In 2002, a group of unrehearsed college kids sat in a beer store parking lot, too young to buy booze. Later that day they would play their first real gig together. Friends and family in attendance, Synergy took the stage in Westfall, Pennsylvania to open for the Blessid Union of Souls.
A few months later, the guys returned to school and began booking shows in local bars. Though the crowd consisted mostly of familiar faces, their enthusiasm for playing music was undeniable. Continuing to perform under the name Synergy, the group gathered a small, loyal fan base. Ed Buto (lead vocals, guitar), Matt Coyle (lead guitar, vocals), Drew Gurian (drums), and Drew Pritchard (bass guitar), decided to change the name of the band from Synergy to Far From Westfall. The name now represented their commitment to continuing the growth of what they had started.
Today it reminds them how far they've come from the nervous, inexperienced band that took the stage that day in Westfall, PA. Under the new name they undertook their first studio recording in the winter of 2003. The resulting Breathe Out E.P. was complete in spring 2004 and gave them a solid foundation as an up and coming original band in their hometown. Far From Westfall was primed to expand the fan base and quickly found outlets for their music in larger regional clubs. Adam Kissinger, formerly of the Cynikals, joined Far From Westfall in the summer of 2004 to replace former bassist Drew Pritchard. Joining FFW with a background in punk, he helped to bring a new depth to the group's sound. The group began playing out again soon with an entirely new chemistry.
The fall of 2004 would prove to be a time of tremendous growth for Far From Westfall. Building upon their growing following with relentless bookings of local and regional shows, the band simultaneously recorded in the winter of 2004/05. May of 2005 saw the release of the band's second EP, In The Absence of Warmth. Recorded entirely at their own practice space, the six songs on the EP are a prime example of the band's diehard, DIY attitude. Since the release through multiple internet retailers, the band has gained both domestic and international sales and exposure.
