another great review!! Thanks!!!

Out of Athens, GA, a city that’s produced many great musicians in the past, comes yet another band whose music is definitely well-worth a listen. Efren, whose new EP was released this past August, pleases from the second you press play. Always Been A Bleeder is a seamless combination of influences: some tracks vibrate with psychedelic and fairly experimental folk while others have distinct country and rock roots.

As a five-track release, the music is alternatively celebratory and brooding, the first four tracks consistently switching between jaunty folk rock romps (“Potholes”) and dwelling, reflective tracks (“Next Tuesday”). “Rapids,” the closing track, follows the tradition of sounding more like something experimental that the band enjoyed recording instead of a polished track. It’s a nine-minute outlier that starts with chaotic and dissonant mixture of guitar plucks, twangs, wails and warbles, bells, and the occasional cymbal crash until two minutes in, Scott Leon O’Day’s dry voice joins in and the song metamorphoses into something gentler and more melodic. While Always Been A Bleeder clearly has the influence of older folk, their music is also distinctly contemporary. At times they sound like a more youthful and energized Tallest Man On Earth, and as advertised by the band, many of the tracks should be well-received by fans of Iron & Wine (particularly if you enjoyed Beam’s sound on The Shepard’s Dog).

The vocals are, in the tradition of many folk-singers past and present, dry and raspy, often more mumbles than articulate words, but they never grate. Lyrically, Efren stays introspective while avoiding self-indulgence, which leaves their music more free-spirited than heavy. Track for track, they engage from the get-go, and their sound only grows more and more enjoyable with each succeeding listen. While none of the tracks stand out as singles, Always Been A Bleeder lays down an outstanding outline for a future LP.

www.adequacy.net
September 15th, 2010 by Emily Graham


Thanks alot!!!

upcoming events!!

Yall in the Atlanta area please come see us over these next few weeks!!
Lenny's 7-29
Wonderroot 7-30
Masquerade 8-14





see yall then!!!

lots of shows, new EP

wow.
i love music.
even breaking strings, losing capos, driving thru the night. we are the lucky ones.
beer, guitars, and stomping feet.

New Album Art Above.
Done by the ADAM O'Day

Release party
Friday June 25th
ATHfest @Flicker
with Hope for a GOlden Summer
Thayer Serrano
and Major Love Event.
so sweet.
got NC, TN, and back to GA this week, yes. duo style, get ready Jonny!!!
thanks people of the listening galaxy.

new songs

recorded five demos this past week for the new ep.
so as we stand now got 6 new songs and 2 older ones for the recording sesh.
8 songs prolly adding more as we go...
gonna be sweet...
sneak peeker...

Limbs of the castle wrap the sky
Wicked and tumbled soar in the night
Clear the rim of the sky today
Or wrap in it’s safety and please stay

All strange sizes up and fly
Naked green to fall and cry
Hide in the eaves under this roof
And jump in the leaves after the truth

frog bird, efren, 2010

new songs for the world about ?

we spent friday night learning five new songs and they are all wonderful.
after just a few run thru's i feel great about 'em!!!
Rapids
Potholes (simple kiss)
Rise up and Melt
Over the Horizon
and Next Tuesday
wow.
love em.
here's a sneak peak...

Potholes (simple kiss) by efren

Like I told you long ago
I would never leave my mind
Inside the car I saw
All of the things we’d find
A better life and searching wife
Took us off in the night
Stole a bottle split the zone
All I see is the light

Potholes in two tracks
I hide up around the back
I’d leave you here
Probably out of fear

Barrels run dry til mornin’
Peace around me now
Can’t see thru the fog
Probably hit it with no doubt
Not really no way to think
But we can win this bout
I’d go all the way for this
Life will be a simple kiss.

Go on and pack your bags
It’s blowing in the wind
Creepin thick August heat
Up on the porch I’m your friend
Go up against any cause
Search me out and fight the boss
Poisoned corn and ruined sun
First learn yourself then buy that gun

Retired Preacher smoked the point
Off the laws of Georgia Clay
Schoolboy tied in the dark
Just believe you’ll get away
Revolution is in the air
Change my clothes cut my hair
I’d go all the way for this
Life will be a simple kiss

Potholes in two tracks
I’ll hide up around the back
I’d leave you here / I’d never leave you here
Probably out of fear / Revolution is near

the boys are back

nice.
the efren band had their first performances since mid-December this week!!

First was the Athens Dance and Folk Society HOOT! @ Little Kings!!
For being folk fans they were a loud and talkative bunch. Great Show though and good to play a nice short 30 min. set to warm up for the rest of the week. Meet a wonderful lady songwriter, Caroline Aiken. wow.. she brings the wisdom of performance and storytelling i will to have one day.


next was the GO bar. with Mr. Adam Klein and friends
two great acts but slim turn out. but on that subject, i have decided to decrease athens shows (even though i just booked one Feb 12th at Farm 255), as to decrease supply, increase demand... i like the go bar and plan on hitting up more often.

Then the GRAND Finale
Java Monkey in ATL, decataur
with Besides Daniel, solo
This place is a small real cool coffee shop/bar/food joint with an enclosed patio with little gas fireplaces to heat it. small stage and PA, that works great, not the PA:) but the room/patio. tables and funny wooden bleachers, nice. and the had Bell's Porter on tap!!! yes.
Danny played a sweet set and the crowd grew and grew, and was extremely silent and attentive, great job!!! Danny is very talented and a superb songwriter, even though he has been thru alot recently (crazy tangled story)
Then we hit the stage rocked thru our set to great reception and had a blast. i think i may start posting set lists soon of shows so look out for that...

now it is time to finish demo's/preproduction on new EP!!
my voice has been kinda iffy lately, but seems to be coming around.
no performances til macon Jan. 29th duo style
then a biggun on Jan 30th at Flicker with Hola Halo

nice.
see ya real soon?!?