Taking it up 20 notches: Calling Tokyo on rise in Arkansas’ hard rock scene | Jeff’s Band Notes

Band Notes, Banner, Opinion — By Christopher Spencer on December 31, 2009 at 12:24 PM

By Jeff Sistrunk

Calling Tokyo’s name suggests an avant-garde indie rock group, but the band’s sound couldn’t be farther from that aesthetic. The Fayetteville-based four-piece plays high-adrenaline hard rock that draws on both modern and classic influences.

Although Calling Tokyo’s current lineup- frontman/guitarist Matt Woolley, guitarist Ryan Spence, bassist Shaun Latham, and drummer Jay Cockerham- has only been playing together since early 2008, the band has firmly established itself as a major player in the growing hard rock/metal community in Northwest Arkansas. Calling Tokyo has one album (“Breaking the Silence”) under its belt and is currently working on the follow-up,”Cheers to Chaos,” for a prospective summer 2010 release.

The band also recently filmed a live set at the Dickson Street Theatre for an episode of Jones Television’s “Front Row” that will debut on January 27.

I got a chance to visit Calling Tokyo’s Farmington headquarters to talk about the new record and the band’s experiences on the scene in NWA.

Calling Tokyo, from left to right: Jay Cockerham, Matt Woolley, Ryan Spence, Shaun Latham

How did Calling Tokyo come together?

Matt: That’s a good question (laughs). Well, me and Shaun basically started the whole ordeal with another drummer. I had played with Ryan in a few other projects. We had tried out several different guitarists through the course of rehearsals, but we knew it had to align just right. We were looking for the right mentality, attitude, and music style. Ryan came into the fold and it worked perfectly. Then we were searching for a new drummer and we wanted someone who had a heavy style and influence. I looked on MySpace and found Jay, who was playing with an indie pop band in the area called QLand (laughs). But he had a Metallica “Master of Puppets” thing on his MySpace so I decided we should (approach) him. So, on a whim, I asked him if he wanted to come and play with us.

Jay: His exact words were, “I like your chops.”

Matt: Yeah. He answered immediately and from the first time we played together we had this feeling like, “This is it.” We asked him to join on the spot, and I’ll never forget Jay’s words: “Really? That’s it? See you at next rehearsal.”

Jay: We’re all God-fearing people and think we’re here for a reason. The funny thing is, (my audition for Calling Tokyo) happened the day after I talked to the lead singer of QLand and told him I couldn’t do work with him anymore. It was like going from one girlfriend to another (laughs).

Matt: But we didn’t put out at first (everyone laughs).

What are some of your influences?

Matt: We all have modern day influences, of course, and we all have a passion for technically advanced music. I’m a huge fan of the ‘80s and so is Shaun. Ryan’s got that same influence with a mixture of new stuff like Sevendust, and Jay is all over the board. We all have our own styles, and we incorporate all of our different influences from the ground level. Metallica, Alice in Chains, Ratt, Kiss, all of it, man. It’s a wide range of stuff, but we mostly love technical stuff with good, catchy anthems. That’s what we try to do, not by design, but naturally.

When you start writing songs, does everyone bring their own ideas or riffs to the table, or what is the process like?

Matt: It depends on the situation. In a lot of cases, I bring a basic idea. I hear a lot of melodies in my head; I don’t know where they come from. A lot of times they come to me while I’m in the shower or working and I’ll stop what I’m doing and write them down. I’ll get an idea for a verse and a chorus and then bring those into the fold. Usually, Jay starts laying down the beat I had in mind when I started working with (a song) and then Ryan and Shaun come in and start laying down their parts. Ryan, depending on what the song needs, will either do something melodic to add flavor or something Zakk Wylde-ish with a rough-cut edge. Then Shaun will come in and add a bass line that thumps or whatever it calls for. It all just kind of fuses together. After the basis is there, we start adding vocals and vocal harmonies, and it builds into this incredible entity. (The process) always exceeds my expectations. Something that’s unique about the band is that we all have vocal capabilities, too. Musically, we’re all about substance over flash.

Tell me about your upcoming album.

Matt: Our last album, “Breaking the Silence,” was more of a general hard rock album that was trying to get us established. We’re proud of what (“Breaking the Silence”) is, but our upcoming album, which should be out in May or June, called “Cheers to Chaos,” represents what Calling Tokyo has evolved into. We’ve really taken it up by 20 notches and progressed really well and made it into a well-rounded hard rock album.

What have you changed about your sound and approach from the first album?

Ryan: We’re heavier and going more back to our roots with these songs while incorporating modern day tones.

Matt: We don’t want to be like anyone else. We don’t want to be a band that gets picked up because they’re following a trend; we want to start the trend. This album is heavier, more in-your-face, and more vocally ambient.

Are you guys working with a producer?

Matt: For “Breaking the Silence,” we used Mike Bailey (of Dream Makers Productions). He does great work. For this album, though, we’re using Adam Putman of Insomniac Studios. He’s a big sound engineer in the area, and he’s recorded artists like Ben Del Shreve, Dreamfast and that sort of thing. Adam’s been there since our debut. He’s familiar with our sound; he’s familiar with our songs; he knows how we’ve progressed. It was a no-brainer. He does quality work, and he knows how we sound, so it just made sense.

What have been some of your favorite gig experiences?

Matt: Our best experiences are in our hometown. The Northwest Arkansas scene has a predominant hard rock/metal community. Unfortunately, it gets overlooked sometimes. It’s always best rocking your hometown out. There’s nothing like getting on the George’s backstage with anywhere from 30 to 100 fans screaming at you. One of our pinnacle shows was a show my production company, Live and Loud Entertainment, put on last July called Rock Mayhem II. We had a lot of people out there. It was phenomenal. The energy was in the air, and the community of rock acts that were there made for a really good, positive vibe. Everybody was into everybody else’s music; we had people chanting for us and singing along. It was a real good night.

Have you played regionally and out of the state?

Matt: Yeah. We’ve played in Kansas … we’re working on some upcoming dates that will be in Oklahoma and Missouri. We’ll possibly go to Dallas mid-2010. We’re really pushing this new album. We’ve got some sustainability with this one because we’re starting to build awareness. We’ve played all over the state too, in Fort Smith and Little Rock, anywhere that accepts our kind of music. We’ll play a telephone booth if we know people will be there (everyone laughs). Another highlight was when we were featured in (Austin, Texas-based magazine) Metal Monthly, which has interviewed bands like Judas Priest and Black Label Society. The writer actually approached us for the story.

What are your thoughts on the local scene?

Matt: We’re all about paying it forward on the local music scene. We love to play with bands that have the right attitude and give it 100 percent. I’m kind of a rock critic myself: I look for great songwriting and performance. We like bands like Even Heroes, Ben Del Shreve, a Good Fight, Fade 2 Fall, Black Leaf Clover, SilverStone… Fade 2 Fall are our No. 1 friend band. We’re tight with those guys. Northwest Arkansas has a lot of great acts out there. It’s a shame that the hard rock community isn’t a predominant scene. It’s starting to catch on, though. In a town that’s all about pop influences and jam bands, it’s hard for a guy who goes out there and screams his lungs out over heavy riffs to make headway, but we’re out there doing it and a lot of other bands are out there doing it. That’s great for the scene.

What would your ideal tour be?

Jay: There’s a show that’s about to go down in Southeast Missouri, with Shinedown, Breaking Benjamin, and Black Label Society. That would be a great show to be a part of.

Matt: If you really want to get extravagant: Metallica, Ozzy… Godsmack would be a good one. Anybody of that stature. I’d open for Kiss in a heartbeat. And, my absolute pinnacle: I’d love to go on tour with the guys who started it for all of us: New Kids on the Block! (everyone laughs)

When you’re performing, what’s the best experience you can have?

Matt: It’s all about crowd reaction. People with their fists in the air, singing along to your songs…there’s nothing like it. We put everything we’ve got into it. If we go on tour, we’re going to need a chiropractor, because at the end of every show we’re so beat to shit from thrashing around. If you’re looking for a band that’s just going to get up there, stand there and play and sing and sound good, you’re with the wrong band. We’re going to get up there and sing, and sound good, and also give you a show. We move around; our soul and body are in every performance.

Ryan: It’s a true rock show.

Matt: Yeah. Nothing pisses me off more than paying $60 to go see a guy stand in front of a microphone. If that’s the case, it better be a legend like Tom Petty or Bruce Springsteen.

Upcoming Shows

Jan 2 – 9:00P- Georges Majestic Lounge – Rock Party in the Lounge

Jan 23 – 8:00P- The Supper Club- Russellville, AR

Jan 27 – 8:30P- FRONT ROW PREMIERE- Cox Cable Channel 22

Feb 6 – 9:00P- Rooster’s- Fort Smith, AR

Feb 15 – 10:00P- U of A Fort Smith- Fort Smith, AR

Feb 19 – 9:00P- Georges Majestic Lounge

Apr 9 – 9:00P- Georges Majestic Lounge

Apr 10 – 10:00P- The Hanging Judge Saloon- Fort Smith, AR

Jul 24 – 9:00P- Georges Majestic Lounge – Rock Mayhem 3 !!!

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