Counter Intuitive · February 26, 2021
There are bands that create music with a formula you can always rely on, a guarantee in expectation. Then there are bands like Nervous Dater, whose musical creativity creates a big, beautiful mess, like a purposeful paint splatter all over their albums. Their debut album
Don’t Be a Stranger carries their most popular song “Bad Spanish,” a track loaded with jitters, nerves, and lines like “I’ll bash my fucking head.” Four years later, Nervous Dater is back with their sophomore album,
Call in the Mess. The band has three members: Rachel Lightner carries most of the vocals and guitar, Matt Goetz adds more vocals and drums, and Kevin Cunningham grounds it all with bass. The trio work together in harmony, balancing each other’s strengths in the songwriting. The product is a collection of ten songs, each standing out as individuals while fitting into the puzzle.