Artist: Bad Nerves / Balancing Act / Split Dogs

Venue: The Shepherds Bush Empire

Town: London

Date: 25.11.25

Bad Nerves

I had been looking forward to clapping eyes on Bad Nerves Live as I hadn't had that experience so far. Their sound which leans towards 1977 and The Ramones is up my street and surprisingly there are not shedloads of bands heading down this street in 2025. Bad Nerves also as with The Ramones can write a fast song that oozes with melody so what's not to like? .... well nothing as far I could see.

Bad Nerves

Bad Nerves

Bad Nerves

The debut 2020 self titled album put Bad Nerves on the radar of esteemed artists such as Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard. This led to high profile Tour supports in the UK and USA they now headlined Shepherds Bush Empire with another album Still Nervous in the bag.

Bad Nerves

Bad Nerves

Bad Nerves

With a rallying count of ONE, TWO, THREE..... FOUR!!!! Bad Nerves kicked off with "Television" from the second LP. Residing in the photo pit and trying to keep pace with all the rapid movement on stage there was an explosion of beer in the air as the crowd erupted into a rapid, frenzied move forwards. Luckily only a few drops of the amber nectar landed on my camera and fully refreshed the camera sighed and continued to perform.

Bad Nerves

Bad Nerves

With each song seguing into the next with the occasional count-in, the pace kept up, leaving a melee in the centre crowd where all methods of crowd surfing and variations of the wall of death made me realise the beer soaked photo pit was the better option hah.

Bad Nerves

Bad Nerves

Bad Nerves

"Baby Drummer" really sounds like The Hives again no bad thing, to attempt to sound like The Hives alone is to be applauded, ultimately do the crowd hark back to the influences? you just like it?

The energy and electricity was sustained through the whole set, with a brief pause while lead singer Bobby Nerves pointed to one of the balconies to celebrate that his 90 year old Grandad was there!! I wondered to myself was he into The Ramones in 1976 and it's in the genes?

Bad Nerves

Bad Nerves

The encore is more of the same good stuff with "Loner", "You've got the nerve" and "Dreaming" leaving all at the show ready to do it all again if asked, then to wander via the merch and into the night.

Bad Nerves

Bad Nerves

Bad Nerves were supported on the night by first up Split Dogs and on second Balancing Act. Both acts had distinctly different sound and approach but also interesting. Starting with Bristol band Split Dogs who produced raucous Rock-Punk and in lead singer Harry Atkins they had a colourful singer up front.

Split Dogs

Split Dogs

In contrast Balancing Act produced well structured songs, well crafted and delivered and for the short time they have existed they are already owners of a mature sound. The music varied with control when the sound was composed and quieter or when the volume was needed. A very impressive display.

Balancing Act

Balancing Act

Balancing Act

Split Dogs - website

Balancing Act - website

Bad Nerves - website

Review and Photographs by Dan Reddick for Return To Sound