Houston Calls

Infobox musical artist
Name = Houston Calls


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Origin = Rockaway, New Jersey, U.S.
Genre = Rock Power pop Pop punk
Years_active = 2003– present
Label = Drive-Thru Records
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Current_members = Tom "Chitty" Keiger Jose Lopez "Okie" Okamoto Jarrett Seltzer Josh Grigsby
Past_members = Kenny Ryan
Tommie Clayton

Houston Calls is an American power pop/punk band, based in Rockaway, New Jersey. They formed in 2003 and are signed to Drive-Thru Records.

History

Shortly after the New Jersey ska punk group Face First disbanded in 2002, singer/guitarist Tom "Chitty" Keiger, bassist Jarrett Selzer, trumpeter "Okie" Okamoto and drummer Tommie Clayton decided to reunite to play a poppier, more synthesized form of modern punk rock. Therefore, Okamoto switched from trumpet to keyboard, and Kenny Ryan, formerly of Hidden in Plain View, joined as a second guitarist. The name "Houston Calls", according to the band, is a combination of chapter titles from the "Apollo 13" DVD. Other choices included "Zoltar Madness" (from "Big"), "Giant Green Insanity" (from "The Toxic Avenger"), and "Deeds in NY" (from "Mr. Deeds").ref|APinterview

They released a 2 song demo CD in 2003 at the Skate and Surf festival (Asbury Park), even though they did not play at the event. It included the tracks "One More Won't Hurt" and "A Line in the Sand." "One More Won't Hurt" and "A Line in the Sand" were both Face First's final songs, and were re released without the horn parts for the demo CD. While they began performing live in June 2003, they soon released their "4 Song Sampler", produced by Hidden in Plain View's Rob Freeman, to help spread the word. After only one national tour Clayton and the band parted ways and he later joined the band Spoiler NYC. Through mutual friends, Josh Grigsby was introduced to the band and became their drummer on May 15 2004. Due to various national tours with bands such as Hidden in Plain View and Hellogoodbye, Houston Calls' fanbase grew steadily. The newly manned five-piece went into the studio with producer Jesse Cannon, to record their "Sampler Volume 2" (2004). A few months after its release in August 2004 and a national tour sponsored by PureVolume and Absolutepunk.net, Houston Calls became the second band to sign with Rushmore Records, a subsidiary record label of Drive-Thru Records, who the band had been friends with ever since their formation.

On August 2 2005, the band's official debut album, "A Collection of Short Stories", was released. Produced by Ed Rose, the CD contained eleven songs, three of which had previously been released on their two samplers.

On November 25 2006, Ryan announced he was leaving the band due to personal financial problems. No hard feelings were felt by the band members and Ryan is still a close friend with the band. His last show was played at the Hamilton St. Cafe in New Jersey on December 15, 2006. Jose Lopez temporarily filled in on guitar duties while the band finished up the writing for their second full length album. Lopez was announced a permanent member in February 2007. 2007 touring plans consist of a U.K. trip with hellogoodbye and Plain White T's and an Australian trip with MxPx and Hit the Lights.

On August 10 2007, Houston Calls posted the demo for the song "Modest Manifesto" on their MySpace page.

As of April 1 2008, the band entered the studio with producer Mark Weinberg - and has now finished their follow up to "A Collection of Short Stories" which has been titled "The End of an Error" and is slated for release on October 14, 2008.

Discography

Albums

* "A Collection of Short Stories" (2005)
* "The End Of An Error" (2008)

EPs

* "4 Song Sampler" (2003)
* "Sampler Volume 2" (2004)

Non-album tracks

* "Einstein on the Beach" – released on "" (2004)
* "A Line in the Sand" – released on purevolume.com as Face First's last song and Houston Calls' first song after the band re-grouped.. the song was re-recorded for the full-length "Collection of Short Stories" but was re-worked as compared to its original version.

References

# cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=84136|title=Houston Calls - 08.26.05|work=AbsolutePunk.net|accessdate=January 7|accessyear=2006

External links

* [http://www.houstoncalls.com Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/houstoncalls Houston Calls' profile] at MySpace
* [http://www.purevolume.com/houstoncalls Houston Calls' profile] at PureVolume