Bassist Jeph Howard can't wait until his band The Used returns home to Utah.
"We've been trying to get back forever," Howard said by phone from LAX Airport in Los Angeles. "You have no idea how long we've been wanting to get back to Orem."
The Used — Salt Lake's most important musical offering since the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Osmonds — has been riding the roller coaster of success. After hitting the big time, after the highly publicized relationship between lead singer Bert McCracken and Kelly Osbourne, and after performing anywhere and anytime the band was asked, it's time to come home.
"We love playing in front of the hometown crowd," said Howard. "It's like a big thing for us."
While some bands feel a little pressure to play a perfect gig in front of their friends and family, Howard said the Used — which is comprised of himself, McCraken, guitarist Quinn Allman and drummer Branden Steineckert — look at this show as a way to loosen up and have fun. "We've been working so hard on the new album, and it's finally finished. So we're taking this time for us to have a great time, and remember why we're in a band."
The new album, the follow-up to the CD/DVD live/rarities collection "Maybe Memories," will be out on Aug. 4. But Howard has been told to keep details under wraps until the release. "I can't even tell you the title. But I can tell you that some of the songs were worked out of some guitar parts that Quinn had been messing with for some time. The band kept hearing them, and we decided it was time to do something with them. We let things happen. And going into the studio this time was a different vibe."
The new album will be the second studio album for the Used. And, according to Howard, it was more difficult to record than the band's 2002 self-titled debut. "You have your whole life to prepare for that first album. And then you've only got a few months to do the next one, that, in theory, has to be better than the first one. I still think we recorded a good album this time, too."
Howard did say, however, that he was surprised at how popular the band got after the debut hit. "We were not prepared for all the media attention. And coming out of Utah, there was really no one who you could ask, who are our peers and ages, about dealing with the popularity. We just hunkered down and minded our own business, and things did get better."
One of the things that kept the band together was, simply, the band. "I get to write songs and play them with my friends every night," Howard said. "I get to travel the world with my friends, who happen to be my co-workers. We all like each other, so that makes living together easier. And we all have the same drive to keep writing and going for anything that we put our minds to."
If you go. . .
What: The Used
Where: David O. McKay Events Center, Orem
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
How much: $8
Phone: 467-8499 or 1-800-888-8499
E-mail: scott@desnews.com