Nick Learned, a journalist based in Casper, Zack Coburn, a wood fire cook at the Alibi Pub, and Jeff Stoller, an owner of Jeffery’s Bistro are all setting a new standard for what it means to be passionate about music through their band Static Nebulus.
Coburn, the band’s guitarist and singer, began making music with a friend in high school that introduced him to Learned, the drummer. After being a two-man-band for about six months, Learned asked Stoller to play bass along side him and Coburn, and thereafter Static Nebulus was formed.
Drawing inspiration from bands such as Queens of the Stone Age and Led Zeppelin, Static Nebulus has a sound that incorporates rock, blues and punk, but still maintains its upbeat sounds as well.
Static Nebulus’ music conveys a unique and distinct style through songs that are entirely original and produced with input from all three members.
“Generally Zack will write a song and have lyrics he’ll present to us, and we’ll just kind of add our parts and sometimes tweak things structurally,” Learned said. “It’s a pretty organic process, we all definitely contribute.”
Static Nebulus has performed all across the state of Wyoming, from local venues such as the Buckhorn Bar, to cities like Salt Lake City and Denver. In addition, they have played for Laramie’s street dances and Jubilee Days held during the summer.
“We play as much as we can for as many people as we can,” Learned said. “I know that’s what I get the most joy out of.”
Not only is the band’s music creative, but their name is too, and it contains a deeper meaning than one might imagine.
Learned described static as the sound that comes out of an amplifier, and the word nebulous as meaning “the unknown,” which gave him the inspiration for the name Static Nebulus.
“There’s always this vail, this horizon in this existence we can’t really see past, and when I came up with the name that’s really where I was trying to get music to take me,” Learned said.
The band’s undying love and passion for music and creation is evident above all else. Coburn said his favorite part of music is the feeling it gives you, and the ability it has to move people.
“Spontaneous creation is why we all make music and it’s what keeps us together,” Coburn said.
Learned expressed a similar point-of-view about the power of music.
“I was somebody who was never destined to become a musician or anything like that, I started playing by accident,” Learned said. “Anyone who has the inkling to play I would just encourage them, because even if it doesn’t turn into anything career wise or a big money-making opportunity, it does a lot of good things for you as a person.”
Static Nebulus released their first album in 2014 titled, “Sunflowers, Sparrows, and Skeletons,” which was recorded at Module Overload recording studio in Denver. As of now, the band’s second album is a work in progress and their next performance date is to be determined. Learned currently works in Casper and drives down to Laramie when possible to practice with Coburn and Stoller.
Despite one band member being farther away and having limited time to practice, Static Nebulus does not let their hard work or passion for music be deterred.
“We are always here to have a good time making music on the fly,” Coburn said.
All music from Static Nebulus can be listened to and downloaded for free on their Bandcamp website. More information on upcoming events for Static Nebulus can be found on their Facebook page.
