It could be a trivia question in the category of successful Santa Barbara rock band lore: Which band filched its name from an obscure reference in Star Wars, and which from Monty Python’s Flying Circus? Anyone in these parts with ears on ’90s rock knows the answer. Nerf Herder, the witty “geek rock” pranksters we know and love, exercised its serious Star Wars fixation by lifting its moniker from a random scene, whereas the more serious-toned Toad the Wet Sprocket lifted its name out of a Monty Python skit. Go figure.
Both bands, signed to major labels in the 1990s, continue to perform around the world and stoke the flames of fandom. And both have considered the passing of time and legacies with new acoustic albums stocked with freshly baked versions of old hits and favorites. In Nerf Herder’s case, the fearsome and funny foursome — charter members singer-songwriter Parry Gripp and drummer Steve Sherlock, longtime bassist Ben Pringle and the lead guitarist known as Linus of Hollywood — are delivering NERF HERDER (redux) on Fat Wreck Records, a mostly unplugged recasting of breakout debut album of 30 years hence, released on Arista Records. The new single “Golfshirt (redux)” is online here .
In a timely booking, the band is headed for a high-profile show at the Lobero Theatre on Saturday, April 18, their first local theater gig in years, after packing the joints of Velvet Jones and SOhO in recent years. The Lobero show sold out quickly, luring in both locals and rabid fans from afar.