Brave Bear: A Coming Of Age Storytelling

Augusta High School alum and former Augusta resident, Nick Appleman, released his solo, ten track EP titled Brave Bear last week. The indie/folk musician has had a long and progressive career as a musician, songwriter and performer. Nick has been a member of cover bands, he makes up half of the duo 2 Blind Pilots (formerly TomNick) and enjoyed a brief and successful time as front man of the alt band Papa Shango. The title Brave Bear comes from Nick’s actual first name, Bernard. In many name meaning books the name Bernard is said to mean “brave bear.” The meaning is very fitting. The trials and tribulations expressed in the EP’s lyrical content would require bravery and courage to endure and survive. The overall feel of the record is very folkish. The tracks that include Nick’s very careful plucks from a six-string are so Kentucky that there’s absolutely nowhere else in the world that this record could have been written or recorded. The use of some synth also gives it that indie alternative feel you might get from a Tame Impala record considering the lyrical content and vibe are very “loneristic” and that’s what also gives this record artistic authenticity and uniqueness. The pairing of folk and indie alternative with synth is an art that is Brave Bear’s own. The tracks are very well intertwined. In a listening session, Brave Bear takes you on a journey that includes ups and downs but ends in survival and indicates that the protagonist had found inner peace. Listeners could experience every high and low emotionally possible. Listeners will have thoughts provoked and also be inclined to “shake it.” Brave Bear concludes with the previously released “Missing Ballad” documenting Nick’s and friend and former band mate Tim Lewis’s experiences through the 1997 disappearance of a teenage girl. Nick Appleman’s Brave Bear EP can be downloaded via Dropbox on Nick’s personal Facebook account through the first week of April.