I knew nothing about this band but I took a chance because they look vaguely power pop (actually the guys on the back sleeve seem to cover a number of styles (power pop, arena rock, 60s jangle and new wave …in that order see pic of back sleeve) and they were on the (well loved by me) Elektra label … though, admittedly, some time after the Elektra sounds I like.
As it turns out they were big in Boston and perhaps the “next big thing”. Every town has one or more of these acts. Big locally but never making a dent anywhere else. Most though don’t get signed to a major label like Elektra.
Band history. Here is the wikipedia article in total …why paraphrase it .. they have done a good enough job, with reservations.
“The Nervous Eaters, one of Boston’s first punk/new wave bands, debuted in early 1977 with Steve Cataldo on vocals and guitar, Robb Skeen on bass, and Jeff Wilkinson on drums. They had used the name some years earlier, but had not performed live under it. As the Rhythm Assholes, they had backed local rock legend Willie Alexander on his single “Kerouac” and in concert. After a name change, they made their debut at the hub of the city’s alternative music scene, the Rathskeller—known as the Rat—in January 1977.Their first single, “Loretta”, appeared that year on the club’s Rat label.
Early on, the band experienced problems holding on to a second guitarist, but Alan Hebditch, a childhood friend of Cataldo’s, became a regular fixture in early 1978. Along with DMZ and the Real Kids, they were considered among the scene’s “punkier” bands. Centered on Cataldo’s “great rock & roll voice” and “jangly guitar”, in the description of AllMusic’s Joe Viglione, they were the “Rolling Stones of Boston…hard-rocking, riff-blasting, tongue-in-cheek”. By 1978, they were one of the most popular acts in the city. Their second Rat single, the new wave–style “Just Head”, appeared in 1979.
After the release of “Just Head”, the band brought on a new second guitarist, Jonathan Paley. Ric Ocasek of scenemates the Cars produced a ten-song demo for the band that attracted major-label attention. Their self-titled debut album, produced by Harry Maslin, was released by Elektra Records in 1980. Trouser Press’s Ira Robbins retrospectively panned it: “This Boston quartet had long been a local critics’ choice; after this major-label record brought them a national hearing, it’s hard to understand why. Nervous Eaters is an awfully tame set of J. Geils–like R&B and Hall and Oates–style soul.” Belying the “R-rated and lovingly sexist” lyrics of “Loretta” and other album tracks such as “Get Stuffed” and “Girl Next Door”, Viglione writes that the album’s sound falls “somewhere between the Ronettes and the Four Seasons”. Nonetheless, in his view, “The disc works despite being a slight misrepresentation of the artist.” It met with little commercial success, and the Nervous Eaters disbanded in 1981″
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_Eaters
I always hesitate when some bands circa 1980 with guys well into their 20s or 30s and dressed like this are called “new wave / punk” (and they are on-line). It seems to be a retrospective re-invention. I’m sure they weren’t at the time (I could be wrong). People writing the bio’s many years later latch onto the emerging sound (now regarded as influential and popular) and throw the band into that to give them some more cache. (Usually the band themselves when they are writing their bio some years after the fact).
The inclusion of guest musicians, Nicky Hopkins (session man for the Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Who and others) , Steve Cropper (guitarist with Booker T. & the M.G.s) and Andy Paley (of the Paley brothers who has his roots in 60s bands) would indicate otherwise.
Now .. don’t get me wrong …
… everyone of the guys I have mentioned is legendary (especially Paley) and have put out great music but, they are not the session musicians you would see for a punk band.
Nervous Eaters don’t look like a punk band (check out the back sleeve – power pop, stadium rock, 60s folk rock and new wave are all covered), not even by a 1980 standard when looks hadn’t become (as) formalised as later. Of course can be deceiving – look at Brisbane’s The Saints…. they didn’t look it but they were one of the first of the 70s punk batch. The punk look (without the substance) was codified by the English bands (where looks are (always) more important than content) and then the subsequent post Green Day explosion took that to the nest (though tamer) level.
The band were perhaps too old to be punk. Into their late 20s or early 30s. (Yes I know Iggy was older but he had doing it since the mid to late-60s). In fact Andy’s brother Jonathan Paley (also of errr the Paley brothers) is rhythm guitarist for the Nervous Eaters. He, like his brother had roots in late 60s bands. And, as youthful looking as lead singer Steve Cataldo may be he released a singer songwriter fuzz psych album under the moniker of “Saint Steven” in 1969. He, also, had already been in Front Page Review (and perhaps famous Boston psych rockers “Ultimate Spinach”). Youth is not everything. But, if punk is more than music and includes, style, attitude, outlook and life experiences then age will colour your music .
Yes , yes … I know there are a lot of old punks (sadly) around now but that wasn’t the case in 1976.
Despite being too old at the time (perhaps), too un-punk looking with too many non-punk influences these buys played a raw, visceral rock n roll.
As the big local drawcard they opened for many punk and new wave bands including The Ramones, The Damned, The Pretenders, The Police so no doubt, this rubbed off…
I think the band is perhaps better described as a straight ahead rock and roll band with garage overtones (much like 70s Flamin Groovies, though not as “retro”)
They were certainly “pre-punk” on their early sounds (check out the youtube links below) if we need a tag and then became part of the all encompassing “New Wave”.
