DECEMBER 2, 2010 ISSUE
Folk Rockers Efren Back In Boone December 10
Efren is a four-piece Americana-folk band based in Athens, Ga. They’ll bring their foot-stomping tunes to Murphy’s on Friday, December 10. Photo submittedWhen the Athens, Ga.-based four-piece band Efren was in Boone last month, the temperature had just dropped, and there was some snow falling.
This time, the expectation is for a little colder weather, and that’s just fine with singer Scott Leon-O’Day. His bandmates, though, might not like the lower temperatures.
“I grew up in Michigan, where we had feet of snow all winter. I love it,” Leon-O’Day said. “Some of my bandmates are crybabies.”
There’s been no crying about Efren’s success. The group, which has only been together a year, has released a full-length CD and an EP and has another album on the way.
They’ll play Murphy’s in Boone on Friday, December 10, at 9:30 p.m. Cost of the show is $5.
Leon-O’Day got the group together with friends Jonny Brill (guitar), Darrin Cook (bass) and Jamie DeRevere (drums) to form the group. Sometimes, though, the Leon-O’Day will perform solo shows or in a duo, but it’s getting to be more and more of the entire group.
While he could play small coffeehouses or listening room as a solo act, Leon-O’Day knows that some rooms aren’t conducive to him and his guitar.
“I like both,” Leon-O’Day said. “But for a place, like, say Murphy’s, I wouldn’t want to go there solo; it’s a rowdy place and I want the foot-stomping music.”
Efren is a mixture of Americana folk and jazz-based rhythms with some psychedelic vibes. Leon-O’Day recorded all the music and vocals in his kitchen—onto a Mac—for the group’s first album (Thunder and Moan) and then got the band together.
They laid down the five tracks for Always Been a Bleeder in a friend’s studio and got pleasant reviews across the Southeast for it.
“We’re everything from dark, quiet introspective stuff to foot-stomping bluegrass,” Leon-O’Day said. “Our rhythm section is rooted in jazz, and we can free form it, but it’s not jam band music by any means. There will maybe be five guitar solos all night.
“We’re very lyrically driven,” he added. “We’ve been called the quiet Drive-By Truckers.”
Leon-O’Day played in bands around Athens for years as a lead guitarist, including a stint as the leader of a jazz quartet. Now, he’s opened up and is writing songs and singing in his breezy, breathy tones.
“I was in that lead guitar bubble and wasn’t able to connect with the audience,” he said.
“As a lead guitarist I’d go for it, shut my eyes and rip it up. [Efren] was sort of an escape out of my bubble. Now I can get people’s attention with my words.”
For more information on Efren, click to www.efrenmusic.com, and for information on the show, contact Murphy’s at 828-264-5117.
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