Neuse

Neuse (Pronounced Noose) was an alternative metal band formed by guitarist Donovan Frost in Winchester, Kentucky. Established in 2001, Neuse began as an Nu-Metal group when original Vocalist, Phillip Gran, met Frost in middle school. Both fans of Nu-Metal they sought to explore a different sound by adding elements of folk and thrash into a marketable genre. After going through multiple personnel changes, Frost and Gran met established drummer Ryne Hitchhock. Who was known for his heavy cymbal use, light beats and alternative salsa patterns.

With Frost on guitar, Gran on Bass/vocals and Hitchhock on drums the first incarnation of Neuse (then spelled Nuse) was established. However, After one rehearsal, Hitchhock was forced to leave due to out of county legal troubles. Neuse was back at square one.

After months of treading water Frost struck gold when his brother, Lane Sable, decided to take up the drums. With a new drummer (now spelled Nuise) Gran was eager to drop the bass to be able to better focus on his technical and adverse songwriting. With a spot open Neuse's number two fan, Brody MacIntyre, filled the spot. However, after months of in-fighting MacIntyre was fired by Gran due to a lack of communication and increasing altercations with Lane. With the bass again empty Gran reluctantly filled the position. This, however, did not last and Darin Wellington was drafted. A beginner to bass Wellington was coached by both Frost and Gran until he was able to keep up with the already well established songwriting trio. The hiring of Wellington would catapult Neuse (now the official spelling) into new styles and frontiers; but in some circles be blamed for ultimately breaking up the group.

Now with a new bassist, Neuse began playing in and around Central Kentucky in early 2003. However, problems arose when several negative reviews prompted the group to rethink their lineup. Gran was obviously unhappy due to his want to play guitar, his original profession, going unfulfilled. Disgruntled, Gran built a one-off side project, Nuts and Bolts, with Lane in retaliation to Frost's and Wellington's classical folk group On Plastic Gator. With tempers aflame Lane disbanded Nuts and Bolts when Gran sought to open for Neuse at a spring concert. Gran, dissatisfied with his musical contributions to Neuse, started his own group Color by Number, all the while still singing lead for Neuse. Once this came to light Frost and Wellington asked Gran if he was still interested in singing lead, to this he promptly replied ?No."

Out a singer the final incarnation of Neuse looked fruitlessly for lead vocalists in late 2003. Additional guitar players were auditioned but were ultimately never employed. Unable to find a suitable replacement Frost and Wellington reluctantly took up vocals and scrapped all songs written with Gran. After months of practice, new material was finally written thus allowing Neuse to travel to DEaD studios and recorded their first and only album, Jumping Through a Window Frame while Stealing a Brick Coffeepot. With a new sound and look Neuse released their first single, Incarnoia, which failed to chart. In the coming months Lane and Wellington butted heads several times. Eventually these issues escalated to the point of a fist fight from which Neuse would never recover. Trying hard to keep it together Neuse played there last show in December of 2004 to mixed reviews. The group ultimately disbanded in early 2005.

It has been theorized since their disbandment by fans and past members alike that Neuse could have garnered much larger success if their original lineup was kept. There have been talks of a possible reunion of the original Gran/Frost/Frost lineup for several years but one has yet to come to fruition.

In 2009 live demos and alternate cuts surfaced but these presently remain unreleased. A tentative box set is in talks.