling For Soup and Cheap Trick to Smashing Pumpkins, plus a history with Nerf Herder. Tay’s background is just as impressive, having moved from acting into music, working as a ghost writer and co writing for major pop artists before stepping fully into her own project.
Away from the new single, Bowling For Soup are also riding a massive wave of momentum heading into summer. After their career high Wembley Arena show last December, they’re returning to the UK in 2026 for a huge run of dates alongside Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls. It’s a tour fans have been asking for for years, and it finally feels real.
The Bowl My Bones Tour kicks off in Margate and wraps up at Eden Sessions in St. Austell, hitting some of the UK’s best outdoor venues along the way. It’s also the first time these longtime friends have toured together, which somehow makes the whole thing feel even more special. What started as mutual admiration turned into friendship, weekly livestreams during lockdown, and now a full blown summer tour that already has tickets flying.
Between a left field Britpop cover that somehow feels tailor made for them, and a UK tour that feels like a victory lap, Bowling For Soup are once again proving that longevity doesn’t mean standing still. If anything, they’re still finding new ways to surprise us, and honestly, that’s why they’re still here.