Like many acts their big label sign up (Here Elektra) watered down any punk sound they had.
The big label sign up and the money meant that they needed to adopt some softer (and more chart friendly) new wave stylings..
They were probably forced on them by the label but all these guys seem to have been around long enough to know that they are doing.
In any event – this is what we have got …
Here the sound is watered down but these guys can still punch it out (but don’t enough) and play tight. The “garage” has been replaced by “jangle” which i don’t have a problem with though the “jangle” should be up front. Their age shows they are more than a one trick pony. They come over as a cross between Bruce Springsteen, the Flamin Groovies with a touch of mid-70s Bowie …
… and there is nothing wrong with that, it’s a good place to be.
In fact, in many ways it’s better.
Thiry should have become more well known
All songs written by Steve Cataldo and produced by Harry Maslin (who may have been the wrong producer for this).
Tracks (best in italics)
Side One
- Loretta – a straight ahead rocker in the Jim Carroll meets Lou Reed style that is crying out for more rawness. Still, a great song.
- By Yourself – it seems slight on first list but this is quite a catchy song with great harmonies
- No Sleep Tonite – another pop song with great harmonies … it’s as if Jay and the Americans were around in 1980 and doing power pop ballads. Still, catchy.
- Walkout – slight
- No Time – another misstep
- All Except You – catchy with pop rock overtones. This reminds me a little of Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman’s “Stumblin’ In” from 1978 in its gentle rock bounce. I like it. Nah, I love it.
Side Two
- Get Stuffed – needs to be a lot nastier. The gang vocal backing emphasizing the sentiment in the title became a cliché. This is Fisher Price punk by guys who should know better. Admittedly the song would work for a young and snotty band..
- Girl Next Door – nice late 70s style Flamin Groovies (Chris Wilson era) jangle sounds with a touch of power pop. A treat!
- Last Chance – a “street” song in the Springsteen style updated to Willy DeVille and Jim Carroll. I like it ….
- Hooked – more jangle and again, catchy
- Out On A Date (She Said No) – ha, ha .. the usual theme in rock ‘n’ roll songs …. a nice ominous beat runs through the song.
- She’s Got The Kind Of Love – another song with a great beat that should have been a little less tame.
And …
A missed opportunity. This needs to be a lot dirtier. But the mid tempo jangle songs are really catchy, though the jangle should be louder. Still, … I’m keeping it.
Chart Action
Nothing nowhere (well not nationally at least)
Sounds
Loretta
1976 version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-qObaURt6Q
Live 1979
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Jidc7ShLg
live 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye3P-P1CoVc
All Except You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvt709dte8M
Get Stuffed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syeDxB1Fbbw
Girl Next Door
live 1970s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxdOP6B5PzY
mp3 attached
Last Chance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkj9HvxSD6w
Others
Early pre-punk from 1979
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO_xFWl0swU
Live 1978
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW1um6JLW-A
live
1998
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JtKZagHVKU
Review
https://www.allmusic.com/album/nervous-eaters-mw0000825639
https://trouserpress.com/reviews/nervous-eaters/
Bio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_Eaters
https://pleasekillme.com/nervous-eaters/
http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/SAINTsteven.htm
Website
https://www.facebook.com/NervousEaters
Trivia
- Personnel: Bass, Backing Vocals – Robb Skeen / Drums – Jeff Wilkinson / Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar – Steve Cataldo / Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jonathan Paley
- Producer, Mixed By, Engineer, Percussion – Harry Maslin. “Harry Maslin is an American record producer, recording/mixing engineer, and studio owner/designer. In the mid-1970s, he engineered No. 1 hits for Barry Manilow (“Mandy”), and Dionne Warwick & The Spinners (“Then Came You”). As a producer his chart hits include David Bowie’s “Fame” (US No. 1) in 1975 and “Golden Years” (US No. 10) in 1976, and seven singles in the Top 5 for Air Supply from 1980–82, including “The One That You Love” (US No. 1).“https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Maslin
- “The band briefly reunited in 1986, with Cataldo, Wilkinson, Hebditch, and Paley. They recorded a six-song EP, Hot Steel and Acid, for the French-based New Rose label; it was subsequently issued as well by Boston‘s Ace of Hearts Records. … In early June 2013, the band went on the road again, supporting the Stranglers at Brighton Music Hall, though at least one member has moved to California. In 2018, the Nervous Eaters and their old manager James Harold put out Live at the Rat 2 on DVD, and Rick Hearte, owner of Ace of Hearts, issued a CD re-release of Hot Steel and Acid with more songs added. A new CD is expected to follow in 2019. They will be on the road doing gigs in support of those CDs through 2018–2019. The band now consists of drummer David Mclean, Alan Hebditch on guitar and vocals, Nick Hebditch on bass and vocals, and songwriter Steve Cataldo on lead guitar and lead vocals”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_Eaters
- Lead singer Steve Cataldo was also in a brief band called The Reflectors with Jonathan Paley in 1983.
- The sleeve is die-cut with imprinted “bite” marks along the right edge … nervous eaters – get it …. ?
RIP
Jimmie Rogers 1933 – 2021
