one sheet/bio...ya think??

Efren is a folk group hinting on the psychedelic, from areas around Athens, GA. Reaching out into the musical world with introspective lyrics and brooding energy, efren entertains on many levels. In the past few month efren has recorded, released and supported the debut album ‘Thunder and Moan’. The recorded album is hard and quiet, while the live show invigorates the music and delves deeper into the compositions, exploring the sonic textures.
The players of this music have roots in jazz and blues, folk, bluegrass and rock. Efren touches on Southern Americana music, draws from indie lo-fi ideas, and respects the multitudes of great songwriters of our past. Lyrically driven, but emotionally wandering. Stories of trying to lose love, dreams of family past, tall boys, gambling, and whiskey stills…

“Roots with occasional layered vocals, his sound is that of one who's lived through much and dug into the depths of his heart to share it with us.”
~Echoryn of Athens .com
“Efren’s acoustic guitar and occasionally despairingly dark lyricism deliver the opposite of so much tacky “Americana” and “New Roots” music. Rather than reinforce a feeling of place and point-of-view, they amplify the supreme disconnectedness that overwhelms everyone intermittently and a few of us permanently. In it, even things held in hand seem just out of reach.”
~Gordon Lamb, Flagpole

Efren is presented as a full band, duo or solo. All formations intrigue ideas and experiences that affect the audience and venues with new sounds and performance. Efren is currently performing around the Southeast, and has plans of venturing out about the US and trying Europe in late 2010. Please, check out efren. ‘Thunder and Moan’

www.efrenmusic.com
www.reverbnation.com/efrenrock
www.efrenrock.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/efrenrock
www.myspace.com/efrenrock

770-316-4809

some goals

new years day is always the time to set new standards. I wanna do it.
2010 will be a great year. lets do it.

things i/we will accomplish...
New Full band EP to be released Spring 2010
Finish another full length to be released in early 2011
Play in 10 new cities
play 50 shows solo, duo, full band
Play no more than 3 times a month in Athens
find representations, label, booking, promo, management
book 4 solo tours
write music, songs, or blog everyday!
get an accountant
enjoy my wife and son all the time.
have more dinners with friends
drink and smoke less?
have monthly songwriter shows ala Man Gave Names to All the Animals
find time to be active and stay healthy
eat better
live

Hope we can all find happiness and fruitful success in 2010.
see ya soon...

Comin' on up.

Some upcoming events.
ALSO Jan. 14th @ GO bar w/ Adam Klein and friends!!!! pre-DBT party!!!
cmon...

which way to go...

today i had been thinking of writing a post about all the things i was grateful for and how i was to wish you all a grand holiday, but things have changed...

I learned this evening, Christmas Eve, of the coma and then soon passing of Vic Chesnutt, one of our town's/world's greatest songwriters. With rumors of OD and suicide swirling, i contemplate the life he led and the songs he has sewn. Chinaberry Tree. key players watchin... I sit and listen to his last release and wonder was it pain or frustrations that lead to this or his conditions and medical bills that weighed to heavy? I do know that one who has lain the seed of song for so long and given all he has to the tunes and walls of the venues of this world deserves more. but then is it to pass onto the next level that he will truly gain his due? or is his passing a lesson to us or me or the glorious struggle of the Athens' musician, that we are to lead our art to serve his legacy or did he want to call it quits after he had said all he had to say? confusion and love and respect and grief overwhelms my mind and soul. why? I want to put this system of questions and wonder into physical understanding. I want to feel right about the losses Athens has faced in the dark year of 2009. Vic. Jon Gutherie, GA Theatre. end it, please.

Can this be a positive position we sit in ? is this a launch point to a new conscience alliance of songwriters? we can be strong and bind together the love of our ties, music, songs, lyrics, soul. We can. we can. we can. try to embrace our heart and let our strength in numbers and heritage in culture wave music sustain us.

sustain us.
i will not edit my emotion for the respect of our people. fallen and living.

RIP Vic Chesnutt 1964-2009

See You Around

I’m sorry for my lack of communication
but as I’m staring out this fifth floor window
it seems like the least amount of communication the better
oh, well what am I supposed to say
"there’s a bloody effigy on my wall
and the complimentary carnation is falling apart"
and I ain’t got time for the niceties
or rather I was never never fond of the niceties

I will see you around
I will see you around
see you around
see you around

well I must admit I’m flattered by your consecration
It’s a mind-numbing spine-chilling
but never-the-less heartwarming gesture
but as you make your advances so clumsily
I’ll save us both the both the hassle and leave
and hang out all night
in the familiar fluorescent light of Dunkin’ Donuts
'cause I ain’t got time for the niceties
or rather I was never never fond of the niceties

I will see you around
see you around
see you around
see you around

well how are you with issues
lately you’ve been a half-assed activist
you’ve been seen sashaying around the picket line
wearing scarcely any sign
oh but always vocal in love and strife
and the politics of your all important life
well I’m sorry but your routine is coming off a bit ragged
and I ain't got time for the niceties
or rather I was never never fond of the niceties

I will see you around
I'll see you around
see you around
see you around
see you around
see you around
I'll see you around
I'll see you around
I'll see you around
~V. Chesnutt

Happy Holidays
Peace to Vic and his family and friends.
Joy to the world?

i could write a book.

but, i have small amounts of time and more duties to my life and family and job. i think i will one day have the courage and time to devote to unleash the lyrical insanity that resides in me. i have songs to write and chords to record. How does one find the time?

new outlooks

i have been lazy on the blog.
i am making a new attempt.
i will give something as much as i can daily.
ideas, goals, outlooks, routines, progress...
i have made it real
i have put it out.
i have put it on stage.
i shall rephrase... WE HAVE.
it takes all of us to see/hear this music from efren.
band, fans, friends, spouses, kin, offspring, agents.
i give thanks and gratitude to you all.
thank you.
where it goes, when it happens, all relies on our personal outlooks and progress.
thanks.
i shall see you manana!!
be well

new tune. Rapids. i like.

Rapids

How we all know this will work for her?
A wild bird on a vine
When the time comes there will be none
Won’t even have to why
Smiles and shakes and cars and bars
A blur gone too fast
When we’re old stories we will tell
About the slick glass

Rapids on a Monday
Let me go my way
Believe in these dreams
It may be what is seems

White girls and fields of green today
Beaches are now our goal
Our life will ride thru the south and north
Fail that I will be whole
A vision may satisfy only one boy
Find it is the toys
Grace grows big in the year oh nine
Sittin’ on the porch I will be fine.

Dreamt long nights and down dirt roads
Busted tire and a frown
Realize I may be trying harder than
I can be put down
Consumed by overtime richly throughout my days
Corn barley rye and wine
Face up night time schemes and fire side lights
Sittin’ on my porch I’ll be fine

Rapids on a Monday
Let me go my way
Believe in these dreams
It may be what is seems

be well