TRU ROCK REVIVAL
November 2024
EFFING & BLINDING
When you think about North Carolina, you're usually thinking about Football. They've got the Panthers, the Tarheels, the Blue Devils, and the Wolfpack. Yeah, North Carolina has great weather too, great food and some areas such as Asheville and Charlotte are pretty cool vacation destinations. Did you know that North Carolina is also home to some pretty kick-ass rock bands? Gov't Mule, Ben Folds 5, and Sylvan Esso are from North Carolina. Now, I'm going to introduce you to one of the new and upcoming rock bands you're soon going to hear a lot of, Effing and Blinding. These guys are a 5 piece high-energy rock band out of NC. Who are Effing & Blinding? Rev (vocals), Bill Willis (guitar), Stu (guitar), LeRon Childs (Bass), and Daryl Mount (Drums). In a short time, these guys have crafted a musical style that lingers around the old school 70’s, 80s, and 90s rock sound but with a hint of blues and funk thrown in for good measure.
In May of 2023, they released their first EP “Just Another Rock Band” which received great reviews from the US all the way to Europe. To support this amazing rock n roll EP they have been bringing their high-energy rock show to clubs in the Southeast and beyond. If you like in-your-face rock 'n roll music you will LOVE Effing and Blinding.
By Kreig Marks, September 2024
TRR: Congrats on the release of your EP, Just Another Rock Band! Can you share a bit about the creative process behind this project? What were the key influences and inspirations?
E&B: Rev: Thank you!! That's easy, we had some really good songs and we wanted to get them out to the masses and hope that they also thought they were good songs. You can't please everyone, but so far so good. When it comes to influences and inspirations that's all over the place. Seeing some younger bands out there carrying the torch for rock "n roll really inspired me. Bands like Dirty Honey, Greta Van Fleet, The band Feel, and many others are out there DOING IT and the crowds are responding. We are riding on their coattails.
TRR: Graham, North Carolina, isn’t typically known as a rock music hotspot. How has your hometown influenced your music and your journey as a band?
E&B:Rev: WHAT, IT ISN'T!!?!?!? No, it is not. We actually rehearse in Carrboro, NC. I live in Graham and that is where I write all of our songs. The great thing about where I live in Graham is it is quiet so that makes for a great writing atmosphere. My hometown is actually Westfield, MA and that place did help shape the kind of musician and writer I became, I suppose. I have been here in NC since 1995 though and that's when I really opened up my mind to other genres besides hard rock/metal.
TRR: What bands or artists seem to have had the biggest impact or influence on your sound?
E&B: OMG the list is HUGE. We have been compared to so many different bands. But to name a few that I think influenced our sound are Rival Sons, The Black Crowes, Bon Scott era ACDC, Lenny Kravitz, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and so many more. We are trying to keep that simple rock n roll formula that makes rock great in the first place.
TRR: The title of your EP, Just Another Rock Band, seems quite self-aware. What do you hope listeners take away from the title and the music within?
E&B: Ahhh, very nice catch…. That's what we are. We are just another rock band UNTIL you, the fans say otherwise. We don't put ourselves on a pedestal, we don't show up to shows thinking we are better than anyone else. We would love to go from just another rock band to your favorite rock band. Or at least be one of the rock bands on your playlist. We will take that!
TRR: How do you balance staying true to your rock roots? Do you guys plan to experiment with new sounds and ideas in your music?
E&B: With this band, the influences are all over the place. This whole band has such a range. I mean LeRon(Bass) has a big Gospel influence, Bill(Guitar) is an old school no frills rocker, Stu(Guitar) is a Punk rocker from LA, Daryl(Drums) has an alt-rock background, and myself(Rev)come from a hard rock/metal background. Our roots are rocking all over the place.
We "experiment too much with the music, we have a great formula that works. Not saying we wouldn't though, but we are experimenting with more harmonies with the vocals on our older songs and our new songs.
TRR: Can you tell us about a specific track from the EP that was particularly challenging or rewarding to create?
E&B: Nothing really challenging. But rewarding, yes. For me, personally, “Wiser Man” will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first song that I wrote with this band that “got to me” on a personal level. When I showed Bill the opening riff he was like, "Yeah we are keeping that” and the rest just flowed. The words are really about myself and finally growing up( I was a late bloomer when it came to being a responsible adult), being a better husband, father, and friend, and truly taking responsibility for my life and my mistakes.
TRR: What was the dynamic like during the recording sessions for this EP? Were there any moments of conflict or excitement that stood out?
E&B: Very loose. Being our first release as a band we couldn't wait to get these songs out. We are very proud of them. It was a learning process for us though. Everyone has their take on being in the studio. Me, I hate it. I can't sit still for a minute and I am VERY impatient. The process does fascinate me though.
TRR: How do you handle creative differences within the band? Can you give an example of how you worked through a disagreement?
E&B: There are no creative differences because I write all the songs and what I say goes. NOT. I do write all of the songs but everyone has a say in the direction of the song. Sometimes I bring the band a song and they just say "Don't change a thing, it's great.” Other times we have to bang it out a bit to get it to where it needs to be. The hardest thing is probably when I am trying to bang out a drum beat I am hearing in my head but the only way for me to get it out to Daryl is by mouth. That gets interesting.
TRR: Live performances are a big part of a rock band’s identity. How do you prepare for a live show, and what can fans expect from your upcoming gigs?
E&B: As a band, we prepare the week before rehearsing the set for that show. Once show day comes we try to have a pre-show dinner, hang out with any other bands on the bill, and mingle with our rock n roll brothers and sisters. For myself, I have a whole ritual but it's a secret. The live show itself is High-energy. The music is high energy so we have to bring it. We are an all-original band that these people are paying to see. Most of them never heard of us so it's our job to win them over and hopefully make new friends to add to our little rock n roll family.
TRR: Are there any particular venues or festivals you’re eager to perform at in the near future? Why those?
E&B: We would love to hit some places in Charlotte like Amos’s where we have picked up some fans and of course. The Orange Peel is such a cool place. And since you asked about music festivals we would love to get on a little festival held in Asheville. I think it's called the Day of Rock Festival. We love music festivals. It's such a great way to pick up fans and make connections. We are very excited to have been invited to The Carolina Indie Music Fest on Sept 20th in Sanford, NC.
TRR: Day of Rock Festival? Never heard of it. ;) What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an independent band, and how have you overcome them?
E&B: Booking shows!!! The great thing is once we finally get a club or booking agent to email us back we go in, kick-ass, and take names then Poof no more problems getting in. Getting our foot in the door of some of these clubs has been hard, though. Especially since covid. Most of my connections are no longer in the business. Shoot some of the clubs aren't even around. Also, we are an all-original band so we have to sell ourselves that much harder.
TRR: Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future? Are there any new projects or collaborations on the horizon that you can share with us?
E&B: Well yes, thanks for asking!! We are in the studio right now working on new material that we are VERY excited about. This stuff is like next level for us I think. We are also discussing a video for one of the new releases and also putting out a full-length album on all platforms and vinyl.