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)
Fallacy
Far-Less Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't have to impress anyone out there
And the fact that you are not one of the elite doesn't mean a thing
Just ignore all of this
You should try to keep your head
But you sell yourself…
But you sell yourself…
Everything you have known will come to this
And the last time we saw you were still afraid
Afraid to be what you want to be anyway
So get away…
Just ignore all of this
You should try to keep your head
But you sell yourself…
But you sell yourself…
What's the use in the truth, if you can't tell a lie?
Far-Less's song Fallacy is a powerful anthem for those struggling with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. The opening lines "And you know you wish you were someone else, You don't have to impress anyone out there" set the tone for a message of self-love and acceptance. The lyrics inspire listeners to ignore societal pressure to conform and instead focus on being true to oneself. The lines "And the fact that you are not one of the elite doesn't mean a thing" reinforce this message by encouraging listeners to reject the idea that one's worth is determined by social status or external validation.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more urgent and passionate. The lines "But you sell yourself, Everything you have known will come to this" suggest that by trying to be someone else, individuals are essentially selling their own identity short. The chorus repeats the phrase "But you sell yourself" as a warning against the dangers of self-betrayal. The song ends with the enigmatic line "What's the use in the truth, if you can't tell a lie?" which could be read as a challenge to listeners to consider the ways in which being truthful with oneself can require breaking down societal expectations and norms.
Line by Line Meaning
And you know you wish you were someone else
You are not content with who you are and wish you were someone else.
You don't have to impress anyone out there
You don't have to put up a façade to impress anyone out there.
And the fact that you are not one of the elite doesn't mean a thing
Your social status does not define your worth.
Just ignore all of this
Ignore all the negativity around you.
You should try to keep your head
Stay grounded and level-headed in the face of adversity.
But you sell yourself...
You compromise your values and beliefs in order to fit in or gain acceptance.
Everything you have known will come to this
The culmination of everything you have experienced will lead you here.
And the last time we saw you were still afraid
The last time we saw you, you were still held back by fear.
Afraid to be what you want to be anyway
You are afraid to pursue your dreams or be your authentic self.
So get away...
Take a step back from your situation and reevaluate.
What's the use in the truth, if you can't tell a lie?
Sometimes the truth is not enough and you have to be deceptive to get ahead.
Contributed by Ethan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.