Texas joke-rockers Bowling for Soup [ tickets ] lived up to their reputation Friday (1/7) at Tempe, AZ's Marquee Theatre with a 90-minute show soaked with beer, fraternity-ready wisecracks, fat jokes and a collection of crowd favorites.

"Is this a f---ing awesome night of rock 'n' roll or what?" lead singer Jaret Reddick said, echoing a sentiment made by American Hi-Fi [ tickets ] frontman Stacy Jones, one of three opening acts. "I almost peed my pants."

Although the spiky-haired Reddick complained of throat problems, the set sounded album-ready. Guitarist Chris Burney, bassist Erik Chandler and drummer Gary Wiseman provided the tight groundwork for the Grammy-nominated band's performance.

Reddick blamed his throat problems on the dry desert air. Plus, the frontman added, "it sucks to be fat in the desert." He wore a scarf, evidently to keep his throat warm.

"You know what happens when you wear a scarf in Arizona? You get hot. I have a sweaty neck. This is my first incident of sweaty neck and I like it," Reddick said. He then riffed about an organization he is going to start for those who suffer from sweaty neck.

The band repeatedly paused in the middle of the songs, primarily to crack jokes. The shtick eventually wore on audience members who yearned to hear a complete song straight through.

"This is the part of the song where we pause for dramatic effect," Reddick said during "Almost," the first song from Bowling for Soup's latest album, "A Hangover You Don't Deserve." "We're going to take a drink of our chosen cocktail."

Reddick, Burney and Chandler made comments about sexual diseases, belching and their love of alcoholic beverages.

The crowd saved its biggest cheers for "1985," the breakthrough hit from "A Hangover You Don't Deserve," and "Last Rock Show," from 2002's "Drunk Enough to Dance." Following the latter song, Reddick congratulated himself on a job well done.

"I don't mean to toot our own horns but that was awesome," he said. "Everyone put your rock 'n' roll hands in the air like this," he said as he flashed the universal sign for rock. That segued into "Punk Rock 101" which was accompanied by giant blow-up versions of rock hands.

The show opened with MC Lars, an elementary rapper who repeatedly reminded the audience that he takes a DIY approach to recording, laying down tracks on his laptop. He attempted to win over the audience with joke-laden raps touching on his love of the United Kingdom and the popularity of record companies signing emo ("Signing Emo") acts. He even rapped a seemingly unintentionally funny version of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" ("Mr. Raven") to music sampled from Brand New.

In an Ashlee Simpson moment, the end of the track "Stat-60" played as he began "iGeneration."

Riddlin' Kids [ tickets ] followed up with an ear-bleedingly loud proclamation that they were the "Riddlin' Kids from Texas." The straight-up rock band ripped through "Never Live It Down" and "Talk of the Town" back to back, barely taking time for a breath in between. Disappointed in the crowd's reaction to the songs, both of which are from their latest album, "Stop the World," lead singer Clint Baker told them to "f---ing wake up."

After another handful of songs, he continued to prod the audience. "Are you guys sad? Did someone tell you this is an emo show? How many of you guys like free s---? This is free rock 'n' roll. We're giving it to you for free," he said, curiously, considering it was a ticketed show.

American Hi-Fi was the final opener, showcasing material from its forthcoming album, "Hearts on Parade," due out in March on its new label, Maverick. The criminally underrated pop band, which backed Butch Walker during his stint opening for Avril Lavigne on her arena tour, kicked off its set with "Art of Losing."

The effervescent Jones--perhaps "effervescent" from the large of amount of sangria he admitted on stage to drinking before the show--gushed over the audience's response to the new material. He also slobbered over his drink of choice at the show, Bud Light--so much so that he sounded like a country act pushing its sponsor.

American Hi-Fi's lovelorn hit "Flavor of the Weak" generated the night's biggest response for an opening act, with Jones encouraging a club-wide sing-along leading up to the chorus.