The New Nervous

The local music scene in Utah Valley is hit or miss most times.

One of the times when a direct hit occurred was when The New Nervous formed in late 2005. Another direct hit was when The New Nervous released their debut EP, FRANTIC IS THE NEW NERVOUS, earlier this year.

FRANTIC is a solid, seven-song effort accompanied by a couple of bonus tracks (practically making it a full-length release). According to the band, the idea of the record stems from the fact that "in a world overwhelmed by sensationalism, being nervous is no longer enough."

Being nervous may not be enough to get a point across, but FRANTIC gets its message across loud and clear. An album full of social commentary on hot issues and fresh takes on often-abused thematic elements, FRANTIC is sure to strike a fancy with listeners from all walks of life.

Opening the album is the catchy, fast-paced "Hum." This track appears to be chronicling the ups and downs in a relationship packaged in a symphonic vocabulary full of new catch phrases and one-liners that could easily grace an infinite number of MySpace profiles.

"Hum" also hits some of those bumps and smooth spots in the music, as well. As the song opens with a pounding introduction, it immediately slows down as it begins the first verse. Then it speeds up again and takes several twists and turns that weave a beautiful story, punctuated by phrases like "I hear my heart in the stereo, rhythmically repeating."

Into the middle of the album, "Our Mission Statement" and "Collapse Your Lungs" stand out as tracks that make bold statements about social trends.

"Our Mission Statement" feels like a social deconstruction on the entertainment industry's stranglehold on the American public at large, and how the public sits back and soaks it all in ("Hollywood dictates, you take the notes, on the very paper designed to slit our throats").

"Collapse Your Lungs" takes on the issue of obsessing over body images as they are portrayed in the media. This story of someone chasing a "perfect" body image is noted in phrases like "pain is pretty," "your enchantment with enhancement leaves you inadequate," and a line from the title of the track, "collapse your lungs, not enough room in your body."

Scott Shepard's (vocals, guitar) lyrics are thought provoking and immediately relatable to today's society, while maintaining a sort of timeless quality that gives it staying power.

And he takes one last jab at a hot social issue in the last track (not counting the bonus tracks) of the EP with "Pharmacadia."

Most easily The New Nervous' most danceable song, "Pharmacadia" addresses the topic of a societal dependence on prescription medications, as the title implies. The song sets up a scene in the town of Pharmacadia, where everyone "thrives on what the doctors prescribe." But then the song turns to the chant of "let's burn this temple down," and "I've got this body full of chemicals, and I want out," which seems to reference a desire to escape the dependency of drugs and live life without that chemical attachment.

Rounding out the FRANTIC experience, The New Nervous toss listeners a couple bonus goodies starting with a bare bones, guitar-and-piano version of "Hum," which superbly showcases the actual talent that stands at the core of The New Nervous.

The other bonus track, "Deathcare Industry" feels like it is deserving of only being a bonus feature on the album. The bass-heavy, Deftones-esque song feels very forced and clich--. It definitely doesn't fit with the rest of FRANTIC and doesn't really seem to fit in with what anyone would expect from these local dynamos.

No matter the spin you take on Shepard's points of view purveyed in his songwriting, FRANTIC is a unique experience with each and every listen.

Each song envelopes the overall idea of "being frantic" to attack social issues in a manner that makes people want to hear about them. It addresses what people often choose to overlook without shoving it in your face.

FRANTIC IS THE NEW NERVOUS is one of the most impressive and powerful debut releases I've ever encountered. It's highly recommended for anyone who is interested in, or a fan of, the local Utah Valley music scene. - Chad Hunt

At a time in my life where I live at the back of my mind, questioning everything I thought I knew; forming new opinions out of possibilities; challenging my own self in so many different ways and directions I can only emotionally describe such a journey by standing front and center at the mercy of a live performance by The New Nervous. This band gets me. They encompass every aspect of my life and remain still, as the soundtrack to all my illusions.

Tonight's sold out CD release party was played so intimately that I have no doubt every member of the audience stood awe-struck, as if The New Nervous was playing something in particular just for them. In that moment, for that time - a special delivery, and this was my space; this was my time. After a month of pure hell - a hell I thought I was invincible from as if no Higher-being or Universe would ever force the human spirit through these experiences time and time again only to prove that yes, indeed, life can get worse - I was redeemed.

In a brief eight-song set I felt condemned and revealed all at the same time as I didn't even have to close my eyes to feel as though I were reliving every aspect of the last month of my life - sitting in a long, fluorescent lit hallway at the edge of insanity inches away from the double doors of the ICU where, with every open and close I could see a glimpse of my absolutely amazing, beautiful sister laying there - unresponsive. My brother and best friend beside me, sorely realizing that we had spent more time in that hallway - waiting - than we have spent face-to-face in the last six years since we sat in a similar position, in an all too familiar city none of us call home, watching our Mother fade away. Future. Past. Life. Death. Frantic is the new nervous.

