LA indie rock trio Call Me Cannon have released their new single, Circles. We asked them BIG questions . . .
Call Me Cannon are consists of Michael Fitz, Jonathan Clark, and Tony Brock. In 2005, Michael met Tony when he was working on his album, Never Look Back. They instantly became fast friends and recorded two more albums, Poetic Justice, and Everything Must Change.
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Then, in 2018, Michael met Jonathan when they worked together on Michael's album, Colors in the Wind. From these varied projects Michael realized that Tony and Jonathan were such amazing musicians he should get them together in the studio to see what would happen.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
That's easy because we are a trio, Michael Fitz, Jonathan Clark, and Tony Brock. Each with an individually diverse musical background. Tony Brock’s credits are long, but he is most recognized for co-founding The Babys, recording and touring with Rod Stewart and Jimmy Barnes, and his work with Bernie Taupin. Jonathan Clark has played with the greats Glenn Frey/Joe Walsh, Don Henley, Christopher Cross, Peter Cetera, Post Malone, and is currently recording and touring with Dwight Yoakam. Michael is known for his work with Neil Young and has written over 300 songs and had two songs nominated for Song of the Year by Hollywood Independent Music Awards (HIMA) in 2006 and 2017.
How would you describe your music?
Michael: Our music as a whirling, frothing bottom of rockin’ goodness topped with silky smooth vocals and exuberant hooks.
Tony: Intricate. Melodic. Memorable.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Michael: I have a wide range of inspirations. There are so many great artists. Often there would be an album that I would listen to over and over. So, I think I will list those albums for you. Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions, Marvin Gaye - Here My Dear, Beatles - Sgt Pepper, Led Zeppelin I,II,III, IV, Jethro Tull - Aqualung, and The Genuis of Charlie Christian to name just a few. All these albums inspired my either lyrically or musically and touched me in a profound way. Also, I was fortunate enough to have Jim Mings as a musical mentor. Jim is a legendary Blues and Jazz guitarist from Austin. In fact, I would suggest to anyone wanting to learn music to seek out the best player in town and become their apprentice.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Michael: I had a rock band called Three Chair Command and we got our first gig playing a youth Revival at a State Park. It was supposed to be a series of five shows. We played our first show, and it was great except for the part when we decided it would be fun to set off smoke bombs during the last song. Everybody was dancing and our keyboard player stepped behind the amps and lit the smoke bombs. Smoke billowed out of the amps and girls started crying and parents started yelling and the next thing we knew we were surrounded by fire trucks. Here is a Public Service announcement: Kids, it is not a good idea to light smoke bombs in a State Park. We were kicked off the bill for the rest of the shows. Pure rock `n’ roll fun! Although we were bummed to not be able to play more shows, we couldn’t help but laugh all the way home.
Jonathan: I think I was 15 years old and had only been playing guitar for about six months. My two older brothers had been playing for a couple of years. We were living in Reno, Nevada at the time and my dad was already trying to line up gigs for us. He met someone that said he could get us tickets to a show in one of the local casinos, and it was a band called The Executives, you probably have never heard of them because they only played smaller show rooms in Vegas and Reno. They would run around stage and play different instruments. They had dancing girls and matching outfits with just the right amount of cheesy comedy thrown in. In spite all of that, I still found myself interested in pursuing a career in music (laughs).
What was the first record you ever bought?
Michael: I can’t say I bought my first record, but I do remember how I got it. I really wanted Hard Day’s Night, but I didn’t have any money. My friend had the record and I used to go over to his house to listen to it. He knew I was a big fan. One day he mentioned he was going to join a baseball team and needed a glove. I told him I would trade him my baseball glove for the album. At first, he laughed but after he realized I was serious he took the deal. I was so glad he did. Still, I couldn’t believe he took the trade.
Jonathan: I think the first record I ever bought, was Heavy Weather from Weather Report. I might have been 17 or 18 years old. I was already out on the road playing music with my two older brothers (longer story). One played guitar, and the other played drums so that left the bass guitar in my hand. For the music we were playing, bass just had a job to do and was the least interesting to me, so I was always trying to add extra harmonics or notes to try to make it more entertaining for myself. I guess someone in the audience noticed what I was up to and asked if I was into a bass player named Jaco Pastorius. At that point I had never heard of Jaco, and this guy said I should go buy Heavy Weather by Weather Report, and Jaco's first self-titled solo album. I never looked at the bass guitar the same way again.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Michael: My favorite song, at this moment, is Angeles by Elliott Smith. On the surface it sounds so cool and relaxed, but it is a deep and complex song.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Tony: "Excuse me while I kiss this guy" by Jimi Hendrix. Back in the day the US censor changed it to "Excuse me while I kiss the sky." There a so many great songs I love I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt and Faces by Bernie Taupin. Too hard to pick just one.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Michael: Al Green - Let’s Stay Together. That one always makes me feel good! His vocals are so smooth. I just love it.
Jonathan: Ha, that is like me asking you, if you could only ask one question again for the rest your life what would it be? ;) I guess I would have to say Don’t Give Up by Peter Gabriel. that is one of those songs, where it just sounded like all the stars and planets aligned when he wrote it. The song is utterly flawless in my opinion. It paints such a beautiful musical picture from the production, two amazing voices and probably the coolest bass lines I have ever heard in a song. I never get tired of listening to that one.
Where can people find your music/more information?
We are available pretty much everywhere but the best place for band news and updates is our website or Instagram, instagram.com/call_me_cannon_ as we are always updating the website and social platforms. That is where you will find information on new songs first.
