Nervous Eaters
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | Punk rock music, rock and roll music |
The Nervous Eaters stand as one of the pioneering punk rock and rock and roll ensembles from Boston, originally comprising Steve Cataldo (vocals, guitar), Robb Skeen (bass), and Jeff Wilkinson (drums). Established in 1973, their initial performances were under the name Rhythm Assholes, serving as the backing band for local musician Willie Alexander. They adopted the Nervous Eaters moniker in March 1976, making their debut at Boston's Rathskeller, commonly known as "the Rat." That same year, they issued their inaugural single, "Loretta," on the Rat label.
Following some early member changes, Alan Hebditch joined in 1978 as a second guitarist. Along with contemporaries such as The Real Kids and DMZ, they earned recognition as one of the more aggressively punk outfits within the city. The group’s sound was anchored by Cataldo’s unique vocal style and guitar work; AllMusic’s Joe Viglione likened them to Boston’s version of the Rolling Stones, highlighting their hard-rock energy and riff-heavy approach. By 1978, they had become a prominent force on the local music scene. Their follow-up single, the punk-influenced "Just Head," came out in 1979.
With Jonathan Paley added on guitar, the band recorded a ten-track demo produced by Ric Ocasek of the Cars, which attracted attention from major record labels. Their self-titled debut album, produced by Harry Maslin, was released through Elektra Records in 1980. While it garnered favorable responses locally, national critics offered mixed opinions; for instance, Trouser Press found its R&B and soul elements somewhat restrained, whereas Viglione observed that although the album’s sound diverged from their earlier raw intensity, it remained effective overall. Despite this, commercial success eluded them, leading to their breakup in 1981.
In 1986, the group briefly reunited—featuring Cataldo, Wilkinson, Hebditch, and Paley—to produce a six-track EP titled Hot Steel and Acid for the French label New Rose. This release was subsequently reissued by Boston’s Ace of Hearts Records.
June 2013 saw the band touring in support of the Stranglers at Brighton Music Hall despite some members having relocated to California. In 2018, they issued Live at the Rat 2 on DVD and re-released Hot Steel and Acid with bonus material through Ace of Hearts. By 2021, Nervous Eaters had signed with WICKED COOL RECORDS with intentions to release a new LP/CD in 2022 alongside touring plans throughout that year. The current lineup features founding member Steve Cataldo on lead guitar and vocals, drummer David Mclean, and bassist Brad Hallen. Steve Berkowitz acts as executive producer for their forthcoming projects.
Sources
- Strong, Martin Charles (2003). The Great Indie Discography, rev. ed. (Edinburgh: Canongate).
- Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock (San Francisco: Miller Freeman).
- Sedaka, Charlie (2013) WZBC Music presenter.