18 November 2024

8 mins read

Photography: Kelly Vermeer

Written by: Kelly Vermeer

what's happening with Bad Nerves

INTERVIEW: Behind The Scenes With Bad Nerves On Tour

During their “Still Nervous” tour, Bad Nerves played their third show in Amsterdam. Before the concert, we had the pleasure of chatting with Bobby and Jon. We discussed the tour, the Netherlands, and their audience, as well as their latest album and the creative process behind it.

Strife Magazine: You guys just started your tour. How were the first shows?

Bobby: It was wicked, wasn’t it? The first show was in Greece, in Athens, and we’d never played there before. About 400 people showed up. It was such a beautiful place.

Jon: We also played Nijmegen yesterday. That was our first show in the Netherlands. Holland’s always been good to us. It was one of the first places that really got into our music, so we’ve always had a special connection here.

Strife Magazine: Recently, you guys released a new album, “Still Nervous.” What is your favorite track?

Bobby: I mean, I like them all, but if I have to pick one, I’d go with “Television.”

Jon: Haha, what a surprise! Mine is probably “Antidote.”

Strife Magazine: Can you tell us a bit about the writing process for those songs?

Bobby: Well, they’re both very different. “Antidote” was deliberately meant to be obscenely fast—almost too fast to actually play. That was kind of the joke, and then we had to figure out how to play it live. Drums are particularly crazy on that track, and there are small tricks to make it doable. It’s very drum-driven.

Jon: I’ve been playing it for a while now, and, honestly, I think I’ve just now started playing it properly. Haha!

Bobby: Yeah, it’s tough. Just plucking that fast for that long takes practice. On the other hand, “Television” is completely different. It was written in pieces over the course of months, with lots of experimentation. “Antidote” came together in a single day, but “Television” took about three months.

Strife Magazine: Has anything ever gone wrong playing those songs live?

Jon: We want to turn up and play really well—tighter than your average punk band—but we’re human. Mistakes happen, and we don’t take ourselves so seriously that we’re like, “That’s it, back to the drawing board.”

Bobby: We mess up all the time, but that’s just part of live music. It adds to the fun of it. If you take it too seriously and expect perfection, it’s no fun at all. Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes someone will hit a weird note, and we’ll look at each other and laugh. That’s live music, and it makes every show unique.

Strife Magazine: And if you could cover any song from any artist, what song would it be?

Bobby: I mean, the song I would always like to cover probably be Radioactivity, Don’t Try, because that was one of the songs that made us start the band. Or anything by The Beatles.

Jon: Anything by The Ramones. Probably Betray Your Love to More of the World would probably be my choice.

Bobby: I don’t love that song. I like it. I don’t love it. I like Down to the Basement. That’s my favorite.

Jon: Or Bonzo Goes a Bittsburg.

Bobby: Oh, that’s what we – that’s the answer, ain’t it? Because we were actually gonna cover that.

Jon: Ramones, Bonzo Goes a Bit Bittsburg.

Strife Magazine: Did you guys had the change to cover it?

Jon: No. We’ve done a few Ramones covers. We covered Misfits as well. But when he went through a real stage of listening to every Ramones album back to back and we – I’m a massive Ramones fan anyway. And that song is, like, it gives you the chills, doesn’t it?

Bobby: It’s on the album Animal Boy.

Strife Magazine: With so many shows on the schedule, what challenges are you facing?

Jon: The biggest challenge is probably because, you know, we’ve played a lot of support sets. Those are about half an hour or 40 minutes, so it’s easier to keep the energy going. But when you’re playing for an hour, and the music is fast, and you’re getting a lot less sleep than normal, it’s tough. You’re at a venue a lot longer, and everything just takes more time.
Bobby: Staying healthy is important because when you go to bed at 2 or 3 a.m. every night, even if you sleep, you wake up tired, and then you have to do it all over again. It’s like trying to keep control of your mental and physical health.

Jon: For example, when we went to Greece, we played the gig at 11:30 p.m. and then had to catch a flight at 1 a.m. So we got off stage, had an hour, got picked up for the airport, and then flew home. We missed out on a night’s sleep before we even started this tour.

Bobby: After spending six or seven weeks in America, flying five times across the country and dealing with constant time zone shifts, it’s hard to stay healthy. Especially for our vocals and things like that.

Strife Magazine: How do you prepare for a show?

