Far-Less began in the summer of 2001 in Marion, Virginia. The original lineup included vocalist Jordan Powers, bassist Joseph Powers, drummer Ray Felts and guitarist Jacob Murray. The quartet quickly wrote and recorded the Emerge EP, playing a handful of local shows before the exit of Murray near the end of the year, a change which prompted Jordan’s shift to guitar and the inclusion of Brandon Welch as lead vocalist. The band's name originated in a friend's last name, with an added hyphen. This lineup was stable for the following year, in which the band released the Apossibility EP and recorded their full-length debut Broken Hearts Unite for the Raleigh, North Carolina-based indie label Silent Uproar Records. Regional tours continued as the band started to garner more attention with Broken Hearts Unite, and eventually Mark Karsten was added as second guitarist.
In 2003 Far-Less started to earn the attention of larger record companies, and in 2004 was invited to perform in a showcase for Seattle’s Tooth and Nail Records. This performance ultimately led the band to sign on to the label’s roster, and the Turn to the Bright EP followed later that year. Following a long period of touring the band returned to the studio to record a second full-length album, Everyone Is Out to Get Us. The record received many positive reviews, as well as a notable 4/5 rating in Alternative Press. More touring ensued, and in 2006 the band parted ways with drummer Ray Felts.
North Carolina native Todd Turner immediately took over the reins as the Far-Less drummer, and with the shifting dynamic of the band came a renewed creative energy, which ultimately culminated in the group’s third album A Toast to Bad Taste. In the middle of the recording process the group decided a full-time keyboardist would be beneficial, and added Elizabeth “Bitsy” Pina to its ranks. Touring in the United States and Canada followed, with the record being released in 2007—again to critical acclaim, but with low record sales. Bassist Joseph Powers left the band to return to school, leaving a huge gap which was opened even more when Karsten and Turner followed in his footsteps.
2008 proved to be a strenuous year for Far-Less, yet the band pushed on with the aid of long-time friends (now current members) Brandon Hackler on guitar and Tyler Hill on drums. A national tour in the spring of 2008 resulted in the loss of Pina, but the band managed to finish the tour dates with help from Mike Schey (of The Format and The Honorary Title), Josh King (of House of Fools) and Robert Smith (of MAE and Tokyo). After a brief hiatus the band filled the empty bass slot with Brian Freeman, moved to Radford, Virginia and continued the writing process. The forthcoming Headache EP is the result, and was due to be released digitally by Tooth & Nail Records in the summer of 2009, but for unknown reasons the EP has yet to come out.
Far-Less played their final show on August 14, 2009 at the Greene Street Club in Greensboro, NC. The band ended its career with a twenty song set including songs from all past albums and EPs. The band had many special guests at the show, including Josh King of House of Fools, and they were able to reassemble many of the past members to create a Far-Less "super group" with performances by Ray Felts, Joseph Powers, Todd Turner, and Mark Karsten, along with the final line-up of the band (Brandon Welch, Jordan Powers, Brandon Hackler, Tyler Joel Hill, and Brian Freeman).
Final line-up:
Brandon Welch - Lead vocals
Jordan Powers - Guitar, vocals
Brandon Hackler - Guitar
Brian Freeman - Bass
Tyler Hill - Drums
Former members:
Mark Karsten - Guitar, vocals (2003-2008)
Todd Turner - drums (2006–2008)
Elizabeth "Bitsy" Pina - keyboard (2007–2008)
Joseph "Joep" Powers - Bass (2001-2007)
Ray Felts - Drums, vocals (2001-2006)
Jacob R. Murray - guitar (2001–2002)
Discography:
Recorded 2008 - Headache (EP) (Never officially released) - soundcloud.com/saintdopeium/sets/far-less-headache-ep-unreleased
2007 - A Toast To Bad Taste (Tooth & Nail Records)
2006 - Everyone Is Out To Get Us (Tooth & Nail Records)
2004 - Turn To The Bright (EP) (Tooth & Nail Records)
2003 - Broken Hearts Unite (Silent Uproar Records)
2002 - Apossibility (EP) (Self-released)
2001 - Emerge (EP) (Self-released)
Alibi
Far-Less Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A wound too large to hide
You've seen it,
Bleeding buy you don't care
And you salt it with your burning eyes
This fear and oppression
I don't want to be stuck in this state of mind
You're running and I follow
Because I know it's too soon
It's too soon
But I miss you
A bad tune, misfortune, this blood you drew
All I want to do is let go
Sometimes i'm too afraid to show
You that I see through your calloused disguise
But you have run out of alibis
Buried beneath this smiling façade, their lies
A wound too large to hide
You've seen it,
Bleeding but you don't care
And you salt it with your burning eyes
You bend me
You break me
I'm hiding away with the hope that I will lay to rest
And never open my eyes
Why would you make me feel this?
