Maine Edge Press Release

Nevah - A seriously fun band

By Mike Dow
edge contributor

On Saturday, Jan. 21, you're invited into the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the Next Generation Theatre in Brewer for what is being billed as a "cabin fevah relievah" with the merry band of musical pranksters known as Nevah. They are serious musicians who deliver serious amounts of fun at every show.
I recently met with the group before a band rehearsal at the home of Hal Meyers who contributes banjo, vocals, web duties and occasional "conjuring." Meyers has spent most of his life working as a professional magician and inventor. These days, much of his inventive magic takes place onstage with the other members of Nevah.
According to Ed Russell, (saxophone, flute and vocals) Nevah came together through a shared love of music. "Our wives were friends and that's ultimately how the band started," Russell told me. Bass player Phil Pitula adds, "At the beginning, we were called "Never2Late" and we had fun playing at parties and in each other's homes. As time went on, we decided to take it a little more seriously and that's when we became "Nevah."
The music they play is as diverse as the band's individual real-life occupations. The group consists of three lawyers (one of them retired), a town manager, a university scientist, a medical doctor, an auto body shop owner and a graphic designer. Nevah's lineup includes Russell, Pitula and Meyers in addition to Larry LeBlanc on guitar, Richard Silver on mandolin, Jack Anderson on pedal steel and dobro, Dick Knipping on drums and Eric Brown on the congas.
Silver says that Nevah has learned the art of listening to each other. "It's all about leaving space between the notes," he says. "The more people you have playing, the harder it is to find that space. It's easy to listen to yourself when you play. The trick is to listen to those you're playing with." LeBlanc says the band's "less is more" approach has been valuable in terms of the band's overall impact. "With eight people in the group, that 'wall of sound' thing is very real," he told me. "To make a banjo stand out at a particular moment in a song, everyone pulls back to let it shine."
As Nevah was describing how they interact musically, it occurred to me that they were doing the same thing on a verbal level. During our conversation, each member of the band took turns contributing. When one of them spoke, the others were quiet (unless they were laughing) and if they had something to contribute, they waited their turn.
I took in a Nevah show at an American Heart Association benefit in October 2010 and became an immediate fan of their musicianship, humor and unpredictability. "Most people are surprised by the diversity of music," Hal Meyers said. "We hit just about every era you can imagine. There's something for everybody." Drummer Dick Knipping added, "That's why we call it 'Prograssabilly' (laughter from the band) ... "Bluegrass, rockabilly, country, swing, jazz, rock and roll, we mix it up." LeBlanc says all of the band grew up in the era of great early rock and roll - a genre he still loves. "When the guitar heroes started dying off, I then developed a love for bluegrass," he told me. "Richard brings in an eastern European flavor with his background and family traditions. We play a couple of those gypsy-sounding things." Mandolin player Silver agrees. "I never met a minor key I didn't like," he said, smiling. Each member brings their influences to the band while joining forces to create something new and uniquely "Nevah."
Hal Meyers is thrilled by the energy and willingness of his band mates to try anything. "That's the great thing about this band!",he said excitedly. "It doesn't matter what key...you start playing any song and everyone jumps in and starts playing. It could be 10, 20, 30 years old or more. Nobody says 'I don't want to do that.' We just do it and it's so much fun. It's a big sound. Everybody brings something very special to the group and it's very exciting to be hanging and playing with guys like this," he says.
Fans of intricate vocal harmony, Nevah spends a lot of time perfecting those harmonies for the stage. Phil Pitula says the audience is often taken by surprise. "On some of our songs, we have five-part harmony. We do some cover songs, but we don't do them anything like the original and that's the fun part. We do covers that are a little out of the ordinary and people are shocked when we get into it. You see the recognition on their faces - "Oh yeah! THAT song!" (laughs) The band has even been working on an a cappella tune and may perform it Saturday evening. Ed Russell quipped, "People will say, 'We were really surprised. We didn't expect you guys to be that good. Plus you're old'" (laughter from the band)
Soon, Nevah will enter the recording studio to lay down tracks for their first album of original material. In the meantime, treat yourself to a truly special evening of music this Saturday, Jan. 21 beginning at 7:30 at Next Generation Theatre in Brewer.
The Next Generation Theatre is located on 39 Center St. in Brewer in the back of the Between Friends Art Center Building. Tickets are $10 and available by calling 989-7100. Visit Nevah online at www.NevahBand.com.

Mike Dow is heard each morning as part of The Mike and Mike Show on Kiss 94.5. Catch up with him at www.Facebook.com/MikeandMike and www.MikeDow.net.