THE CALL OUT:
Waiting For The Call To Be NJ's Next Big Time Crush
by Jim Testa
Jon Ferris - Vocals
Sean Marmora - Guitar
Dan Szpakowski - Bass
Anthony Manginelli - Guitar
Danny Wrensen - Drums
They've got a catchy pop sound with singalong melodies,
a charismatic vocalist, and a pounding rhythm section, and
they managed to catch our ear at the Warped Tour this year,
performing on the JerseyShows.com stage. Perched in that
precarious place somewhere between high school and the real
world, The Call Out will be rocking out this summer winning
over audiences and spreading the word that they're ready
to break out into the big time.
Q: I read your bio and saw that you guys went to
several different high schools. How did you all meet and
how did the band start? Had any of youbeen in earlier bands?
Anthony: The Call Out started when I first met Dan Wrensen
in my chemistry class. We were both Juniors at Middletown
High School North at the time. I knew he played drums so
I asked him to jam with some friends. Before we knew it
things started to get serious as we searched high and low
for a singer. We found Jon Ferris whom resides in Ocean
Township, through his acoustic project. We quickly got to
writing and practicing. Word spread that we were looking
to do something big and that we were in need of dedicated
and serious musicians. After several lineup changes, we
were contacted by our lead guitarist, Sean Marmora. Sean
lives in Ocean Township and currently still attends Ocean
Township High School. After just one practice with Sean
we knew he was the perfect fit and we would get along great.
After jamming with a few bassists from the area, some close
friends of ours suggested a graduate from Middletown High
School South, Dan Szpakowski. After sitting in on a few
practices he quickly showed just how valuable he was as
a friend and band-mate and we knew he would be right at
home in the TCO family. I could not be happier with the
line-up we have now, this band has given me the chance to
meet four unbelievable musicians and even better friends.
Q: Let's pretend that The Call Out has its own
sitcom and each of you plays up to a certain stereotype.
Who's the band flirt? Who's the most serious? Who gets the
most girls asking for his autograph? Who's the most organized
(and why?)
Sean: Together we pretty much are a sitcom. We have Anthony
who is the biggest flirt in the band who is always surrounded
by our fans Either Dan Wrensen or myself is probably the
most serious when it comes to playing shows. Jon has probably
signed the most autographs out of all of us and without
Spiz's organization, we wouldn't be where we are today.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about how roles are
defined within the band? How does the songwriting work?
Does one or more members handle the business side of things
like booking, band finances, etc. or do you all contribute?
Dan: We all have certain roles in TCO even though we are
all still involved in the final decision making some of
us are better then others at certain tasks. We typically
do our song writing together, as a band because thats when
we get best results. As far as business is concerned me
and Anthony try to handle most of the business side of things
because we enjoy it.
Q: You guys are at that awkward stage between high
school and being 21. What's it been like juggling college,
jobs, etc. and trying to keep the band moving forward? You
just released your second CD and got to play Warped Tour...
what are some of your goals now? What are you looking forward
to and working toward?
Dan: It’s tough, with school, the band, and work;
it really is hard to find time for anything else. Most of
us are really lucky and we have jobs that are flexible with
us and support our music. As far as some of our future goals,
I would say that we are really looking forward to finish
writing our new CD and cannot wait to go record new music.
We are really looking forward to playing with Allstar Weekend
at the end of August and right now most of our attention
is going into preparing for that concert.
Q: What was the experience of playing the Warped
Tour like? Did it live up to expectations? I imagine it
had to be expensive to set up your own tent, would you recommend
the experience to other bands in your situation?
Sean: Although we played a smaller stage at Warped Tour,
it was by far the most fun show I have ever played. We had
a pretty large crowd and playing outdoors is amazing. Warped
Tour is what got me into the genre of music we play and
having the opportunity to be both a fan and a musician at
the show was unreal. Setting up the tent really was not
bad financially at all. We borrowed Dan's Uncles tent and
had a lot of help from our friends selling merch. We actually
made a decent amount of money in T-shirt, poster, and CD
sales.
Q: A lot of people don't like the pay-to-play system
that's in effect at some Jersey clubs, where the bands have
to sell tickets to get on bills. Looking at the shows you've
played, it seems like you have been through this quite a
bit. What is your take on working with promoters and pay
to play? Is there a viable circuit of DIY shows, basements,
etc. where underage bands can get the exposure they need?
