Review & Photos: Sex Pistols, Bad Nerves in Cleveland, Ohio

By David Desin, OOTB Publications

Sex Pistols Bring 50 Years of Punk to The Agora in Cleveland

It has been one hell of a week for punk music at The Agora in Cleveland, and Thursday, Oct. 1 was the perfect way to keep the energy rolling.

The Sex Pistols brought their 50 Years of Punk Tour to town with UK punk rockers Bad Nerves opening the show, and both bands delivered the kind of night that reminds you why punk rock has never really gone away.

Bad Nerves came out swinging and immediately got the crowd moving. Their high-energy set was a perfect fit for the night, warming up the venue for one of punk's biggest names.

By the time the Sex Pistols took the stage, the room was packed and ready to explode.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns' game taking place in town the same night, a huge crowd showed up at The Agora to celebrate five decades of Sex Pistols punk rock.

Cleveland proved once again that when a legendary punk band comes to town, the music can still pull people together—even when there's a big football game competing for everyone's attention.

Seeing three original members (Steve Jones, guitar; Paul Cook, drums; Glen Matlock, bass) still jamming together was something special. There is something undeniably cool about watching musicians who helped shape an entire genre, still getting onstage and playing these songs for another generation of fans.

The attitude, energy and rebellious spirit that defined punk were still very much alive.

One of the night's biggest moments came courtesy of vocalist Frank Carter, who knows exactly how to connect with a crowd.

Carter jumped down from the stage and right into the audience, where the crowd responded by forming a huge circle pit around him. It was one of those spontaneous concert moments—the kind of chaos and excitement that makes live punk shows so much fun.

From the opening notes of Bad Nerves to the final moments of the Sex Pistols' set, The Agora was filled with energy. It was loud, rowdy and completely alive.

For a band celebrating 50 years of punk, there was something fitting about seeing a new generation of fans throwing themselves into the music alongside longtime punk rockers.

The Sex Pistols may have started their story half a century ago, but Thursday night's performance showed that the spirit behind those songs still has plenty of life left in it.

And after an awesome week of punk music at The Agora—earlier Pennywise, H20, Angel Du$t, Murphy’s Law—this was a fitting way to keep Cleveland's punk spirit burning.

Bad Nerves were awesome. The Sex Pistols were awesome. The crowd was awesome.

Five decades later, punk is still making noise—and Cleveland was more than happy to make some noise right along with it.

Sex Pistols’ Setlist

1. Holidays In The Sun

2. Seventeen

3. New York

4. Pretty Vacant

5. Bodies

6. 7. Liar

8. God Save The Queen

9. No Fun

10.I’m Not Your Stepping Stone11.No Feelings