Caleb Baker, a singer/songwriter from the Seattle area, gives a powerful live performance that only enhances the affect of his studio recorded music. His combination of piercing lyrics and a voice that resonates in both the ears and hearts of his listeners produces an overall affect that warmly welcomes the audience in and sends them off consumed by intrigue.

Caleb’s infatuation with old folk and country songs allows him a way to approach his own creativity with a sense of nostalgic curiosity, seeking to reach back to the past as a means of artistic expression for the present day. Strumming his guitar with a contemporary air of restlessness, Caleb effectively incorporates his affinities with the past into his experiences in the present, thereby creating a sound he calls "familiarly melancholy."

Contact at caleb@calebbaker.com

Bio

Caleb Baker, a singer/songwriter from the Seattle area, gives a powerful live performance that only enhances the affect of his studio recorded music. His combination of piercing lyrics and a voice that resonates in both the ears and hearts of his listeners produces an overall affect that warmly welcomes the audience in and sends them off consumed by intrigue.

Caleb's musical sensibilities began to truly develop at just ten years old whilst listening to 1940's country music on road trips with his grandparents. Songs like "Pistol Packing Momma," "I've got Spurs," and "Oklahoma Hills" offered a lighter side to the pessimistic grunge rock upon which he had grown up.

This exposure to old country music gave rise to an infatuation with older songs and allowed Caleb a way to approach his own creativity with a sense of nostalgic curiosity, seeking to reach back to the past as a means of artistic expression for the present day. With influences ranging from Paul Simon to Johnny Cash to Kurt Cobain and other artists from across the globe, Caleb’s music appeals to a large and diverse demographic. After living in Germany for parts of his formative teenage years, Caleb's music incorporates a mosaic of musical genres into an eclectic sound that drips with vibrancy.

Caleb's eclectic musical tastes are clearly evident in "Angelo," a project done in conjunction with local Seattle area artist Hans Klubberud. Though raw, these recordings remain unique in confronting contemporary themes without drawing directly from contemporary music. Since "Angelo," Caleb has worked to incorporate his affinities with the past into his experiences in the present, thereby creating a sound he calls "familiarly melancholy."

Caleb has received radio play on such stations as Clover Park’s 90.9 and Ellensburg’s 88.1 (The 'Burg), and has played in venues ranging from the Zone in Washington to Port Mahon (a bar/club) in Oxford, England. He has also opened for many local groups, such as Bleu Mouse Theater and The Letting Forth of Fire, and was the lead singer of esteemed Ellensburg, WA group Pavlov’s Dogs that received raving revues from the local media.

Review Article

Pavlov’s Dogs make music amongst mochas
By Gayle Duncan
Staff reporter

In a coal mine of artsy coffeehouse bands, D&M Coffee found a diamond to play for a packed house on April 23. That diamond goes by the name Pavlov’s Dogs.

More than 35 people crowded into the back room of the D&M Coffeehouse to hear the six members of Pavlov’s Dogs play a unique blend of coffeehouse rock. The bands members are Caleb Baker on vocals and acoustic guitar, Aaron Roden on electric guitar, David Schultz on bass, Chris Foerstel on viola, Noah Bonds on electric piano, and Graham Hammond on drums. Schultz and Hammond switched instruments throughout the night.

Pavlov’s Dogs played a 14-song set with one encore. Other than one cover (a mellow rendition of the rather obscure “I Hung My Head” by Sting), all the songs were original compositions. Here are some of the highlights, with the song titles being working titles I copied off a napkin donated to me by the band after the show:

The song “Towers” was the second song of the night. My notes from the performance read simply: “a truly beautiful song.” Schultz on bass began this piece followed shortly by Foerstel on viola and Hammond on drums.

Baker’s melodic vocals ran throughout, and the whole song built steadily in intensity, slowing at the end. I stand by my first assessment; it’s a beautiful song.

“Radio” began with quick guitar and drums, and the whole song alternated between slow and fast paced. Although the audience was very much into the whole performance, this was the first song where it looked like everyone in the band was having fun. Although Baker has a lively, almost bubbly stage presence, the remaining members of Pavlov’s Dogs seem very intense and subdued when they play. It was fun to watch the band play songs like “Radio,” where everyone played with an air of cheerful exuberance.

“Hey Man” was one of the most memorable songs of the night. This slower paced number had some of the highest vocals of the set and Baker has a voice that could carry for blocks in a hurricane. But it wasn’t just Baker’s stellar performance that made this song. The different instruments wove together artfully on this piece, making it truly striking. The frenzied applause proved that the audience agreed.

Baker pointed out a member (Hans Klubberud) of the audience as the co-author of the very catchy “Motorbike Girl,” which I immediately recognized from the band’s sound check earlier that night. The song has a very bouncy vibe and both the audience and the band were all smiles. It was a fun song to end the set with and immediately drew enthusiastic shouts of “Encore! Encore!” upon its conclusion.

Speaking of encores, Pavlov’s Dogs is tentatively confirmed to play in the Papa John’s Coffeehouse Series in the Samuelson Union Building and games room on May 26. The band is so engaging and talented; you’d be crazy to miss the opportunity to see them perform again.

Ellensburg, Wa. Observer, 30 April 2004, 13.

Refferals

(letters available upon request)

Donahue, Barry Owner of Ellensburg Eagles Club
8890 Lyons RdEllensburg, WA 98926-7061(509) 968-4241donahue@cwu.edu

Normberg, Megan Music Coordinator for South Hill Puyallup Starbucks
Starbucks Coffee11306 Steele St SPuyallup, WA 98371(253) 845-6988, cell (253) 209-2491

Brown, Tahnee Music Coordinator for Central Washington UniversityPapa John's Coffeehouse
Campus Life, SUB 214400 E. University WayEllensburg, WA 98926Mail Stop 7448509-663-1758brownt@cwu.edu

Manager: Lindholm, Philip
54 Banbury Road Oxford, OX2 6PW UKstudy: (44) (0)870 1200870 x24915 ▪ mobile: 07866 477459philip@lindholm.info

Sound Requirements

(varies by both venue and band size)

Solo performance:

1)PA (appropriate wattage) and mixing board.
2)Monitor speaker(s) (1-2).
3)Microphone (1) equivalent in quality to a Shure 58 and boom stand (1).
4)Direct box (1) for acoustic/electric guitar, complete with cable to mixing board.

Stage Layout: Caleb center stage with acoustic guitar, direct box, boom stand, microphone, and monitor speaker.

Four man band (two acoustic guitars, bass, and drums):

1)PA (appropriate wattage) and mixing board.
2)Monitor speakers (2, possibly a third for percussionist).
3)Microphones (3) equivalent in quality to a Shure 58 and boom stands (3). Depending on room and band arrangement, cymbal, snare, and kick drum microphones may be necessary. All microphones may be brought with the band.
4)Direct boxes (2) for acoustic/electric guitars, complete with cables to mixing board.

·Stage Layout: Caleb center stage with acoustic guitar, direct box, boom stand, and microphone. 2nd guitarist stage right with direct box, boom stand, and microphone. Bassist stage left with boom stand for mic'd bass amp (or direct into mixing board). Percussionist stage centre in back with snare, cymbal, and kick drum microphones if necessary. Monitor speakers located stage left and stage right, with possible third monitor for percussionist.