About
Out of Santa Cruz, California in the early 1980s, The Call emerged as one of the most underappreciated bands of the post-punk era, built around the visionary songwriting of frontman Michael Been. Rounding out the core lineup were Tom Ferrier on guitar, Greg Freeman on bass, and Scott Musick on drums, a tight unit that gave Been's impassioned vocals plenty of room to breathe. Their sound drew from the brooding intensity of U2 and The Alarm while carving out something distinctly their own, a spiritually charged blend of heartland rock and atmospheric post-punk that felt urgent without being preachy.
Their 1986 album Reconciled remains the crown jewel of their catalog, featuring the anthemic Modern Romans and earning them a devoted cult following that persists to this day. Been's lyrics wrestled with faith, politics, and human struggle in ways that resonated deeply with fans tired of surface-level rock. The band never quite broke through to mainstream success despite consistent critical praise, which is honestly rock's loss. Their influence quietly rippled through the alternative rock scene of the late 80s and 90s, and Been later earned a whole new generation of admirers through his work scoring the cult film The Mother. If you haven't dug into The Call yet, Reconciled is the place to start.
