In conversation with Spiritual Cramp frontman and songwriter Michael Bingham, celebrating the release of Epiphone Presents: Spiritual Cramp “Live at Ally Pally”
Since their hard-to-find 2017 debut seven-inch EP, Spiritual Cramp has built a reputation for packed, energetic shows that feel equal parts party and performance. With their new album Rude, they’ve bottled that chaotic energy and channeled it in a focused new direction.
With their Alternative Press-sponsored “The Rudest Band in the World” tour kicking off in February, we chat with frontman/songwriter Michael Bingham about the new album, Epiphone Presents: Spiritual Cramp “Live at Ally Pally,” their whirlwind tour with The Hives, and what show attendees can expect in the spring.
Mod styling, touches of dub, and street punk sonics aside, from the art direction to the sound, Rude feels like a culmination of Spiritual Cramp’s story so far. What was the band setting out to accomplish with this record?
“I think we wanted to expand without changing too much. So many times, you see bands create a new style, feeling, and vision with every album, leaving their fans to hold on to what they used to love about the band. That’s always bugged me.
“When I get into a band, all I want is more of it, but better. I don’t want some new outfit or a completely new style. It’s confusing to me as a fan. I just wanted to make a Spiritual Cramp album that was the best version it could be. Not the version I felt like that day.”
From your earliest EP release in 2017 to the era kicked off by 2021’s Here Comes More Bad News, leading to 2023’s eponymous debut, Rude represents a clear evolution in sound and intent. How has the band’s approach to songwriting changed since its start?
“I realized during this time that songwriting is paramount. You can have all the aesthetics you want, but at the end of the day, it’s the songs that connect with people. I think when we first started the band, we just wanted to put some stuff out there. As it’s developed from a passion project into a full-time job, I learned no matter how many cool jackets you have or what cool font you are using, it’s the songs that take the band the furthest.
“I put time into the songs now. I used to just blast them out and record them. Now I sit with ideas and get feedback from people around me. I workshop them many times over and write tons of them before picking what ones will be recorded.”
Spiritual Cramp photographed by Sarah Davis. L-R: Nate Punty (guitar), Mike Bingham (vocals), Mike F. (bass), José Luna (keys/percussion), Julian Smith (drums), Orville Neeley (guitar)
Those early seven-inch EPs compiled for Television were very in your face and, to a degree, pushing that classic Bay Area punk-rock, fuck-you energy. The new record sounds like very real tension between a longing for those salad days but knowing you can’t get stuck in the rearview. How has a change in location informed a change in vision?
“I don’t think it’s a change in location so much as it’s a change in who I am. I really used to be on that fuck you tip, but not so much anymore. I don’t think I’m as aggressive as I used to be. I’m still pissed off, but I l think I learned how to cope with the things that piss me off. I realized I don’t have to punch everything in the face. If I don’t like something, I learned how to walk away from it or avoid it.
“I’m actually finding a bit of peace, and I think it reflects in my songs. I still make jokes about stuff I don’t like, but I’m not this kid hanging out in the bar looking for a fight anymore. I’m this guy who wakes up early, exercises, meditates, and tries to think, ‘How can I be the best person I’m able to be?’ and I think it reflects in songwriting.”
By the time the folks at home are reading this, the band will have completed a run of tour dates with The Hives. With both bands known for active live shows that demand audience participation, what does it mean to have shared a bill with them, and how did you shape your setlist accordingly?
“We’re so excited to share the stage with The Hives. When we first started the band, they were a huge inspiration to us. Never in a million years did we think we’d be going on tour with them; it’s very surreal. Honestly, it’s an honor.
“Spiritual Cramp certainly has a reputation for being a good live band, but it’s because we learned about being a good live band from the bands we love, like The Hives. We want to be respectful but also come out there and show that we’re ready to be the next big band, so yeah, I think we put our set together to reflect that.”
Both bands have a “no frills, all bite” guitar tone that cuts through the noise. Do you think there’s a shared philosophy there when it comes to how you approach your live performances?
“I’m not sure about a shared philosophy. All I know is when Spiritual Cramp plays a show to a bunch of people who have never heard of us or seen us, I want to blow those people’s minds. I want them to walk away whispering to whoever it is they came to that show with about how they had never heard of us, but they are going to follow us. One fan at a time.”
There’s something poetic about sharing a stage with a band whose guitarist is also flying the Epiphone flag. Have you checked out Vigilante’s 1959 Epiphone Coronet, and has that inspired any gear choices or conversations within your camp?
“I love this guitar. I love that it’s such a unique vintage guitar, and I love that it has no pickups other than the bridge pickup. That’s all you need. Plug in and rip. Two knobs and let it go. I don’t know if it’s really informed gear choices, as Nate, Mike, and Orville all have their own ideas about what they want to be playing, but I think the idea behind a simple guitar is truly something that resonates in general with our band. Make it simple and sound good.”
This interview coincides with the release of Epiphone Presents: Spiritual Cramp “Live at Ally Pally.” The band packed a lot of energy into a small, beautiful room. How did it feel to slow down, take a beat, and perform the songs in that quieter, contemplative context?
“I think we spend so much time rehearsing the songs at home and going crazy when we play live that when it comes time for us to slow down, focus on our playing, and kinda just nod our heads, we really enjoy it. To be honest, sometimes I get tired of getting up there and kicking people in the face. These songs are pop songs, and at the end of the day, I feel like they translate really well to studio environments. This is a long way of saying that I enjoy the hell out of it.”
Back to the new record—the band is consistent in its sound. The guitar and bass tones on Rude are punchy, gritty when required, and really speak to Nate, Orville, and Mike F’s individual strengths. How would the group describe that Spiritual Cramp sound? How does that influence the gear you gravitate toward?
“I think our sound is supposed to be small, but polished and crispy. We gravitate toward older, smaller amps—usually, vintage Marshall combo amps and classic guitars. We play Les Pauls™ and SGs™. We want that old, blown-out rock ‘n’ roll tone. Then we want that tone mixed to sound like a gigantic pop record.”
For the upcoming tour, which Epiphone guitars are coming out on the road with you? What made you pick those models? How has their inclusion surprised the group?
“These guitars are very high quality, and most importantly, they look cool. Nate always wanted a Goldtop, and Orville loves SGs, so these were the guitars they gravitated toward. We were so excited to get our hands on them and see how high-end they were after playing them.”
With Rude out now and your “Rudest Band in the World Tour” on the horizon, what’s most exciting for the band about this next chapter? What inspires the group to push forward?
“I think it’s the unknown. I’ve always just made music and played in bands… my whole life, I’ve done it. It’s never been an option not to. As the band gets bigger and we do better, I think it’s the excitement (and disappointment) that gets me through. What could happen tomorrow? Is it gonna be good? Is it gonna be bad? I’m not sure, but I gotta go find out. I’m never gonna be the person who says, ‘I don’t really want to see what’s next.’”
What should fans expect when the tour rolls around to their city?
”A good time. Spiritual Cramp is a good live band, and we love to play and let the energy flow between us and the crowd. Our shows are usually buzzing with people ready to dance. I think the bands we are taking with us are some of my favorite bands out today. Come and let your freak flag fly.”
Rude is out now on Blue Grape Music. Listen to it here. Spiritual Cramp’s Alternative Press-sponsored “Rudest Band in the World” tour kicks off February 17th in San Diego. Featuring Bass Drum of Death, Mizery, Guv, and more, get tickets to dates in your city here.
