The Never
Encyclopedia
The Never is a Chapel Hill
-based indie
band. They have released two albums, both of which include both folk metal
and R&B sensibilities. They have toured throughout the South and the East Coast of the U.S.A. and have performed with both Rilo Kiley
and R.E.M.. Many of the songs on their latest album, Antarctica, deal with environmental issues, a band trait accentuated by their use of tour vehicles that are fueled by vegetable oil and biodiesel.
, composed of founding members Noah Smith and Ari Picker, as well as keyboardist Travis Horton, drummer Eric Kuhn, and bassist Ken Mosher, formerly of the Squirrel Nut Zippers
. Their full length album Yes, Indeed, the B-Sides, Quite! was self-released in 2001 and became North Carolina's best-selling independent release for that year. When line-up changes left Smith and Picker as the only remaining original members, and with the addition of the brothers Jonny and Joah Tunnel of Vibrant Green, the band's name was changed to The Never.
at Overdub Lane, in Durham, NC
. Over 4,000 copies were sold nationwide. http://www.sonicbids.com/thenever2
, and has never been permanently replaced. The band also signed to Trekky Records to record and release the album, which became a very encouraging partnership for them in undertaking the massive multi-media project.
Antarctica is literally a storybook record, one-half full length album and one-half fully illustrated children's book by Noah Smith, inspired by similar records from members' childhoods. It features 40 oil paintings by Smith, as well as numerous contributions from other Trekky Records musicians in almost every song. Both the story's narrative and many of the songs deal with environmental issues along with the theme of "a plea for everyone young and old to remember the simple things of childhood" and "to appreciate the world and all the beauty it has to offer." http://www.thenever.org/center.html
Ari has since formed the band Lost in the Trees, a band now signed to Anti Records.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
-based indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
band. They have released two albums, both of which include both folk metal
Folk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
and R&B sensibilities. They have toured throughout the South and the East Coast of the U.S.A. and have performed with both Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley
Rilo Kiley was an American indie rock band based in Los Angeles. Formed in 1998, the band consisted of Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Pierre de Reeder, and Jason Boesel....
and R.E.M.. Many of the songs on their latest album, Antarctica, deal with environmental issues, a band trait accentuated by their use of tour vehicles that are fueled by vegetable oil and biodiesel.
Early years
The Never began as a high school project-turned-successful-band called The B-SidesThe B-Sides
The B-Sides are a rock band formed in 2000 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Noah Smith, the vocalist formed the band at the School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina recruiting fellow guitarist Ari Picker and keyboardist Travis Horton....
, composed of founding members Noah Smith and Ari Picker, as well as keyboardist Travis Horton, drummer Eric Kuhn, and bassist Ken Mosher, formerly of the Squirrel Nut Zippers
Squirrel Nut Zippers
The Squirrel Nut Zippers are a band formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by James "Jimbo" Mathus , Katharine Whalen , Chris Phillips on drums, Don Raleigh on bass and sideman Ken Mosher....
. Their full length album Yes, Indeed, the B-Sides, Quite! was self-released in 2001 and became North Carolina's best-selling independent release for that year. When line-up changes left Smith and Picker as the only remaining original members, and with the addition of the brothers Jonny and Joah Tunnel of Vibrant Green, the band's name was changed to The Never.
Debut album
After The Never signed to MoRisen Records in 2003, they released their self-titled debut in 2004. The album was produced and engineered by John PlymaleJohn Plymale
John Plymale is a record producer, recording engineer, and musician living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.He was born July 1, 1964 in West Virginia....
at Overdub Lane, in Durham, NC
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
. Over 4,000 copies were sold nationwide. http://www.sonicbids.com/thenever2
Antarctica
The Never's 2006 second album represented a major change in the band's identity. Founding member Ari Picker left the band to enroll in Berklee College of MusicBerklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, and has never been permanently replaced. The band also signed to Trekky Records to record and release the album, which became a very encouraging partnership for them in undertaking the massive multi-media project.
Antarctica is literally a storybook record, one-half full length album and one-half fully illustrated children's book by Noah Smith, inspired by similar records from members' childhoods. It features 40 oil paintings by Smith, as well as numerous contributions from other Trekky Records musicians in almost every song. Both the story's narrative and many of the songs deal with environmental issues along with the theme of "a plea for everyone young and old to remember the simple things of childhood" and "to appreciate the world and all the beauty it has to offer." http://www.thenever.org/center.html
Live performances
While The Never have occasionally put on large-scale, full ensemble performances to re-create the "size" of many of the Antarctica songs, most of the band's live performances involve greatly scaling down the songs to only three instruments, creating a roughly 'stripped-down' sound and forcing the band to make creative alterations that are generally met with enthusiasm and praise by audiences. Because all three band members sing prominently, one of the most significant parts of their performance is their harmony and sharing of vocal duties, which appears consistently on record and on stage. Drummer Jonny Tunnell often enjoys dancing the flamenco in the middle of performances with randomly selected men in the audience, though these pursuits have recently been put on hold due to a sprained ankle.Current members
- Noah Smith — vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Joah Tunnell — vocals, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Jonny Tunnell — vocals, drums, flute
Former members
- Ari Picker — vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
Ari has since formed the band Lost in the Trees, a band now signed to Anti Records.