A lot of college students look forward to coming home during the holidays and doing nothing but catching up on sleep.

For Tom Manuguerra, Pat Stites and Mark Smith, members of the band Calling Card, coming home means a heavy schedule of practices and gigs.

While in school, the band is spread out across Ohio. Stites, the drummer and lead singer, is an architecture major at the University of Cincinnati, Manuguerra, the lead guitarist, is a criminal justice major at Bowling Green State University, and Smith, the bass guitarist, is pre-law at Baldwin Wallace.

"We practice five-to-six nights a week in the summer, and any time we come home, even on short breaks, we're constantly practicing," Manuguerra said.

The band has been taking advantage of their temporary reunion this holiday season and is getting ready for an upcoming performanceat 9:30 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Pump Bar and Grill in Perkins Township.

The band, which plays a little of everything from classic rock to new rock and punk, will be using this appearance as an audition of sorts for a summer engagement at an area bar, The Islander.

"This is probably one of our most important gigs because I always wanted to play on Put-in-Bay," Manuguerra said.

Created in 2005, Manuguerra said the band chose Calling Card as its name to "help those in trouble" rather than as a reference to pre-paid phone cards.

"If you're in the mood for some good music, you can call on us," Manuguerra said.

Smith, Stites and Manuguerra have been friends since first grade but really got into playing together after they graduated.

However, the members did have some musical background before forming Calling Card. Stites, 21, was involved in theatre and took vocal and drum lessons while Manuguerra, 20, has been taking guitar lessons for about four years.

Smith, 21, never took lessons, "but he's pretty good for being self-taught," Manuguerra said.

Calling Card began practicing in Stites' basement because it was easier for him to not have to lug around his drums. As a bonus, Stites' mom sometimes sits in the basement and offers useful advice to the band.

"She can sing really well and has a good ear for music ... it helps us a lot," Manuguerra said.

The hardest part since forming their band is trying to book performances. Calling Card started at open mic night every Wednesday this past summer at Cabana Jacks.

What has proved to be an invaluable resource is the Stites family's connections with local bars. As a result, Calling Card eventually booked concerts at Brutus Sports Pub and Grill Down as well as the Pump.

At their gigs, Calling Card plays a diverse array of favorites that range from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day to Lynyrd Skynyrd and AC/DC.

"What helps is we try to play what's popular. People want to hear stuff they already know, and that way, we'll know they enjoy it," Manuguerra said.

Watching the audience really get into the music and have a good time has been the band's favorite thing since beginning to perform.

Although the trio has spread out across the state and delved into majors other than music, Manuguerra said performing is still their passion.

"It's a lot of fun for us. If we could do this for life, we would," Manuguerra said.

 

Calling Card

WHEN: 9 p.m.
WHERE: The Pump Bar and Grill, Perkins Township
INFO: 419-621-1041 or online at www.thepumpbarandgrill.com

 

Sarah Zaremba is on holiday break right now. She's stayed busy by getting yelled at by people who share names with popular Hollywood directors. E-mail her at hello@funcoast.com.

 

Written by Sarah Zaremba