CALL ME CONSTANT

Contradictory Anatomy, like all of our songs, was written in...

Sat, 08 Dec 2012 14:31:00 -0500

Contradictory Anatomy, like all of our songs, was written in pieces and parts. The intro sections were concocted in a hotel room in Vermont while on a family vacation years ago, the rest was primarily written during my shifts at the dry cleaning job I held from high school through college. During the down hours there I’d be hanging out in the back air drumming, walking in circles and muttering possible melody ideas to myself and recording them into my phone.

Ska had a huge influence on me when I was learning to play the guitar, Five Iron Frenzy, specifically. I used to learn their songs by ear, which attributed a lot to the way I started to put parts together in my head and taught me about the use of instrumentation. Of course, throughout all this was that reggae-style upstroke guitar that would undoubtedly leave it’s mark. The verses in this song were a blend of those factions of Five Iron Frenzy as I understand them: Staccato rhythms accompanied by a lead that ping-ponged its way throughout the melody.

The chorus has my favorite chord progression that I’ve ever put together. Whilst heavily inspired by Mogwai, I had written every part out knowing it would fit together, but with no way to actually record and play along with it, didn’t know how it would sound as a whole. I wore the biggest, most idiotic grin ever when we played it as a band for the first time. It’s not overtly complex by any means, but the way all three guitar parts blend and groove is, to me, one of the finest moments we had as a melodic unit.

This was the first song where we really played around with harmonies and call and response vocal parts. Terry Geer made a masterful call in the recording process to turn the “drown my arrogance inside” at 4:30 into a three part harmony. He belted the britches off of that note, too.

Another major influence on this song, especially its back half, was post-rock. I had just acquired Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s record Slow Riot for New Zerø Kanada, and would listen to the song BBF3 over and over, fascinated by how it built up and just exploded in its multiple crescendoes. That’s the primary influence for the two chord jam at the end of the track, and Matt’s bass line (he’s also a big GY!BE fan) perfectly accentuates and provides the melody at the same time.

‘The Cusp of the Crop, The Lay of the Land’ wound up...

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:02:00 -0500

‘The Cusp of the Crop, The Lay of the Land’ wound up being a first in several respects: First “official” song on the record, first song written after our previous EP, and I’ve always felt it was a good intermediary between our last effort whilst prepping the listener for what was to come on the album.

It’s written structure was centered largely around power chords, and as the song developed, variations on those chords were used to fill out the choruses and bridge. The bridge itself has the first overt musical allusion on the record, too, one of those ideas that stuck around for a couple of years before it actually got used in something.

I had been at Paul’s house waiting on a few band members to show up for practice, and his sister had left Super Mario World up on the TV, right at the start of the game on the first world map. I must have heard the Yoster Island Theme looped 100 times over, but in my boredom, I played along with it until figuring it out. I showed it to the band and we jammed on it a coupe times for fun. When writing the bridge for Cusp, it had developed a bounce to it that reminded me of the Yoster Island theme, so I snuck the basic melody of it in as a guitar and bass call and response (it starts at 2:32).

In the scope of the record, placing that theme there fit perfectly; the first world map theme from SMW now rests in the first full song on our album.

Official (and only!) poster we’ve had the pleasure of...

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:58:08 -0500

Official (and only!) poster we’ve had the pleasure of producing.

Got some album artwork samples today. Here’s a look at...

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 23:05:38 -0400

Got some album artwork samples today. Here’s a look at what’s to come!

Say hello to the cover. Artwork by Valerie Mayen. The Sun, The...

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:37:01 -0400

Say hello to the cover. Artwork by Valerie Mayen. The Sun, The Moon, The Dark, The Dawn. September 8th.

This is it. Come on out, we want to say thank you.

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 02:04:31 -0400

This is it. Come on out, we want to say thank you.

Orange Barrel Season is a compilation from Apparatus Productions...

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:34:28 -0400

Orange Barrel Season is a compilation from Apparatus Productions that features two new tracks from us off of our upcoming full length, as well as some killer tracks from other Cleveland, OH based rock acts (Air is Watching, Come Wind, Winters Warm and Spurwheel, to name a few).

Official release show and compilation release on July 1st at Musica in Akron, OH.

The Towel Thrown or the End of This Chapter

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 02:22:47 -0400

It’s come upon us once again, a time for moving, shaking, and uncertain futures coupled with a positive outlook and a peace about all matters at hand. What matters, you ask? If we had to put it in the simplest terms, it would read as such…

Following the release of our debut album, Th Sun, The Moon, The Dark, The Dawn, Call Me Constant will be on indefinite hiatus.

The nitty gritty: Paul and Jon have both decided it is time for them to leave the band (scroll down to read their individual messages), while Stephen and Ben have both agreed to take this time to step away from the group. Is there a possibility of restructuring down the line? It’s in the cards, but for the time being, things are grinding to a tentative halt. So, the death of CMC? Hardly! The uncertain life of CMC? Definitely!

