Calling

Calling

http://www.thecallingband.com/
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Biography


Dreams hit the dust by their thousands in Los Angeles, California. When you grow up surrounded and taunted by the unattainable, keeping hope in your heart can be a struggle. But great music so often emerges from frustration's fire, and LA sons The Calling rage with hope's untameable energy. Driven by the songwriting talents of guitarist Aaron Kamin and lead singer Alex Band, the band's debut album, 'Camino Palmero', is a lesson in musical defiance and belief.

The seeds of The Calling's unique qualities were sown when two worlds collided in LA's San Fernando Valley. Kamin, a few years older than his future bandmate, began dating Band's sister and soon discovered that there was a promising, young guitarist in the neighbourhood.
"I asked his sister if he was any good, and she said yes," recalls Kamin. "When she told me he was 15, I said, `Oh please.' But once I heard him sing, I realized I'd never heard anyone like him. The age difference became a non-issue."

Over the coming months, it became apparent that the two musicians were destined to become a formidable partnership. Says Band: "My sister finally said to Aaron, `do you want to play music with my brother or do you want to date me?' Well, we're still playing together!"
As a result of the pair's persistence, an RCA A&R worker discovered the fledgling duo and offered them a development deal. Over the next two years, The Calling became a full working band and paid their dues across the ever-vibrant SoCal music scene.
"Our first band was called Generation Gap," recalls Alex. "We found members out of the Recycler. Our first drummer was 58, and the bass player was 40, which we thought was cool."

Abandoning the rock'n'roll pensioner vibe for something a bit more energetic, The Calling took a break from their rigorous gigging schedule and hid themselves away to write new songs, coming up with over 100 in the process. States Aaron: "We knew that the only way to gain respect was to write our way into everyone's hearts and minds."
Included in this impressive new repertoire were the tracks on 'Camino Palmero'; songs which inspired the band to new levels of energy and swagger on stage. Despite their relative anonymity, The Calling had developed into a jaw-dropping live act.
Says Aaron: "It was cool to go into a place and have everyone say `Who the hell are these guys?', and then watch the music blow them away."

The first thing you will notice about The Calling is the astonishing, fiery voice of Alex Band. But beneath his incredibly passionate tones lie some of the finest examples of songwriting you'll hear in a long time. "Too many people get lost writing just for themselves," says Aaron Kamin of the band's approach to their craft. "It's a big world, and as writers, we're onlookers, describing what we see and feel."

Produced by Marc Tanner, with eight tracks mixed by the legendary Chris Lord-Alge, the new album serves up multi-faceted and constantly fascinating view of love and loss, rejection and redemption. Often focusing on relationships, their conflicts, catastrophes and costs, the band move effortlessly from the punchy, acoustic-flavoured 'Unstoppable' to the anthemic 'Wherever You Will Go'; from the taut and soulful 'Adrienne' to the slow-burning 'Stigmatized', with its emotive theme of unconditional devotion. Elsewhere, the poignant and socially sharp 'We're Forgiven' contrasts perfectly with the irresistibly upbeat hymn to positivity, 'Thank You'. On the dark side, the Led Zeppelin-tinged 'Nothing's Changed' and the more gentle 'Final Answer' deal succinctly with issues with a more bitter taste.

Throughout, The Calling's musical strengths are more than apparent. Kamin's astounding, affecting guitar work and Alex Band's superb, distinctive vocals lift these incredible songs into the realms of the extraordinary.
"I actually think he's a genius," says Kamin of his partner. "His sincerity goes deep. You really believe him when he sings."

As they prepare to unleash 'Camino Palmero', The Calling look set to capture the hearts and minds of millions over the next twelve months. With one memorable performance of 'Wherever You Will Go' in the hit film 'Coyote Ugly' under their collective belt, the band are already causing ripples in the music world. Now it's time to make waves. As Alex Band explains, The Calling are fully prepared for the challenges that await them.
"We never stop writing," says Alex. "The people that work with us understand that things come fast and furious from us. This is the real deal." read less

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