I caught up with UK power-pop wrecking crew Bad Nerves at The Pageant in St. Louis on September 22, 2023—literally just three nights into their first-ever US run, opening for Royal Blood. In this interview I’m talking with Bobby Nerves and Jon Poulton about what it feels like to finally get stateside after not really expecting it to happen, and how quickly the “new tour” honeymoon turns into real-life van-and-venue reality. If you’re into tight, fast, hooky rock that still hits like punk, this is the kind of conversation that shows you what’s behind the songs. We get into their influences and the musical DNA that makes Bad Nerves tick—why the band’s sound lands in that sweet spot where power-pop melody meets full-throttle rock energy. And because it’s me, it wouldn’t be a proper road interview without some weird detours: yes, Jeffrey Dahmer comes up, because touring America is equal parts rock ‘n’ roll dreams and “wait, what?” cultural moments. Overall, it’s a quick snapshot of a band on the verge—hungry, loud, and clearly built for sweaty rooms like The Pageant.