Goleta, CA · pop-punk · geek rock

Nerf Herder

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The Goleta goofballs behind 'Van Halen' and the Buffy theme — power-pop-punk with a sitcom sense of humor. Reliably one of the weekend's most fun sets.

Nerf Herder formed in Santa Barbara County in 1994, taking its name from a line of dialogue between Princess Leia and Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back. The original lineup of guitarist and singer Parry Gripp, bassist Charlie Dennis and drummer Steve Sherlock built a catalogue of short, fast pop-punk songs steeped in references to comics, science fiction and suburban failure.

Their debut album included "Van Halen," a wry tribute to hair-metal fandom that got significant radio play and led to a major-label deal with Arista Records. The band's self-deprecating humour has stayed central to the material since, through lineup changes that saw Dennis and Sherlock replaced for stretches while Gripp remained the constant member.

Nerf Herder also recorded the theme music for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the connection went beyond the opening credits: the band appeared as the musical guest in the show's final season, playing the last set ever performed at the fictional club The Bronze.

The group quietly broke up in 2003 before reconvening in 2006 with Gripp, Dennis and Sherlock back together, eventually recording and releasing a fourth album, Nerf Herder IV. Live, the band leans on brisk tempos, big vocal hooks and between-song joking.

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pop-punkgeek rock