Effusion 35: Take Two
Still Loud, Still Evolving: Effusion 35 Reimagine Their Legacy on Take Two
by Jack Rush
Philadelphia’s Effusion 35 are not newcomers riding a retro wave — they’re survivors of it. Formed in the late 1990s and forged in the city’s famously unforgiving rock circuit, the band have spent nearly three decades refining a sound that blends melody and muscle in equal measure. With roots in heavy, guitar-driven rock and a knack for hook-laced songwriting, Effusion 35 occupy a space where grit meets craft — and their new EP, Take Two, proves they’re still restless enough to revisit their past and reshape it.
Originally the brainchild of singer-songwriter and guitarist Pat Manley, Effusion 35 evolved from a lean power trio into a five-piece force, now boasting a three-guitar lineup. Alongside Manley are guitarist/vocalist Joe Napoleon, bassist Kevin Manley, drummer Jim Napoleon, and guitarist Tom DiGregorio — a configuration that adds density, texture, and a palpable live-wire chemistry. What began as a single-guitar attack has grown into something far more layered and dynamic.
The band’s sound has long drawn comparisons to Sonic Youth and Television, with flashes of Nirvana’s raw urgency and even The Beatles’ melodic sensibility. There’s a muscular drive underpinning everything they do, yet the vocals — at times channeling the arena-ready sincerity of Jon Bon Jovi colliding with the grit of Dave Grohl — keep the material emotionally accessible. The expanded guitar interplay now pushes the band toward a broader, almost shoegaze-adjacent atmosphere without sacrificing punch.
Take Two is not a nostalgic victory lap but a deliberate reimagining. The six-track EP revisits formative songs, many originally recorded when the band was still transitioning from one to two guitars. As Pat Manley notes, the live versions had already evolved beyond what was captured on tape years ago. Now, with additional players and decades of shared stage experience, these tracks feel fuller, heavier, and more nuanced.
“Mindfuck” roars back to life with renewed urgency, propelled by Jim Napoleon’s attacking drum work. “Missing Time” — a deep cut with an unusual claim to fame (its original recording once rode aboard a Blue Origin rocket flight) — returns with subtle cosmic flourishes, including hints of actual Voyager probe recordings from Saturn and Jupiter woven into the texture. It’s a small but telling example of the band’s willingness to expand their sonic palette.
“Calm,” arguably their signature track, retains its anthem-like status. Live, it has drawn curtain-call applause for Tom DiGregorio’s soaring mid-song solo, and this updated version captures that electricity. Joe Napoleon’s songwriting contributions shine on “Bad Neighborhood” and “’Round and Back,” the latter benefiting from intricate three-guitar interplay and a newly prominent bass flourish that adds fresh momentum.
The EP closes with a cover of David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream,” a staple that has reportedly ended dozens of Effusion 35 sets. Far from filler, it’s a fitting exclamation point — swaggering, celebratory, and clearly beloved by both band and audience. It underscores a truth about Effusion 35: they understand rock tradition not as something to imitate, but as something to inhabit.
Over the years, the band have opened for acts like Helmet, Sponge, and Band of Skulls, weathered lineup shifts, and marked milestone anniversary shows with the kind of camaraderie that only time can forge. If Take Two proves anything, it’s that evolution hasn’t dulled their edge. Instead, it has sharpened their identity.
Effusion 35 aren’t chasing immortality — though they jokingly suggest as much — but they are making a compelling case for longevity. Take Two feels less like a retrospective and more like a reaffirmation: heavy, melodic, and defiantly alive.
Have a listen and connect with Effusion 35:
