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Hangin' Tough: Silkin Corson, Nick Saxon, Elyssa Lee, and Adam Schwab (left to right) are Courtesy Call. Photo by Christina Milke |
Comments (1)Pick Up the Clue Phone
Courtesy Call is Truckee's Next Big Band
By Jackie VarrianoPublished: February 11, 2010
I’m not completely sure if it’s due to natural economic evolution, or the fact that pop music–making machine Lou Perlman is behind bars, but it seems that Craigslist is the new way to make a band. That’s right — forget about Diddy; Craigslist can not only provide you with the hopes of meeting that missed connection or acquiring that Poseidon-shaped lamp, it can hook up a like-minded singer, bassist, guitarist, and drummer. Just ask fresh-faced Truckee/Reno-based Courtesy Call. Formed in June 2009, Elyssa Lee (vocals), Silkin Corson (bass), Adam Schwab (drums), and Nick Saxon (guitar) have melded their various musical backgrounds to give fans a sound harkening back to the days of good old fashioned, female fronted rock-n-roll. Over pizza and nachos at a venerable local watering hole known more for its brews than its friendly wait staff, I learned everything about the hurricane-sized impetus behind honing this baby band for greatness.
“I never wanted to be in a band,” Corson said. “Then Elyssa got up the guts to sing one of her songs for me and that was it.” Then Corson and Lee posted a Craigslist listing looking for a guitarist and drummer and first met Schwab. “I actually turned around halfway to the tryout,” Schwab said. When asked why he turned back around he answered, “Well, I had come halfway up the hill, why not go down the other side.” (Schwab and Saxon live in Reno, while Lee and Corson now live in Truckee.) The trio had been practicing together for a while before Saxon came on the scene, something he recognized right off the bat. “I could tell they were serious and I was impressed with Silkin. Bass should blend with the drums, and I could tell he was a great player,” Saxon said.
After that first meeting, the band fell into a groove, practicing three nights a week, and writing songs collaboratively. “What I think is unique about us is that 90 percent of our songs are written together,” Lee said. They have written 15 or 16 solid originals and just wrapped recording on a nine-song demo that they plan to push out not only at a CD release party on March 13 at Reno’s The Underground but also with a full press distribution targeting local and national media.
“So what is so great about Courtesy Call?” you may be asking yourself. In my humble opinion: they are unique. They’ve got a great rock sound in an age and location full of emo, jam, reggae, bluegrass, and metal. They write honest lyrics and are unabashed in their love for good music and supporting other local musicians. Lee has been toting around notebooks full of lyrics since she was five years old; Schwab played in a punk band for seven years while Saxon played in a metal group, and both have taken genre changes in style and stride. Corson truly believes that while synthesized indie rock is the “it” thing now, music is cyclical and it’s only a matter of time before rock rages back in full force.
Why shouldn’t it be time for a rock revival? The group agrees that the Truckee/Tahoe area is saturated with jam, bluegrass, and reggae sounds while Reno is superfluous with metal. Being a rock band in the area is “working both for and against us,” Lee said. “It’s so hard to book [a venue] because we aren’t jazz, reggae, or bluegrass, and it’s hard in the musical climate to find other bands like us to play with,” Corson said.
“It’s also more of a drive to do it,” Saxon said. “People just might not realize how sick of jam bands they are until they hear something different.” Despite the apparent lack of pop/rock around, Courtesy Call is united in what Lee calls “musicians building musicians.” Corson suggests using Seattle in the 1990s as a guide for “how musicians helped each other and created a whole musical style.” Saxon and Lee agree, noting that it’s “counterproductive to compete.” Saxon guarantees that at any given show one is sure to see Lee dancing wildly in front of the stage to the other bands sharing a Courtesy Call billing. “I just love to dance,” Lee shyly admits.
And boy, does she dance. During a recent show at Tahoe City’s Fat Cat Café, Lee is decked out in a little polka-dot dress. Her red lipstick shines as she alternately growls and purrs around the stage, dancing and pumping up the crowd. The guys all embody classic stances, Corson seems cool and aloof while still sounding warm and powerful, Saxon seems to unknowingly channel Buddy Holly, and Schwab keeps his head down while keeping the beat. The crowd is packed in, sweaty and inebriated. Catcalls abound as Lee switches gears and sings along to a Fleetwood Mac cover acoustic. Her voice is amazing whether breathing new life into Johnny Cash’s version of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt,” or hitting it hard with one of their originals such as “Rung by Rung.” At the show the group also unveiled their new collaboration with local clothiers Acyl Clothing. The company is not only sponsoring the upcoming CD release party, but helping to create a Courtesy Call clothing line.
The best way to show your support for this hot little local rock band is by becoming a member of their street team. Don’t miss their upcoming CD release party, March 13 at The Underground in Reno. Supporting bands are Fighting the Villain, Full Count, Passports, and the Reagan Years. Get in touch and show your support at myspace.com/courtesycallband.
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