Bobby: Well, we just warm up, stretch yourself out a bit, and just try to get in the headspace of having to perform. It’s really fun, but there is an anxiety to it, which is great because the little nervousness you get is what keeps you on your toes.

Jon: The weird thing for me is, like, I’ll spend the whole day up until the point we go on stage thinking I can’t do this. Then I’ll step on stage. We’ll hit the first note, and it’ll be like autopilot. It’s fine, and it’ll just be like another day in the office.

Strife Magazine: Yesterday, you had a show in Nijmegen. What did you think of the Dutch audience?

Bobby: They were amazing—and tall! Haha.

Jon: Holland’s been great to us from the start. The people, culture, and food are all fantastic. It’s always one of our favorite places to play.

Bobby: I’d love to live here. Everything is so clean and organized. Compared to England, it feels like what England should be. Even the toilets are clean! We just love it here.

Strife Magazine: Lastly, outside of music, do you have any hobbies or ways to relax?

Jon: I like doing martial arts and going around abandoned, creepy buildings. I just love the history of the places, and it’s been a passion for a long time, seeing old asylums and churches all around the world. And documenting them because architecture today kinda sucks. There was some beautiful stuff made many years ago.

Strife Magazine: Do you also take your camera with you to document everything?

Jon: Yeah. Yeah. Although, sadly, Holland doesn’t have that many because everything gets developed very quickly over here. But, like, Germany, Italy is amazing for it. Italy is, like, because there’s a lot of religious stuff in it, and it’s all kinda, left as it was. So, yeah, that’s my two hobbies.

Strife Magazine: How about you Bobby?

Bobby: Well, I also like movies. I enjoy making videos and stuff, which is kind of part of the whole band thing. I guess that’s a hobby for me. I don’t have many other hobbies. I like walking too. God, that’s boring, isn’t it? I don’t know. Mostly just like making things. I like, you know, videos, obviously, music. I need to get some more physical. I’ve also been rock climbing for a while, which I really enjoyed.

Strife Magazine: Oh, really?

Bobby: Yeah, almost fell off a mountain. We hiked up the highest mountain in England called Scafell Pike.

Strife Magazine: That sounds dangerous!

Bobby: It was! We left really late, thinking we’d be fine. I think it’s supposed to take about five hours, but that’s if you’re used to it. We got to the top when it was already dark, and then we had to come down in the dark. It took us about ten hours to get up, and then about six more to get down, so a total of 16 hours!

Jon: I was out exploring, and he messaged me about what was happening. He even sent me a map and commentary of the situation. I was in a car park in Scotland, eating pizza, and laughing to myself while reading it.

Bobby: This is with my girlfriend as well, when we were, like, newly together. And this was our first sort of trip together. She came back from Brazil, and we went to this place. Having a near-death experience with somebody is quite a bonding experience, you know?

Strife Magazine: It does sound quite funny though.

Jon: It’s hilarious.
Bobby: It’s funny in hindsight, for sure.
Jon: I still sometimes think about it and just laugh to myself like a maniac.
Bobby: When we got back to the little place we were staying, we were both just, like, in shock at just how crazy it was.

Not long after, Bad Nerves took the stage at Tolhuistuin, and what a night it was. Want to hear more about the show? Check out our full concert review.

8 November 2024

3 mins read

Photography: Eva van den Bosch

Written by: Kelly Vermeer

what's happening with Palaye Royale

CONCERT REVIEW: Palaye Royale Light Up Tilburg With ‘Death Or Glory’ Tour

On Thursday, November 7th, Palaye Royale took the stage at 013 in Tilburg for one of the first shows of their ‘Death or Glory’ tour. Right from the start, it was an explosive opening, and the crowd went wild. The stage setup was very cool, designed to look like the front of a house, complete with street lamps—a nice touch!

From the very beginning, the band had a great connection with the audience. At one point, I heard a lot of excited reactions, and when I looked closer, I saw frontman Remington Leith standing on one of the bars in the middle of the crowd. It was amazing to watch!

The band had put together an awesome setlist, including plenty of songs from their latest release, Death or Glory. Other favorites were featured too, like No Love in LA, which was clearly a crowd favorite. As soon as the first notes hit, the audience burst into loud singing.

The show featured plenty of surprises, including giant balloons released into the crowd, confetti, and fireworks fountains on stage. But one of the coolest moments was when the frontman decided to crowd-surf over the audience in a rubber dinghy. It was fantastic! It’s clear he loves being close to the fans, as he did it not just once, but twice. On the second go, he fell out of the boat but was quickly hoisted back to the stage by the crowd, still surfing along.

