Concert review: Bad Nerves w/ Spiritual Cramp | 04.28.25, Delmar Hall (with photo gallery)

Photo of Bad Nerves by Laura Jerele.

Bad Nerves are fast, loud, and unstoppable. They rolled into Delmar Hall and despite the fact that the Monday night crowd wasn’t huge, it didn’t matter. They still delivered. With Bobby Nerves on vocals, William Phillipson and George Berry on guitars, Jonathan Poulton on bass, and Samuel Thompson on drums, they played like they were headlining. They gave punch and swagger just like every other time I’ve seen them (Royal Blood, The Darkness), truly their own band finding their unique way despite owning killer influences with the likes of The Ramones and (gasp!) the amazing Jay Reatard.  Their love for our city seemed to be real, too: Bobby shouted it out a few times and you could feel appreciation being thrown right back at them. And I love that he was not afraid to call out the dreaded midwestern concert stance of crossed arms and blank face, telling people to let go and get their fucking arms in the air! YES, Bobby! PREACH! 

Their songs are catchy AF, with punk sensibilities mashed up nicely with really well written songs. Baby Drummer,”  “Plastic Rebel,” and  “Radio Punk” hit the setlist, as did  “USA.” Nice, fellas. NICE. Bad Nerves are the kind of band that makes you believe in rock again. Fast, sweaty, chaotic, youthful, in your face, but totally dialed in. If you weren’t there, you missed something special. Please don’t skip out on them next time they roll their English asses through our fair city. I promise you won’t regret it. (Seriously, do not sleep on these guys next time they roll through.)

San Fran’s punk act Spiritual Cramp opened the show and I was so floored with how fab they were that I really walked away wanting to hear more of their music. I suppose you can’t get a better buy-in than that if you’re an opener, right? But please don’t think ‘sloppy’ punk rock. Spiritual Cramp are super-polished and really unique, full of energy, posh style, and extremely cool songs. I mean, who throws tambourine, reggae, and synth into a genuine punk band? Spiritual Cramp do. And they do it well. And damn if their lead vocalist didn’t give it his all, despite it being a Monday night. Cool music, cool merch, please check them out. And for the love…do not just stand there with your arms crossed at a concert. | Laura Jerele