 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Call The Circle is an electrifying Austin-based band serving up a
piping hot, tasty spectrum of high-energy rock n' roll, with a
heaping side of strong melodies. Drawing from influences ranging
from Pop, Punk, Alternative, Metal, and Grunge, the band quickly
bonded to create a unique blend of music in Austin, TX; Live Music
Capitol of the World.
The name Call the Circle refers to the Native-American 'Spirit Circles,' where people worked together in balance and harmony. There was a shared sense of purpose and community, and every tribe member cooperated and challenged each other in a spirit of trust. They sat in council together sharing their collective input, listening to each other, respecting every voice and each individual perspective while honoring the very essence and spirit of life.
The History of Call the Circle 2000: Back in the hysteria of Y2K, two long-time friends, both musicians, were wondering aloud over cold beer why they had never formed a band together. Not being able to come up with any good reason why they shouldn’t be jamming, they soon talked a keyboardist/vocalist friend to jam with them. After several jam sessions in Slyther’s hot, South Austin attic, a few original songs began to take form. 2001: Rick and Slyther’s vocalist/keyboardist friend suddenly left town (along with some of their equipment) and it looked like they would never be in a band together. Disappointed, Slyther went back to musical theater and Rick decided to find some other guys to jam with. Before long, Rick had a weekly jam session going with Juan Garcia on drums, Heath Bush on lead guitar, a female bass player and another guitarist. Things weren’t progressing very well, so Rick kept asking Slyther if he would come down and jam with them. Slyther kept putting it off and it looked like it would never happen. Slyther finally acquiesced and agreed to jam with them. He showed up on the scheduled night with guitar in hand and this is when things began to really get shaken up. After one jam session, Rick, JJ, Heath and Slyther hung around and talked afterwards. It was obvious that there was a connection between the four of them and they were all playing on the same musical page. Juan, being famous for saying exactly what he thinks said, “I’m willing to jam with you three guys anytime you want. Otherwise, I quit. I can’t play with those other two anymore.” Heath in his simple, country boy way said, “Me too.” In that instant, Call the Circle was born. 2003: Heath was given a lucrative job offer in his hometown of El Campo. Being married and the daddy of a baby girl, he accepted the job and moved his family back home. Slyther and Rick still miss that little barefoot country boy. Enter Steve Rincon, shredder extraordinaire. This guy played like a demon and was just what CTC needed with the talented little country boy leaving. New songs were written and the first Call the Circle EP was recorded and mixed in Steve’s house on his computer. 2004: After just one year, Steve left CTC to play with the Debra Dalton Band. Having no other options, JJ, Rick and Slyther continued on as a trio. More songs were quickly written and the second Call the Circle EP was recorded. This time, in another local musician’s house. Call the Circle was tearing up stages all over Austin and building a good following. Things were progressing quite nicely until….. 2005: Slyther and Rick had the long-overdue, obligatory falling out that all band members eventually have. They went their separate ways, not speaking a word to one another for an entire year. Boys will behave like little boys, even when they are full grown men. 2006: Austin truly is a small city. You live here, you run into the same people repeatedly. It was impossible for Slyther and Rick to avoid one another. After several encounters, they both swallowed their pride, decided they had been acting like fools for long enough and began to hang out again. Then Rick began talking about forming a band again. Slyther wanted no part of it, as he truly believed being in a band with his friend of 10 years was the cause of their year-long grudge. Having just repaired their friendship, he wasn’t willing to go down that road again and continued to perform in musical theater productions. Rick wanted to move forward, so he placed an ad to audition drummers and bass players. It was Orlando's girlfriend who read the ad and encouraged him to audition saying, "This is the guy! This is the one you need to audition for". Orlando turned out to be just what Rick was looking for; now he just needed the ever-elusive bass player. Along came Greg, who audaciously auditioned on his wife’s birthday. It must also be stated that he has rehearsed on his daughter’s birthday, as well. That’s either intense commitment or he seriously wants his wife to open up a big ol’ can of whoop-ass on him! Rick, Greg and Orlando rehearsed for a few months as a trio. After several invitations to “come and sing for Orlando and Greg,” Slyther finally agreed with one stipulation: he would go just for fun but he wasn’t joining the band. After meeting Orlando and Greg, Slyther’s reluctance lasted for approximately three jam sessions and Call the Circle rose from the ashes like a Phoenix. |