They also made room for a few acoustic songs, offering a nice break and a chance for everyone to catch their breath. It was definitely needed, as the band kept their energy at maximum throughout the entire show, without ever letting the intensity drop.

It was fantastic to see the audience give that energy right back, with dancing, interaction, and even mosh pits.

As we reached the end of the show, there was a quick “we want more” moment, and the band came back for an encore with three more songs. One of them was Lonely, which began with Remington on the piano, and the rest of the band joined in. Once again, the crowd sang along with full passion, and another confetti moment added to the magic.

The night officially closed with Mr. Doctor Man, giving everyone one last chance to go wild. And the crowd definitely did! I have so much respect for Palaye Royale. They delivered a high-energy performance from start to finish, maintaining top quality the whole night through. Truly impressive.

I See Stars

Hot Milk

Palaye Royale

7 November 2024

3 mins read

Photography: Kelly Vermeer

Written by: Kelly Vermeer

what's happening with Bad Nerves

CONCERT REVIEW: Bad Nerves Concert Filled With Crowd Surfers

Bad Nerves have just kicked off their Still Nervous tour. They’ve already played two shows, and on Wednesday evening, November 6, the tour made its stop in Amsterdam.

The show started a little later than planned, but that didn’t dampen the mood. The atmosphere in the venue was lively, and everyone was excited. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and the support act, Ultra Q, took the stage at Tolhuistuin. From the very first song, the crowd was fully engaged. Ultra Q proved to be an energetic opener, setting a good tone for the night ahead.

For much of their set, Ultra Q were backlit, so the audience mostly saw silhouettes, which gave their performance a cool, moody effect. Between songs, when the band chatted briefly with the audience, the lights came up, and we got a good look at them. Later in the show, the lighting improved, allowing us to see each band member more clearly on stage.

After Ultra Q‘s set, it was time. Bad Nerves came on stage, and right from the start, the crowd erupted into mosh pits. The energy in the room instantly skyrocketed. My favorite song on the setlist was Radio Punk—it was super catchy. This one’s definitely going on my playlist!

When you’re genuinely enjoying yourself, it shows on stage and in the crowd’s response. It was clear that Bad Nerves were having a fantastic time. The vocals were spot-on, and the band’s chemistry added a lot to the performance.

The atmosphere in the room was great; everyone was clearly having a blast, and there was a friendly vibe all around. Almost every song sparked a new mosh pit, whether initiated by the crowd or the band.

During the song Sorry, the band encouraged audience interaction, asking everyone to raise their hands and sway along with the beat. Watching from the balcony, it was a great view, and I imagine it looked just as awesome from the stage.

The band also played several tracks from their latest album, Still Nervous, which the audience loved. And I totally agree—it sounded fantastic!

In addition to mosh pits, some people in the crowd were also crowd-surfing. It’s fun to watch people put their trust in the hands of others. A few people even sat down on the floor to “row,” which was pretty amusing. I thought it was quite brave, considering the floor was sticky from spilled drinks by then.

Ultra Q

Bad Nerves

4 November 2024

3 mins read

Photography: Kelly Vermeer

Written by: Kelly Vermeer

what's happening with Lolo

CONCERT REVIEW: High-Energy Night With LØLØ At Patronaat In Haarlem

On Sunday night, November 3rd, singer LØLØ took the stage at Patronaat in Haarlem, wrapping up her first European headline tour with an unforgettable show.

Her opening act, Gus, set the mood right away. From his first song, the atmosphere was lively, and his performance struck a nice balance between upbeat, party-like tracks and some more thoughtful, serious themes. He even covered Sabrina Carpenter’s Taste, and his chemistry with the rest of his band was great to watch. If you’re into indie and alternative pop, Gus is definitely worth a listen.

When LØLØ took the stage, the energy in the room lifted even more. A large backdrop with her name, inspired by The Wizard of Oz, echoed the theme of her latest album. She kept a playful, connection with the crowd throughout the show, but it was during Debbie Downer that she took the interaction further. Gus joined her on stage for a guest verse, and she invited two girls up to join her as “cheerleaders,” even tossing pom-poms into the crowd so more fans could join in on the fun.