Danny W: Throughout the time we have been a band we have
played many shows where the promoter wants us to sell tickets.
I don’t think that selling tickets is a huge deal.
Most of the shows that have you sell tickets are for bigger
venues and with bigger headliners. I think that those are
the shows that a band is most likely to get recognized at.
As far as DIY show are concerned I think they are a great
way to get the people in the that area to hear your music.
DIY shows are great for your local fan base but I think
that the shows at bigger venues with national touring acts
is a better way to get your name out there to a wider audience,
in that case I think selling tickets to be a a big bill
is worth it.
Q: How did the band wind up appearing on MTV's Silent
Library? And what was the most disgusting thing any of you
had to do on the show? Would you do something like that
again?
Danny W: We actually received an email from MTV asking
if we would like to audition. After going to the city for
auditions they really liked us and asked us to be on the
actually show. I would have to say the most disgusting thing
that any of us had to do on the show was eat an ice cream
cone filled with mayonnaise. If we had the chance to be
on silent library again I would definitely say yes because
the pain we had to endure was well worth the reward.
Q: I was a little dubious when you guys started
doing Michelle Branch's "Everywhere." It just
didn't seem like a song that a bunch of dudes should be
doing. But I have to commend you on totally pulling it off.
What are some other covers you've done, and how do you approach
picking a cover song to learn?
Jonni: Michelle Branch is really the only cover we've been
playing, but we are working on covering a Ke$ha song (Your
Love Is My Drug). We pick covers that would be a ton of
fun to play and add energy to our set.
Q: I saw in one of your online profiles that you
consider All Time Low one of the bands you'd like to emulate.
I admire their success and even like a few of their songs,
but I wonder about their methods. If I said that this interview
will appear in a major rock magazine but you all had to
do a photo shoot in your underwear, would you do it? Are
their lines you don't cross when you are promoting your
band, or is anything legal fair game?
Jonni: Fame is materialistic, and I hold my pride higher
than that. There are always lines that shouldn't be crossed
but it all comes down to the fact that we make music, and
music is an art. If you lose site of the art then you're
not doing what you love. Although I'd take a picture in
my underwear any day, not just for a major rock magazine,
I don't think we would sell ourselves for fame. We're all
just people living for dreams and hopes that we have, and
whether or not we achieve those we still do what we love,
and that's enough for me.
Q: One of the things that most impressed me was
Jon's singing. I was wondering if he's received any training
or sang in school plays? A lot of bands in New Jersey tend
to be very pitchy - there's this emo thing where the singer
goes flat on purpose that drives me crazy. Call Out to me
seems like much more of a traditional pop rock band. Does
Jon have any role models or singers that he admires and
based his style on?
Jonni: I received vocal training from someone local, she
went to Julliard and taught me a classical singing style.
I actually learned how to sing from a book called Vaccai,
an italian opera book. I've looked up to singers but I've
never based my style off them because I was born with the
voice I have, and every person’s voice differs in
a ton of ways. So I really just base my style off the voice
I have and try to achieve a better understanding of it so
I can enhance my voice.
Q: You're opening for Allstar Weekend at Starland
Ballroom soon, which is obviously great exposure. But does
it feel a little weird opening for a band that has videos
on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon? Would you approach
that show (in terms of set list, what you wear, preparation)
any different from any other show?
Anthony: We were ecstatic to be asked to play with Allstar
Weekend at Starland. That is probably our favorite hometown
venue. In preparation for this show we will get a few days
of practice, possibly order some new merchandise and make
sure all the equipment is show ready. Although the demographic
for this show might be a little younger then we are used
to, it will not effect our performance. We will be sure
to put on the best show we possibly can and keep the audience
singing along. As far as what we will be wearing we generally
like to keep it simple with black and white. Our set list
will consist of songs from both EP's, "Take This to
Heart," and "Keep This Quiet." We also threw
in a few covers that we think the audience will love.
Catch the Call Out at the 2nd Annual Rock To
Prevent Benefit Concert on Wednesday, August 11th at Pier
Village in Long Branch, and then on Sunday, August 29 opening
for All Star Weekend at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville.
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