Everything becomes one under the roof of a senseless motivation, like the sudden desire to spread your wings and fly unaware of inhibition. Everything renewed, I found myself nearly bowing in reverence and deep respect. In a state of nirvana, unable to speak or express anything, I felt myself lean forward as if the power of the music would hold me still and keep me safe. This is my one true love. This is all I'll ever need. This is how I know being alone isn't being misunderstood. Never again, ever again will life seem the same and suddenly it's more than "just ok."

Swaying from a sense of being overpowered, I felt as though I could reach out, stretched to the very ends of my fingertips and feel every sense of possibility. The power to reach for and attain absolutely anything I desire would be right there in front of me - to be as great, as talented, and as absolutely humble and deserving as The New Nervous are about their music, their ability, and now one of their greatest accomplishments - only a beginning. Fingertip to fingertip, we could hold a thousands worlds among us with the amount of energy The New Nervous creates during a live set - so raw, so powerful, so absolute and precise. See also: Unified.

Indeed, "I stand all amazed." Every lyric written by lead singer Scott Shepard calls for an alliance - a complete sense of being able to stand up and say, "That is it!... This is...." Exactly.

Frantic is the name of The New Nervous' first full-length release, featuring nine of the most concise songs you will ever hear creating a perfect form of art and chaos. Nine songs that will complete you and form something new to grow into, time and time again. Bassist Josh Dunn walks you through the familiar before propelling you into the unexpected. Drummer Ryan Hone switches time signatures with precision - creating beats that draw you in - alongside the dialectical synth and creative progression of guitarist Kellen Holgate.

Take a trip you already remember, so that you'll never forget. Listen. - Caz Bevan

Are you nervous? You should be. To be quite honest, you should be more than that, as is The New Nervous.

The band name was derived from lyrics written by the lead vocalist, Scott Shepard. He explains that "frantic, is the new nervous."

Self-described as a sometimes cynical lyricists, Shepard insists this is a statement on how being nervous simply isn't enough anymore. In fact, Frantic Is...The New Nervouswill aslo be the title of their EP album to be released early next year.

The New Nervous is a band, not quite a year old. However, these band members are quite familiar with one another, as they also were known under previous names such as The Abilene Paradox and Mute, although, The New Nervous stands on their own, entirely separate from former projects. The New Nervous is here to stay.

I had a chance to sit in with The New Nervous during their practice to observe and to interview. When asked how they felt about being considered one of Utah County's greatest bands, equally they replied:
"Humble and honored, because there are a lot of bands we would consider better than us, Neon Trees and Another Statistic, for example. There are plenty of good bands, like Return to Sender."

When asked how they differ from these bands and others who may be considered Utah's best, bassist Josh Dunn said:
"I think we are quite uniquein our music style. I think it mostly has to do with our personalities and our different influences. We're four people with different backgrounds, different influences, from different homes and completely different lives. We all bring something to the table, and I think that sets us apart and makes us unique."

To no surprise whatsoever, this band is by far the most mature of dozens of bands I have witnessed during their weekly jam sessions. The New Nervous typically practices twice a week for three to four hours. With their own jargon and technical descriptions, they jam out new songs like true professionals. They make everything about being in a band (and playing an instrument) appear to be incredibly easy. During their practice, they run through their set list like a machine. they blaze through and discuss it afterward, rahter than more bands, which tend to stop at several points, nit-picking themselves into arguments and break ups. Good friends and great musicians, The New Nervous understands what it takes to communicate their artistic points of view and collaborate in making incredible and unique band.

Their dedication and maturity shows not only in their practices, but also in their live sets. The New Nervous played one their final shows of the year last Friday at Liquid Joes. When The New Nervous took the stage, I was instantly zoned into the music. I was amazed. Thrown by crescendos and taken back by diminuendos, every change seemed to match my evolving mood and somehow got to me more than ever before. The New Nervous has a style that is simply artistic. The lyrics are metaphores, describing a life that you seem to want to break out of without leaving your past entirely behind. Ryan Hone (drummer) said:
"One of my most favorite things about Scott and the he writes lyrics...you can't really understand it from the surface. You have to dig deep. Most bands, you hear their lyrics and laugh. They are kind of cheesy. I actually like how you have to invest yourself to understand him. There's a lot of meaning that can be construed, different ways."

Song by song, change by change, chord by chord, I as enthralled. The unique voice and passion of singer Scott Shepard combined with the deep jazz-like bass lines from bassist Josh Dunn, ambient harmonies and chord progressions by Kellen Holgate, and the sharp snare of Ryan Hone blend to creat the perfect mood and tone that should be known as none other than, The New Nervous. - Caz Bevan-Netxnews