“Don’t You Ever“
from the album People That I Meet
2007
iTunes
The Natural History was a band comprised of Tepper brothers singer/guitarist Max & bassist Julian, along with drummer Derek Vockins. After playing locally in the New York area and self-recording their own 3-song EP, the Natural History caught the ear of local NYC label Startime International, whose roster includes Brendan Benson, the Walkmen, and the French Kicks, among others. Recording with Greg Talenfeld at Stonehouse studio in Nyack, NY, the band released the finished product as a self-titled EP in July of 2002. The EP was promoted with a year-full of touring with Enon and Spoon, whereupon the band also found time to record their debut full-length effort Beat Beat Heartbeat, which was released in May of 2003.
In 2004, drummer Derek Vockins left the band to raise a family and was later replaced with Ohio native Brad Swiniarski (Townsmen, the Means, Bob City). The band also added a second guitarist and childhood friend, Joachim Kearns (Bob City, Porn on the Cob). The new lineup recorded a second album People That I Meet (which was due in the spring of 2005) but soon split from Startime International. The band then broke up without releasing the album; among its songs was “Don’t You Ever,“ which — as “Don’t You Evah” — was later covered by Spoon on their sixth studio album, 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Late last year, the Natural History self-released People That I Meet. Though they split on good terms, currently there are no plans for the band to reunite.