| > The Calling |
After playing the debut CD for many months in a row, my hopes of catching The Calling perform live became a reality.
It only took 30 seconds to get hooked on the song "Wherever You Will
Go" when I caught the tail-end of it last year on my car radio driving
home from work. A few days later I was at Best Buy, on a mission, to
find out who did it. Because I had to have that song. And I didn't
care to check out the soundbites of their other songs prior to the time
I plunked down my hard-earned music bucks.
The singer's distinctive voice and chorus of "Wherever", ... well, that
was just the beginning. Music and lyrics affect us all in different
ways. Camino Palmero pulled me in with the vocals, songwriting,
guitarwork, the whole shebang. Later, two TV show appearances by The Calling spiked my interest in hearing the group perform. Forget the videos. Sheesh.
I focus on the music from that circular disc! And yeah, how they treat their fans. Ultimately, their character and talent will govern my decision to buy successive albums.
Here's my perspective: 7/20/2002
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The Calling took the stage at 10 pm surrounded by the cheers of
fans. They got down to business (the business of performing) with
very little small talk in-between songs. Front man, Alex Band,
accentuates his vocal delivery with one hand on the microphone,
and/or the other hand near his face. Intense -- yet stopping now and then
to acknowledge the fans. Alex is introducing the band members,
stepping up on the drum riser, kneeling down on stage, knocking over the
mike stand, and rounding out the guitars by playing guitar himself or
jammin' with his bandmates, Aaron Kamin, Dino, Billy, and Nate.
The jam session on "Stigmatized" was great, and added to the surprise of hearing something new. From my angle the band played to the max. Aaron Kamin, songwriter/guitarist, smiled a few times towards this camera-toting fan and note taker.
We had to bolt before the band got into the last 4 songs.
Regrettably, I wish we could have stayed 'til the end, or had a chance
to hear them at an outdoor venue. The Rave was cool, though. Luckily,
I was able to get a photo pass and the pictures you see, mostly bathed
in the red spotlights, are from the first three songs.
Lia, a Callingband.com forum-board participant, mentioned that the guys came out
afterwards to sign for fans. Cool, cool! I didn't see the part where Billy
gave the crowd a fashion show and was carried off by drummer Nate [see Lia's perspective, linked below].
Sounds like The Calling are geared up for putting on the best show possible, and throwing in a little adventure and fun!
Music fan, Jamie E.
Snapshots | Lia's perspective + Excerpt from Alex's Tour Diary
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