Music

Pittsburgh local music spotlight: The Nërd Hërdërs

The band is releasing its sophomore album, ‘Reverse Origami’

By Mike Palm

5 Min Read • Dec. 29, 2025 | 7 hours Ago

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Pittsburgh’s The Nërd Hërdërs (Abby Gleason Photography)

Pittsburgh’s The Nërd Hërdërs’ newest release, “Reverse Origami.” (Abby Gleason Photography)

The sophomore album from Pittsburgh’s The Nërd Hërdërs had been in the works for quite a while.

“We started writing and recording these tunes before covid, so this is like our ‘Chinese Democracy’ by Guns N’ Roses if you will,” singer/guitarist Mike Dugan said. “Only our record doesn’t stink.”

The new album, “Reverse Origami,” was tracked at the Conneaut Lake family cabin of drummer Colin Morgan as well as the South Hills home of guitarist Matt Kikta. The album also received help from Matt’s father, Thomas, who is chair of Commercial Music, Media and Jazz at Duquesne University.

The album’s title also provided inspiration for artwork fairly quickly.

”We all say a healthy amount of pretty dumb stuff,” Dugan said. “This particular phrase was so dumb that it was actually kind of brilliant.”

The first single, “Minus the Crown,” has a video in the works.

“(It’s) just a catchy rock tune with some fun guitar stuff,” he said. “There’s several concepts going on lyrically: lost/found love, secret love, dead end job, unrealistic expectations.”

The band will play a record release show on Jan. 10 at Mr. Smalls Funhouse.

“It’s just fun being able to do what we love,” Dugan said. “Of course the gig itself is a gift, but the hang is important as well. We’re a tight buddy band, and sharing our passion with our community hits right.”

For that show, here’s hoping there’s no repeat of a past concert where Dugan was almost missing in action.

“Almost sleeping through a gig at Ruggers, the guys had no idea where I was,” he said. “I’m pretty sure they called even called the jail to see if I was locked up. Meanwhile I’m at home curled up with my cat fast asleep.”

Dugan filled in TribLive on what else we should know about The Nërd Hërdërs:

Band: The Nërd Hërdërs

Band members: Mike Dugan (vocals/guitar); Matt Kikta (guitar/vocals); Evan Lieberman (bass); Colin Morgan (drums)

Founding story: I think it was January or February of 2015. Colin, Evan and I knew each other in high school, but we never jammed or anything. After a chance encounter at Tom’s Diner, we set up a session at our buddy’s studio in Dormont. We came equipped with a case of Tecate and some covers to hit. At the end of the night, the case was gone and we found ourselves in a rock and roll band. Shortly after that we got Matt in the mix and started getting away from covers and into original material.

Origin of band’s name: Colin actually named the band, saying that “it came to me while watching ‘Star Wars.’ I remembered Nerf Herder from the mid ’90s and figured some umlauts would fix any confusion.”

For fans of: Weezer, The Cars, Queens of the Stone Age, White Reaper

Influences: The Living End, Rancid, The Police, Coheed and Cambria

Releases: “PULP” album, 2018; “Reverse Origami” album, 2025. We had a self-titled EP, but we re-recorded a couple of those tunes for “PULP.”

Next shows: Jan. 10, album release show at Mr. Smalls Funhouse with Creedmoors and Thick Magician; March 7 at Mr. Roboto Project with Aberrant Kingdom and Kröna.

How to find them: The Nërd Hërdërs can be found at their website, Instagram, Facebook and Bandcamp.

Four other Pittsburgh area bands to check out: Creedmoors, Thick Magician, Villainess, Luxury Machine

Favorite pizza shops: Mineo’s, Slice on Broadway, Ardolino’s and RIP Campitis

About the Writers

Mike Palm is a TribLive digital producer who also writes music reviews and features. A Westmoreland County native, he joined the Trib in 2001, where he spent years on the sports copy desk, including serving as night sports editor. He has been with the multimedia staff since 2013. He can be reached at mpalm@triblive.com.

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Pittsburgh local music spotlight: The Nërd Hërdërs

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