Failure To Excel

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

“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

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