Because I know it's too soon
It's too soon
But I miss you
A bad tune, misfortune, this blood you drew
All I want to do is let go
Sometimes i'm too afraid to show
You that I see through your calloused disguise
But you have run out of alibis
Would you ever care about me the way I care for you?
(I care for me too much to care for you)
Would you ever share everything the way I share with you?
(I'll keep with me what I would share with you)
Would you ever walk beside of me, so I can make it through?
(Alone I crawl, too proud to walk with you)
I can't do this alone
(I can't do this alone)
The opening lines of Far-Less's Alibi reveal a serious and dark theme beneath a happy exterior. The facade of lies that the singer refers to is likely a person or relationship that has betrayed them. Despite this, the singer can't seem to let go, saying "Because I know it's too soon, but I miss you." The pain and fear associated with this situation are evident throughout the song, with lines such as "You bend me, you break me" and "Sometimes I'm too afraid to show you that I see through your calloused disguise."
The chorus of Alibi continues to reinforce this theme of being trapped in a relationship or situation that has become poisonous. The singer understands that they must let go, but they struggle to do so because of their attachment, and the fear of what may happen without that attachment. The final lines of the song reveal the singer's innermost thoughts: "I can't do this alone."
Overall, the lyrics of Far-Less's Alibi explore the complex emotions that arise from toxic relationships and the fear of letting go. The singer is caught between their attachment to the person, and their understanding that the relationship is no longer serving them. The chorus of the song highlights the pain and fear associated with letting go, even when it is necessary.
Line by Line Meaning
Buried beneath this smiling façade, their lies
Hiding behind a deceptive exterior, there are secrets and falsehoods that lay buried.
A wound too large to hide
The emotional pain is too much to conceal.
You've seen it, Bleeding but you don't care
You are aware of the pain, but it does not seem to bother you.
And you salt it with your burning eyes
You intensify the pain with your piercing gaze.
This fear and oppression
There is a sense of dread and subjugation.
I don't want to be stuck in this state of mind
I am tired of feeling trapped and powerless.
You're running and I follow
You are running away from your problems, and I am blindly trailing behind.
Why do I always do this?
Why do I continually put myself in this situation?
Because I know it's too soon
I understand that it is premature.
But I miss you
However, I yearn for your presence.
A bad tune, misfortune, this blood you drew
Your actions have caused pain and misfortune, like a discordant melody.
All I want to do is let go
All I want is to release myself from this anguish.
Sometimes i'm too afraid to show
At times, I am fearful of revealing my true emotions.
You that I see through your calloused disguise
I can see past your fake persona and observe the true you.
But you have run out of alibis
You can no longer fabricate excuses to justify your actions.
You bend me, You break me
You have a great impact on me, causing me to bend and eventually break.
I'm hiding away with the hope that I will lay to rest
I am withdrawing from the world, hoping to find peace.
And never open my eyes
I do not want to face reality.
Why would you make me feel this?
Why did you have to cause me this pain?
Would you ever care about me the way I care for you?
Do you have the same level of concern for me as I do for you?
(I care for me too much to care for you)
(I prioritize my own well-being over taking care of you.)
Would you ever share everything the way I share with you?
Are you willing to divulge everything with me like I do with you?
(I'll keep with me what I would share with you)
(I am keeping to myself things that I would have shared with you.)
Would you ever walk beside of me, so I can make it through?
Will you support me through difficult times?
(Alone I crawl, too proud to walk with you)
(I am crawling alone, too stubborn to accept help from you.)
I can't do this alone
I cannot go through this alone.
(I can't do this alone)
(I cannot handle this on my own.)
Contributed by Anna H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.