Originally published here: https://distractedmag.com/2025/05/10/bad-nerves-set-wonderbar-ablaze-with-pop-punk-perfection/

On a perfect spring evening in Asbury Park, UK power-pop punks Bad Nerves tore through a blistering set at the historic Wonderbar — a venue whose walls have echoed with the sounds of legends like Springsteen and Bon Jovi. While the setting evoked rock history, the night belonged entirely to the future

Hailing from Essex, Bad Nerves play high-octane, melody-soaked punk that lands somewhere between classic power pop and modern garage rock — like The Ramones on fast-forward. The five-piece lineup — Bobby Nerves (vocals), William Phillipson and George Berry (guitars), Jonathan Poulton (bass), and Samuel Thompson (drums) — delivered a performance that was both tightly executed and ferociously unhinged.

Opening the night were Spiritual Cramp, a San Francisco punk outfit whose confrontational charm and wiry rhythms perfectly set the tone. Their live set brims with urgency and swagger, and their presence on this bill was no accident — it was a pairing that made sense sonically and spiritually. As a fan of their recorded work, seeing them warm up the crowd so effectively was a personal highlight.

By the time Bad Nerves hit the stage, the room was primed for chaos. Launching straight into their fan-favorite “Baby Drummer,” they wasted no time throttling the energy to its peak. The crowd responded in kind, singing along, pogoing, and at one point, sending a fan in a fuzzy trapper hat skyward — albeit briefly, as a mid-air miscalculation ended in a minor fall (with no injuries, thankfully).

What stood out, beyond the band’s ferocity, was their stamina. After the set, a member of the band’s team mentioned they abstain from drinking on tour to preserve their energy — and it shows. The band treats the stage like an athletic arena, pacing themselves not for survival, but for domination. It’s a smart and refreshing contrast to the chaotic-casual ethos often associated with punk shows.

The hour-long set spanned their self-titled 2020 debut and their newly released album, keeping longtime fans satiated while giving newer material space to breathe. Tracks were delivered with precision and abandon in equal measure. The crowd grew louder, rowdier, and more devoted as the night went on, with one fan earning a nod from the band for knowing every lyric to every song — a testament to the deep connection Bad Nerves have cultivated with their audience.

The show closed with a fiery three-song encore, culminating in their anthemic track “Dreaming.” The crowd went wild, the band bounded and leapt across the stage in a final display of showmanship and guitarist Will even stagedived — guitar and all — sealing the night with a final burst of adrenaline.

After the house lights came up, the band stayed behind to sign merch and chat with fans — not out of obligation, but out of genuine appreciation. That connection, paired with their unrelenting stage presence, makes Bad Nerves more than just a band to watch — they’re a band to experience.