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Call for Candor, a local indie band has gained popularity throughout the music scene––marking their territory in El Paso since 2012.
Currently formed by UTEP students the lineup consists of Rene Carbajal junior economics and finance major, Eric Howell junior music composition major, Reeda Blanco junior criminal justice major and Isaac Lara freshman pre-engineering major.
They are signed to local music label Electrical Social.
The band members said they take their inspiration from bands such as Modest Mouse, Incubus, Death Cab for Cutie and Minus the Bear.
Although they’ve only been playing together for two years, and only one year with guitarist Lara, the band is gaining popularity throughout the local music scene at a fast pace.
“I actually feel like we’ve moved at a really fast pace compared to how other bands in the city seem to be moving,” Lara said. “Sure the band has been together since 2011, but we didn’t really start hitting the scene hard or anything until I joined.”
Although the band isn’t too sure when their next release is coming out, they are shooting for this spring. Call for Candor is also hoping to tour during spring break or in the summer.
The band plays frequently with their favorite local acts in El Paso, such as Manifique, a local electro pop duo.
“I really like working with Jamie Hernandez and her band Manifique,” Blanco said. “She’s a great person and puts out some awesome music—she has so much talent.”
Bassist Howell said he enjoys playing with the band Wake Up Stranger as well.
“I’ve known everyone in the band since we were in middle school and have grown together as musicians and friends,” Howell said. “Because of this, it makes performing alongside them just something truly special.”
The band members said they also enjoy playing alongside their Electric Social label mates L.I.G.R.E. and The Other Half.
As small as the El Paso music scene is, it is incredibly diverse. Gutter punks, metal heads, noise bands, hardcore kids and underground hip-hop are all over the city. However, it seems that recently the bands that have been getting the most attention are the bands that participate in the local indie rock or alternative scene such as The Royalty, who was recently signed to Victory Records.
“Well every band in this town has a distinct sound,” Carbajal said. “If anything, we just aim to be completely honest. Our chemistry together shows prominently when it comes to the band’s sound.”
Lara said the band’s sound is very different than other local bands because all of the members have different musical influences.
“With us, we all have different influences, and as we all add our part to the song we add some of our influences, really diversifying it,” Lara said.
The four band members are passionate about the music they play and write.
“I don’t know about the rest of the guys, but playing in a band and having music just be my job is just something that I have always wanted my entire life,” Lara said. “Well, it’s awesome because I’ve just become so close to all of them, it’s like we make a little family, which just adds to the whole thing about being a musician. Just getting to do what you love with some of the people that you care about the most, it’s like I’m living the life right there.”
Call for Candor’s next show is at 9 p.m. Feb. 8 at The Lowbrow Palace. They will be performing alongside Ice Eater, Europa and the Bull and The Summit.
Lesly Limon may be reached at [email protected].
