Endeavours

Back in January 2009 the band was a mere twinkle in four pairs of eyes. There were no plans to rule the world of rock, or mutual dreams of signing record deals, there was merely a word: Endeavours. Danny had set out to start a band with his friend Kane and he chose the name Endeavours simply because he liked the word. Little did he know that not only he, but three other lads not yet involved in the band would grow into that word and come to embody something special and unique to themselves. Danny and Kane were practicing together, writing songs and scouring the local area for band members to enable Endeavours to get on the gigging circuit. The search took its time and it wasn’t until June of the same year that they approached Danny’s cousin Joe about joining the band. Joe jumped on board and with his creativity, stunning voice and hilarious character pushed the band up a gear and there was a hint of that Endeavours feel about them now: half complete. The introduction of a practiced songwriter into the band was good for Danny as he could now concentrate more on his guitar playing and the pressure to write songs was eased with Joe’s arrival. Still one member short the fledgling trio were spritely in finding the all-important drummer when they recruited Adam in the August of 2009. Adam and Joe had attended the same primary school; acquainted with Joe in this manner, the other lads found it easy to accept Adam and he fitted in immediately. Endeavours now had the basic four piece band structure and the necessary tools to hit the local gigging circuit. They played their first gig in October 2009 at a local pub in Skelmersdale called the old Toby inn. The venue was packed out and the gig went very well.

Over the next few months Endeavours continued to gig locally but there was something amiss within the band and it came as no surprise to anyone when Kane, bassist and co-founding member, left the band after a discussion with Danny who felt the logistics of Kane living ten miles outside of Skelmersdale was hindering the band’s growth and overall momentum. Kane magnanimously stepped aside and the search for a replacement bassist was on. The search criteria placed locality and commitment over all else and this preference quickly led the band to one of their best friends, Woody. Woody had been to most Endeavours gigs previous to Kane’s departure and had shown great enthusiasm for the music and an all-around support for his friends. Having already acquired sufficient guitar playing skills, Woody made the transition to bass quickly and seamlessly. He made his band debut at a gig in a local squash club where people got their first taste of the real Endeavours. The introduction of Woody with his radical mind, creativity and lyrical prowess added the final spice to the quartet; Endeavours were now four Skelmersdale lads, all linked somehow through a history of friendship and family, bonds made years earlier in schools and on skate parks, coming together on stage; there was something different about the band now, the whole thing just looked and sounded right, whole and complete.

This new, settled adhesion within the band spawned a musical frenzy and practice became daily resulting in a tighter sound which spawned new confidence and the urge to play more gigs. With the band locked into a religious attendance of practice and further practice, gigs and more gigs it became increasingly difficult to maintain an organised calendar. The decision was made to bring someone in to manage the band, act as treasurer and deal with the logistics of getting to gigs. The remedy was found within the lads’ own social circle; mutual friend Ian accepted the role and began to steady the ship. With Ian on the business end and the lads focused entirely on music Endeavours were looking best out of themselves; everyone concentrating solely on their own role the band quickly settled into a steady, regular gigging pattern.

The April 1^st 2010 the band were invited to the BBC Lancashire studio for an interview as part of an on-going initiative to give amateur bands some airtime; the lads were their usual cheeky, chirpy selves on air and as a result they have been invited to several radio stations since for more interviews and live performances. The band continued to gig hard around the North West building connections in the music industry and out of this networking came the opportunity to enter a battle of the bands competition in Southport (a seaside resort a few miles north of Liverpool). The band entered the competition but their performance was ill fated when the band arrived early and spied the bar. Thus commenced a drinking session bereft of any regulations regarding levels of consumption and inevitably it wasn’t long before the lads found themselves wallowing in what I’m sure was a joyous merriment. When their name was called to perform they were in no fit state to play, maybe Joe knew this and so attempted to divert attention from the band’s drunkenness by stripping naked on stage and then running around the venue licking people’s faces. Whatever the case, the gig will always be remembered for its entertainment value. The same month the lads booked themselves some studio time with highly regarded local producer John Kettle and together they recorded the band’s first EP.