Between songs, LØLØ shared the backstory behind a few of her tracks, giving the audience a bit of context. One recent release, DON’T!, quickly stood out to me, and after hearing it live, I knew it had to be added to my playlist—it’s a fantastic song. The setlist flowed well, balancing energetic tracks with softer moments. Like her opener, she added a cover to her set, delivering a rock version of Lorde’s Liability, which added a refreshing twist.

At the end of the show, there was a “we want more” moment, although it didn’t fully take off. LØLØ returned to the stage wearing a shirt with “Netherlands” handwritten on it—a unique piece that fans could later purchase as a single item at the merch table. She wrapped up with two final songs, closing out the night in a festive mood. It was a perfect way to end, and everyone left with a great feeling.

Gus

LØLØ

LOLO @ Patronaat, Haarlem — #image_title

31 October 2024

6 mins read

Photography: Kelly Vermeer

Written by: Kelly Vermeer

what's happening with The Driver Era

INTERVIEW: Inside The Driver Era’s Tour Life, Music & More

We caught up with Ross and Rocky Lynch of The Driver Era during their European tour to talk all things music, live shows, and fan reactions. From new releases to memorable moments on stage, the brothers share insights into the ups and downs of life on the road and what keeps them going night after night. Enjoy our chat with Ross and Rocky as they take us behind the scenes of their latest journey!

Q: You’re currently on tour. How’s it going so far?
Rocky: The tour has been really solid. Like any tour, there are ups and downs. It’s a long run, and there’s always some personal stuff to figure out along the way. We’ve got about five shows left, and it’s that bittersweet feeling. Overall, it’s been a good tour.

Strife Magazine: Are you exhausted yet?
Rocky: I’ve been going to bed around 3 AM the entire tour, which helps keep things consistent. I’m not partying or anything, but just sticking to that same bedtime helps keep my energy decent. If I changed it up, like going to bed earlier one night, it could throw things off.

Strife Magazine: Were there any cities that stood out for you on this tour?
Rocky: Yeah, Prague is always beautiful, and Munich was amazing—definitely one of our best shows of the tour. We all came to the stage with this ‘let’s fucking go’ energy, and when everyone’s in that mindset, the show just flows really well.

Ross: I really like Prague. I think it’s a great city. I did a little roaming around, and it’s honestly a beautiful place. Amsterdam was one of the bigger shows of the tour, and we had a big power outage. I think it’s the first time we’ve ever had that happen during a show. It was kind of exciting, to be honest. It made things fresh and exciting. We like it when we’re forced to improvise. Spontaneity is something we’re good at, and we try to apply that to our shows.

Strife Magazine: Your recently released song, You Keep Me Up at Night. How’s the public response been?
Rocky: You Keep Me Up at Night has actually been one of our better-reacting songs recently. A lot of artists gauge how a track is doing by things like playlisting, and this one did well in that way. Both fans and friends have been into it, so it’s felt like a good drop overall. I’m already working on a few new tracks now, too.

Ross: Live, it’s been really fun. It’s at the beginning of our set right now, and it has a great, upbeat energy. It’s a good party starter, and people seem to be really digging it. The reaction has been good, both live and on streaming platforms, so we’re excited for more of that.

Strife Magazine: Is there more new music on the way?
Rocky: Yeah, we’re kinda always working on tracks. Like, that’s just how it goes. Before the tour, we spent a lot of time in the studio, just messing with the songs and trying to round out the album. It’s coming along well.

Ross: Yeah, lots. Hopefully, much, much more. It’s hard to finish a lot of music on tour because you start doing other things. There’s some time here and there, but you need breaks to keep it fresh and exciting. The tour itself is inspiring, and I’d like to tap into that more—I definitely have some ideas I’m excited to write about

Strife Magazine: I noticed that during your set, you sometimes include Disney songs. Why did you decide to do that?
Ross: We only play one song—On My Own from Teen Beach Movie—mostly because it’s a crowd pleaser. It’s not something we plan to do forever, so while people wanna hear it, we’ll play it for now. But it’s probably not gonna last much longer in the set.

Rocky: Honestly, we kinda go back and forth on it. It’s funny—like, do we wanna just play our own stuff and have that ‘we don’t care what people want’ energy? But then, people really love those little surprises, like pulling out a song and seeing them go, ‘oh, fuck yeah.’ It’s a balance between what we want and what the audience enjoys.

