Failure To Excel
Gig Seeker Pro

Failure To Excel

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Band Rock Christian

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Making Some Noise"

Failure to Excel
*Rising Sun Christian rockers making some noise


Tuesday, March 27, 2007 8:35 AM EDT
By Carl Hamilton cahamilton@cecilwhig.com


Failure to Excel is a Christian rock band. It may receive its greatest exposure thus far, however, from a secular radio station. And that’s fitting, considering the band shares the gospel with everyone in its path.

The group comprised of five Rising Sun area residents will be featured April 1 on 98 Rock’s “Noise in the Basement,” a weekly program showcasing regional, unsigned artists.

Failure to Excel will be among four bands interviewed during the show running from 11 p.m. to midnight on 97.9 FM. The segment, which also will highlight the group’s music, can be accessed on the web, too, at 98online.com.

Then on April 2, the band will perform at Fletcher’s nightclub in Baltimore, taking part in a competition that could lead to bigger things for Failure to Excel.

If voted one of the four best bands to play there during the past month n the showcase is every Monday night n Failure to Excel will perform live for major record label and distribution reps.

Wild and crazy stuff, right?

Big-Time, here we come, right?

“If that’s part of God’s plan for us, then so be it. But it doesn’t matter if we do this on a grander scale or not,” said Pete Krummel, 21, lead guitarist.

His cousin, drummer Mike Murray, 19, chimed in, “If we wind up doing what we’re doing now and nothing more, that’s fine, too, just as long as we’re serving Him.”

He continued, “At every show, we let everyone know right up front that we’re playing this music for Jesus. He gave us these gifts, and we’re going to use them to glorify Him.”

Their leave-it-in-God’s-hands-and-give-Him-all-the-glory tone is echoed by their band mates n Mike’s brother, John Murray, 17, rhythm guitar and brothers Jordan Martin, 20, lead singer/guitarist and Josh Martin, 17, bass.

Such a deferential attitude, however, isn’t what one would expect based on the in-your-face, original music recorded and performed by the band. (Mike, for example, has been known to break cymbals with his full-throttle drumming style.)

Matt Davis, the host of “Noise in the Basement,” for one, didn’t peg the members as being so low-key after hearing Failure to Excel’s music.

“They’re absolutely a solid band,” Davis complimented during a phone interview last week. “We’re looking for talented bands that are hungry and Failure to Excel absolutely fits that bill.”

Failure to Excel is a tight stop-on-a-dime-and-then-drive-again rock band. It can thrash and shred with the best of them, dismantling all stereotypes of Christians being too passive to rock.

But the message is more important than the music.

That’s why band members often give an overview of a song’s meaning in between numbers at shows, just in case the words are muddled in the loud music or overlooked by enthusiastic audience members.

“We came up with Failure to Excel for a band name because you can’t truly excel in life until you turn it over to God,” Jordan explained. “The band’s name is a constant reminder that we will fail if we don’t turn it over to God. Also, a lot of our songs seem to go in that direction, that’s the theme.”

In November, Failure to Excel released a CD and the theme of subservience to the Lord is evident. The title track, for example, is “Mistakes of a Pride-Driven Heart.”

The band stays busy playing “anywhere and everywhere,” hauling its equipment in a trailer pulled by Jordan’s F-150 Ford pickup truck.

Working around day jobs (plumber’s assistant, pressure-washer and ballistics range tester), school (John and Josh are Rising Sun High School seniors) and baseball (John plays outfield for the Tigers), Failure to Excel plays an array of venues.

The band has gigged in New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware and, of course, Maryland, where, among other places, it has performed at the popular 8X10 club in Baltimore.

“The venues can be anything from churches and Christian outreaches to non-Christian clubs,” Pete said. “If we’re in a church, our ministry may be more about encouraging (fellow Christians). But if we’re in a club, where they may be non-believers, our ministry is to share the gospel, to be the light of the world. No matter where we play, we always let everyone know we’re playing for Jesus.”

Failure to Excel formed in the summer of 2005, born out of friendships forged at Grace Bible Chapel in Zion, where all the band members and their families worship. Even the cousins and brothers in the band are buds.

Jordan and Josh moved with their family from Baltimore to the Rising Sun area in 2002, and Jordan wound up in Mike’s Spanish class at Rising Sun High School.

Not long afterward, Pete and his cousins noticed Jordan and his family at Grace Bible Chapel.

Jordan and Pete soon discovered they shared an interest in contemporary rock music, particularly stuff by Christian - Cecil Whig


"Will"

“I've just been checking out your material on your MySpace site, and wow!!! This stuff is amazing!!! Very cool melodies, and amazing vocals. The production is fantastic, and the overall feel is that of the classic Emo rock, but with a wicked retro feel. Amazing!”
- Face Value Records


"Mike Gates"

“Caught your set on Sat. Loved what I heard...you guys rock! Hit us up when your CD is released.” - Awaken Magaziine


Discography

Mistakes of A Pride Driven Heart, EP
released August 2006
I Should Have Known, single heard on WSTW, WWOC, Purple Door Radio WJTL and TsR
Unfold The Page, single heard on Ohio State Radio

Close Your Eyes, single
released May 2007
heard on 98 ROCK

Rise From The Ashes, EP
Released September 2008
Find My Way, single heard on WSTW, and TsR
Kissed From A Rose, heard on WSTW, and TsR

Photos

Bio

An imaginative, lively style
with an exertion of force -
this is the definition of ENERGY.
This is the elucidation of
FAILURE TO EXCEL

Failure To Excel, a promising, young band out of Baltimore, Maryland has been thrilling audiences with their rock sound and their energetic live show, throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, since February of 2006. Their music, described as melodic heavy rock, will have your heart pounding, not only because of the beat and breakdowns, but because the lyrics will touch you in profound ways. Failure To Excel’s goal is to reach teens with a message of hope and faith, letting them know that there is a better way to live than the ways portrayed by the media. The band chose its name to express their feelings that you cannot excel until you give your life completely to God, the driving force behind the band.

Their debut EP, Mistakes of A Pride Driven Heart was released in the fall of 2006 and has received airplay on several Christian and secular radio stations. This exposure has given the band many amazing opportunities to share the stage with some of Christian rock’s most talented performers. Watching the conduct of these professional musicians has helped F2E realize that this is not the easiest way to earn a living, but one of sacrifice and ministry, and these men are ready to accept that challenge.

Growing pains and line up changes in 2008 has helped their sound to mature, but they have not strayed too far from their hard rock sound, and electrifying stage show. The current line up is a group of multi-talented musicians that truly love God, and one another. Their exuberance for serving the Lord is infectious, and immediately evident. Their sophomore EP Rise From The Ashes will be released in the fall of 2008 and the band is excited to see where God will lead them in the future.

Failure To Excel is moving forward with plans to tour full time after the release of their newest EP. They know there will be trials and challenges, but they are ready to accept whatever comes their way, praying that their faith can be proved genuine, and knowing that God is on their side.

“It is our biggest hope that Failure To Excel's tunes will get into your head and your heart.”

Influences:
Anberlin, UnderOath. Beloved,
Four Letter Lie

For show dates and touring dates, please go to www.myspace.com/failuretoexcel