A week or so into May 2010 they were back with Kettle for a four day session in his studio to work on their live production and performance method. His influence and guidance proved to be priceless as it pushed the band on again, building their momentum beyond that of other local bands. These sessions imbued the band with a professionalism and stage presence more often attributed to bands with years of experience. With their honed and improved performing skills and knowledge of live sound the band went on to majorly impress crowds and event organisers around the North West. This culminated in their being invited to compete in a second battle of the bands, a national completion. The band wanted it, they were driven and more experienced, they jumped at the opportunity, albeit with a different approach and mentality this time around. Jar Music had organised a three round competition. There were to be two rounds of heats held in the different districts of the country; the winners of the district heats would be entered into the national final in Islington, London. The winners of the final would be flown to the Maldives for an all-expense paid trip and chance to perform at a festival, which would give the band a chance at extending their fan base onto the international stage. Endeavours were entered into the North West heats and the first round was held on 14^th May 2010 at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, famous for once being home to The Beatles. This made the lads want it even more. They played well, well enough to win all three votes: crowd vote, band vote and judges’ vote. It was a landslide victory and the confidence within the band was sky high. Brimming with belief the lads hit it hard for next six months or so, expanding their gigging circuit somewhat with regular performances in Manchester city centre and Liverpool, all the time bringing making new fans and new connections. May 2010 also brought about a suggestion from a friend that the band should enter another battle of the bands competition, this time held in Skelmersdale. The band acted on their friend’s advice and performed well, earning second place. Someone in the crowd was impressed with the band’s vibe and offered Endeavours a gig in London: a chance to play where it matters. The band seized the opportunity and in June 2010 they headed south for their first gig in the capital. The Citadel in Westminster, the adrenaline pumped and pushed the band onto a powerful debut in The Old Smoke, so good in fact that they were contacted soon after by an attendee of the performance and asked to return to London that same month to play live on ITV (a UK Television broadcasting company) for a special charity programme called ITV Fixers. Returning to London for the TV shoot the lads not only made solid contacts within the television industry but they also put themselves across to a huge audience all the while looking comfortable in front of the cameras. September 4^th 2010 was a land mark date for the band as it was the day Endeavours launched their first EP. The band had organised a gig at a local arts centre and copies of the EP were given out to all who attended. It was a major event locally; the arts centre was packed out for the performance and the band got to see the extent of their hometown fan-base, nearly two hundred inside the venue with countless more turned away at the door. Soon it was time for the second round of Jar Music’s battle of the bands and it fell on the 30^th October 2010. Held at the O2 Academy in Liverpool, the competition took on a serious air as none of the competing had ever had the opportunity to play such a great venue, with such an advanced sound system. There were many great local bands playing that night, all vying for their place in the London final but it fell to Endeavours to take the victory with a blistering performance. They’d earned their place in the London final and were one step closer to that enticing Maldives festival. The final came on the 21^st of November 2010. A packed coach of local fans followed the band down to the capital. Nerves were wrought by the magnitude of the band’s achievement and the speed of their progression. They were there and it was clear that Endeavours were capable of performing nationally; they had what it takes to break free of the local gigging trail. The competition was fierce; Endeavours were going up against bands that, just like themselves had gone through two heats in their local district, this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. The time came for their performance and they didn’t disappoint. They played one of their finest sets, enough to win over the judges and book themselves four tickets to the Maldives. Emotions ran high at the judges’ call, they’d done it, and the dream was well and truly alive.

High on belief and also over the moon at the thought of going somewhere hot and sunny in the midst of the bleak English winter (and for free!) the band played a couple of local gigs before being flown to the Maldives on the 7^th of December. Arriving at the Maldives the lads were blown away by the natural beauty and splendour of their surroundings and they were also bowled over by a tropical super bug they contracted upon landing. Bed ridden and full of flu like symptoms the band were in no fit state to play, the heat of Maldivian day coupled with their high body temperatures meant there was danger of them fainting on stage. The band ploughed on, they played the festival, Joe collapsing onto his knees seconds after coming off stage, they impressed the locals and made connections with other bands out there; the experience was positive and once again built on that core belief within the band which is, like anyone who has ever been in a band will know, the fuel for longevity. Since their return from the Maldives the band has gone on to perform nationally on a regular basis, frequently gigging in London and broadening their scope and fan base. They are currently involved in photo shoots and video sessions to complement their EP release whilst dedicated to a busy gigging schedule.

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