The Manchester Ritz was packed to the rafters on a freezing Friday night, but the atmosphere inside was electric long before the first chord was struck. With bucket hats dotted across the crowd and a palpable sense of nostalgia in the air, the ingenious pairing of Wheatus and The Thomas Nicholas Band promised a night of pop-punk memories, emotional singalongs and plenty of surprises — and they delivered all that and more.

The Thomas Nicholas Band opened the night with a grin and a wink, kicking straight into Stifler’s Mom — Nicholas's cheeky reworking of Stacey’s Mom that leans into his American Pie heritage. It instantly connected the crowd to the actor-musician’s legacy, and from there the set unfurled into a seamless blend of pop-punk energy and emo-tinged sincerity.

Blink-182’s All the Small Things landed early as the first full-throttle cover of the night, but Nicholas’s originals more than held their own. My Generation, Tomorrow’s Gonna Hurt and We’re Still The Same Kids showcased youthful reflection, clever songwriting and a genuine understanding of what it means to grow up alongside this music.

A rousing rendition of Laid — made even more poignant given its Manchester roots — earned one of the loudest early singalongs of the evening. Then there was 1999, Nicholas’s humorous reworking of Bowling for Soup’s 1985, retelling the story of American Pie through revamped lyrics that had the room laughing and cheering in equal measure.

The set closed on a massive high with Jimmy Eat World’s The Middle (or as Nicholas affectionately dubbed it, the “diamond track” Everything Will Be Alright), and it’s made all the more special as Thomas provides the opportunity for longtime guitarist Will Taylor to step forward for lead vocals, delivering a standout moment that had the entire venue singing along.

Overall it’s another reminder of the power of great musicians and great songs. For just two men with two acoustic guitars, the band commanded the 2,000-capacity crowd with ease, leaving the stage to a playful outro of “You’re Welcome Very Much.”

This is a special tour is it marks the 25th anniversary of Wheatus’s self-titled debut album, and the night’s structure reflected that celebration. Rather than a fixed setlist, the band embraced a fully “you say it, we play it” approach: fans shouted requests spanning their six studio albums, all of which the band had meticulously rehearsed. The result was a genuine dialogue between performers and audience, creating an atmosphere of warmth, spontaneity and shared history.

The band opened with In The Melody, and throughout the evening they would perform their debut album in full, peppered with other fan-favourites, much to the delight of long-time followers. Interesting, though not out of place, they also slipped in a raw, energetic cover of Green Day’s Basket Case, further igniting the room.

A special highlight of the night was the return of Phil Jimenez — the multi-instrumentalist from the original album lineup — who immediately reminded the room why his presence had been missed. Whether charming the crowd, adding layers of percussion, or pausing mid-set so the whole band could sign a fan’s vinyl, Jimenez embodied the tour’s spirit of connection.

One of the most striking elements of the show was the unusual setup of two drummers — sometimes three when Jimenez joined in. What could have been chaotic instead became a rhythmic spectacle. Their overlapping parts added texture and power, turning familiar songs into something fresh, and their interplay was dazzling.

Despite the bitter cold outside, the Ritz was heaving with heat — though frontman Brendan B. Brown spent much of the night battling a blast of air conditioning overhead.

Understandably, chants for Teenage Dirtbag rang out throughout the night, but the band saved their iconic hit for the finale, during the breakout of which Brendan took the moment to introduce and honour every member of the band, turning a beloved anthem into an emotional group celebration. When the opening notes finally rang out, the room erupted.

Overall this has been a night of nostalgia without predictability, musicianship without pretense, and connection without cliché. The Thomas Nicholas Band brought heart and humour; Wheatus brought history, openness and a willingness to make each show unique. Together, they transformed the Manchester Ritz into a time capsule — one filled with warmth, laughter and the sound of 2,000 voices singing their hearts out.