Strife Magazine: Do you guys have any pre-show rituals?
Ross: Yeah, we typically do vocal warm-ups to make sure we’re ready for the high notes. But honestly, it depends on the night. Most nights, we’re just kinda messing around—listening to music, maybe doing push-ups to get the blood pumping. Sometimes it’s nice to forget we’re about to play, and then someone comes in and goes, ‘Alright, it’s showtime,’ and we just run out there. It keeps things spontaneous and fresh.

Strife Magazine: Do you still get nervous before shows?
Ross: Not really. There are some shows where it feels like the stakes are high—like in a certain city or with certain people in the audience, you just wanna kick ass. It’s less about nerves and more about setting a high standard. We kinda approach it like athletes, using sports analogies to get in the game.

Strife Magazine: I’ve seen a lot of TikTok videos about you, with fans complimenting your looks. How do you feel about all that attention?
Ross: Honestly, I don’t pay much attention to those videos. I have a TikTok and post sometimes, but I’m usually focused on other things. It’s flattering, but it’s not something I’m really seeking out.

Strife Magazine: What kinds of “bigger things” are you focusing on?
Ross: On meaningful stories, whether in cinema or in music. I’m pretty stoked to be a storyteller, and I want to do more of that.

Strife Magazine: Have you come across any inspiring art or movies lately?
Ross: Oh, for sure. This might sound funny, but I watched Iron Man recently, and I fucking love that movie. I think it’s the best Marvel movie, for sure. I love that movie. It’s so good.

Strife Magazine: Finally, is there a piece of advice that has stuck with you recently?
Ross: Recently, I saw a post from a child with cancer. She said it’s important to do your best, but not more than your best. I thought that was interesting because she was saying, if you try to do more, then you end up—you miss the joys of life, essentially. That really resonated with me.

11 October 2024

4 mins read

Photography: Kelly Vermeer

Written by: Kelly Vermeer

what's happening with The Struts

CONCERT REVIEW: Unstoppable Energy From The Struts At 013

It had been a little over a year, but this past Wednesday, The Struts were back in the Netherlands. Along with James Bruner and Barns Courtney, they made it a night to remember at 013 in Tilburg.

The doors opened around 6:30 PM, and half an hour later, it was time for James Bruner to kick off the show. I hadn’t listened to his music before, but he pleasantly surprised me. Together with the other musicians, there was a great energy on stage. I thoroughly enjoyed his set and will definitely listen to him more often. I’d describe the vibe of his music as fairly dark, but in a very pleasant way. It was a shame that his set was short, but I’ll certainly keep an eye on him in the future.

After James Bruner’s set, it was time for Barns Courtney. While waiting in the venue, it became clear that many fans had come to the show specifically for him. Unlike James Bruner, I had listened to Barns before. He opened his set with the song Fun Never Ends, and what a banger of an opener it was. The energy was incredible, and you could feel it even at the back of the venue. There was a lot of interaction with the crowd. At one point, the singer tried to take Polaroid pictures with a fan’s camera, but it didn’t quite work out. I loved the vibe of the entire performance. The audience was fully engaged, and there was plenty of dancing. Toward the end of his set, the singer thought it’d be a good idea to stage dive. I hope it worked out better for him in other venues than it did in Tilburg. He didn’t get far into the crowd, and from where I stood, it looked like he almost hit the ground a few times.

After Barns’ energetic set, it was time for The Struts at about 9:25 PM. I had seen them last year in Utrecht, and they blew the roof off. So, I was curious to see if they could do the same in the larger venue of 013. And boy, did they live up to expectations. The band opened with Primadonna Like Me, and I immediately felt the floor shaking. They kept up the momentum with Fallin’ With Me and Body Talks.

There weren’t any slower songs during the set, which I didn’t mind at all. It was a party from start to finish. Frontman Luke Spiller frequently exchanged glances and gestures with the front rows, while encouraging the entire crowd to sing along to certain parts of the songs. The band also played a new track that will be released on October 18th, 2024. Since no one had heard the song Can’t Stop Talking before, Luke taught the audience the basics of the song. Man, what a great song!

As mentioned earlier, there was a lot of interaction with the audience. At one point, there was even a contest to see which side of the venue was the loudest—the side of guitarist Adam versus the side of bassist Jed. To judge this fairly, a path was cleared through the middle of the audience so that Luke could stand in the crowd. In the end, both sides were declared winners.

If you want to have a great night, I highly recommend going to a show by The Struts. The interaction is fun, the atmosphere is great, and even if you don’t know any of the songs, you’ll still find yourself singing along.