California is spoiled for choice when it comes to alternative music history. Los Angeles gave us hardcore firestarters like Black Flag, the Bay Area birthed thrash’s deadliest riffs, and the desert spawned stoner rock giants. If you’re looking for a band that embodies California right now, it’s San Francisco’s own Spiritual Cramp.
Formed in the back alleys of the Bay’s DIY scene, Spiritual Cramp don’t fit neatly into one box. They’ve got the jagged bite of hardcore, the groove of post-punk, and just enough sleaze to recall the underbelly of ’90s alt rock. What really sets them apart is the way they weaponise contradiction, melodic hooks that collapse into noise, swaggering rhythms built to shake a dive bar, and lyrics that spit frustration while still sounding like a party.
Their 2023 self titled debut made waves for being unpredictable and unapologetically raw. Tracks like ‘Earth to Mike’ (from 2021’s EP Here Comes More Bad News) and ‘Herberts on Holiday’ don’t play it safe, they made you feel like you were squeezed shoulder to shoulder in a basement, beer cans flying overhead. The band aren’t content to stay a cult favorite, with their second album, ‘Rude’, dropping 24 October 2025, they’re gearing up to show just how far California punk can stretch without losing its teeth.
Spiritual Cramp ‘Young Offenders’ video
Check out their super fun video for ‘Young Offenders’, taken from their upcoming album Rude:
Spiritual Cramp frontman Michael Bingham is full of energy when it comes to their live shows, the crowds are unpredictable and it’s the kind of performance that reminds you why punk’s pulse has always beat hardest in rooms too small for the noise they contain.
Spiritual Cramp aren’t recycling old punk poses or leaning on California’s legendary past, they’re a snapshot of what’s happening in the trenches right now , loud, messy and defiantly alive. If you want California in 2025, don’t just look at the big names, look at the band burning it down from the inside.
Pre-Order ‘Rude’
Spiritual Cramp’s new album ‘Rude’ is out 24 October 2025 via Blue Grape Music.
For fans who want the full experience, vinyl, digital and exclusive merch bundles, this is the way to lock it in before the release hits.
Choose your outlet of choice here!
Rude Track list
- I’m An Anarchist
- Go Back Home
- At My Funeral
- Automatic
- You’ve Got My Number (feat. Sharon Van Etten)
- I Hate The Way I Look
- Interlude
- Violence In The Supermarket
- True Love (Is Hard To Find)
- Crazy
- Young Offenders
- New Religion
- People Don’t Change
Videos
Their videos are always fun, take a look at a few we have selected:
Talkin’ On The Internet (From their 2023 self titled album)
Here’s a fun mini documentary from their time at the BBC.
Spiritual Cramp – Live At The BBC (Mini Doc)
Another great one from their upcoming album ‘Rude’
At My Funeral
Catch Spiritual Cramp Live
You can experience Spiritual Cramp live for yourself in early 2026, check out the dates below and grab your tickets and more details here!
| Date | Venue | Location | Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Feb 2026 | Soma Side Stage | San Diego, CA | TBA |
| 18 Feb 2026 | The Rebel Lounge | Phoenix, AZ | TBA |
| 20 Feb 2026 | Club Dada | Dallas, TX | TBA |
| 21 Feb 2026 | 29th Street Ballroom | Austin, TX | TBA |
| 22 Feb 2026 | White Oak Music Hall | Houston, TX | TBA |
| 24 Feb 2026 | The EARL | Atlanta, GA | TBA |
| 25 Feb 2026 | The Blue Room | Nashville, TN | TBA |
| 27 Feb 2026 | The Atlantis | Washington, DC | TBA |
| 28 Feb 2026 | Music Hall of Williamsburg | Brooklyn, NY | TBA |
| 01 Mar 2026 | PhilaMOCA | Philadelphia, PA | TBA |
| 03 Mar 2026 | The Sinclair | Boston, MA | TBA |
| 05 Mar 2026 | Foufs | Montréal, QC | TBA |
| 06 Mar 2026 | Lee’s Palace | Toronto, ON | TBA |
| 07 Mar 2026 | Grog Shop | Cleveland, OH | TBA |
| 08 Mar 2026 | Lincoln Hall | Chicago, IL | TBA |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Turf Club | Minneapolis, MN | TBA |
| 11 Mar 2026 | recordBar | Kansas City, MO | TBA |
| 13 Mar 2026 | Marquis Theater | Denver, CO | TBA |
| 14 Mar 2026 | Kilby Court | Salt Lake City, UT | TBA |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Polaris Hall | Portland, OR | TBA |
| 17 Mar 2026 | The Wise | Vancouver, BC | TBA |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Neumos | Seattle, WA | TBA |
| 20 Mar 2026 | Great American Music Hall | San Francisco, CA | TBA |
| 21 Mar 2026 | Teragram Ballroom | Los Angeles, CA | TBA |
Support Spiritual Cramp
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | spiritualcramp.com |
| facebook.com/spiritualcramptv | |
| X / Twitter | x.com/Spiritual_Cramp |
| @spiritualcramptv | |
| Bandcamp | spiritualcramp.bandcamp.com |
| YouTube | Spiritual Cramp TV |
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