In the meantime, we will be fulfilling all of our current commitments before disbanding so as to go out on this chapter when we say “when”. Which means we’ll be playing two more shows with this lineup, quite possibly the last two for a very long time. They are…

July 1st - Apparatus Productions’ “Orange Barrel Season: Cleveland Compilation” Release at Musica
*with Spurwheel & Air is Watching. All in attendance will receive a FREE copy of the compilation, featuring two unreleased tracks from our upcoming album, as well as songs by Spurwheel, Air is Watching, Come Wind, Winters Warm and Festivals. 7PM / $10 / ALL AGES

“The Sun, The Moon, The Dark, The Dawn” Album Release Show
*We will perform our debut record in its entirety, front to back, wth plenty of musical guests, friends, and a few other surprises. Date, Time and Venue TBA.

Also, we will be fulfilling all of the incentives promised to those who donated to our Indiegogo campaign that allowed us to make a record in the first place. You put your faith, and some of you money, into our cause so we could crank out an album and reward you with some personalized merchandise. That’s a promise we intend to keep, we’ll be in touch over the next few months to get you your goods.

That said, we cannot thank you all enough for your support and friendship over the years. We look forward to seeing you out as we close this act out. Hopefully you’ll stick around for after the intermission.

Much love and many thanks.
cMc

************

FROM PAUL
I must admit, it is very frustrating to be called away from something you love for no specific reason, but as I have been aware of over the past few months, it is time for me to leave Call Me Constant. For as much as I want to be in this, I also trust God that He has something better for my family and I, and upon telling the band my feelings, was embraced with grace and support from my brothers. As with everything in life my involvement in CMC was finite, and I am thankful for the time that I did have.

I want to thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity of being a part of this music. I am blessed beyond expression to have had the opportunity to make music, travel and perform with the family of CMC. Thank you to all the people who have come to countless shows to support us. You know who you are and you have been a part of my life for the past ten years. Thank you.

************

FROM JON
Family and Friends of Call Me Constant; I remember when I had the opportunity to jam with the first two members of CMC back in 2001. I had an acoustic guitar to my name and borrowed a Squire guitar/Peavy amp from my older brother that had Veggie Tale stickers all over it, classic! Our first show, there was an individual there who must have disliked me because he had J.O. SUX duct taped to his shirt. Thinking back to the first show and the practices we had every week at the Barnes’ house or Grace church brings back so many memories. We would practice and hang out all afternoon on Sundays. Seriously for five or six years it was like clockwork, every Sunday was devoted to practice and goofing off/exploring/eating and drinking Ghetto Tea.

Three years ago, the tours started, what an amazing experience that was. Not only did I get to play the music I loved in front of new audiences, I got to be with three incredible men of God. I could go on and on about the different experiences I had on the different tours but I’ll keep it concise, it was an honor and privilege to share a stage with such great musicians.

At this time though, my wife and I are led in a different direction. One that does not include CMC. I am excited for where we are going but will miss the music and fellowship we had every week for the past 10 years.

I want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me life because without Him, I am nothing. For my wife and family supporting me in this decision and for my many friends, thank you! I look forward to seeing all of you at our final shows!

Peace & Blessings,
J.O.

We have the pleasure of sharing the stage again with two great...

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:39:44 -0400

We have the pleasure of sharing the stage again with two great bands that we’ve crossed paths with before, NEEDMORE and Vanity Theft!

What better way to have a second outing at The Beachland Tavern? Yeah, we couldn’t think of one either.

8pm / $8

Do not forget! Tonight at THE PHANTASY in Lakewood: Midnight PassengerCall Me ConstantStrangers to...

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:48:30 -0500

Do not forget! Tonight at THE PHANTASY in Lakewood:

Midnight Passenger
Call Me Constant
Strangers to Wolves
Newshoes
We Were Kids

$8 / 8pm / gonnabeagoodtime

By Car, Plane, Train, Foot...

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:22:37 -0500

…go support our friends in Squid the Whale! They’ve been added to an amazing lineup at this year’s Bled Fest!

propertyofzack:

Squid The Whale have been added to the 2012 Bled Fest lineup alongside As Cities Burn, Comeback Kid, The Early November, Such Gold, The Swellers, and Citizen.

Related Stories:
Citizen Added To 2012 Bled Fest
POZ Exclusive : : As Cities Burn Playing Bled Fest
Mixtapes Added To 2012 Bled Fest

This might be one of the ugliest posters we’ve ever had...

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:16:52 -0500

This might be one of the ugliest posters we’ve ever had our name on, but this show guarantees to be everything but. Excellent lineup, excited to be playing with our friends in Newshoes again! See you all on March 9th!

On second thought, SmokeFest had, HANDS DOWN, the ugliest poster we’ve ever had our name on.

Come hang out with us at QUEST FEST 4! Four years in a row...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:07:00 -0500

Come hang out with us at QUEST FEST 4! Four years in a row we’ve played this show, and it’s always a pleasure to see friends and hear how their bands have developed in the past 12 months.

poster design by Stephen Mlinarcik.

Who we be in 2011/2012

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:04:28 -0500

Who we be in 2011/2012