In spite of being one of the most successful bands in Boston's teeming pop-rock scene, Calendar Girl's debut was rather unfortunate - its first live show was on Superbowl Sunday.
But in true Calendar Girl fashion, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. In the audience was their bassist and friend Eric Krauter, who was so impressed that it didn't take much begging before he decided to join the band.
Since then, the band has managed to move from anonymity in less than three years, and now has the disc to prove it. Their new, full-length LP Everyone But You will extend past their New England origins for a national release. The band will celebrate this Saturday, April 7, at T.T. the Bears Place in Cambridge with a CD release party. Guests and friends Seventeen, The Decals, and Frigate will offer supporting music.
The guys of Calendar Girl (Wisner, singer/songwriter/guitarist Johnny Anguish, Krauter, and drummer Dave Foi) had been active participants in the Boston scene for a while, as both musicians and fans. Wisner was in an outfit called Ultra Breakfast. Krauter's band was opening for the Pixies. Anguish had played and sang in assorted punk bands.
But Wisner played was the magnet that drew the musicians together.
"Eric and I knew each other, Dave and I ran the concert committee at North Eastern, and Johnny and I met at our high-tech job. We had the same CDs on our desks. We both played guitar and decided to play together," he said.
"It was great right away," he said. "I was already on a band and had no intention of starting another one, but it was too good."
They were together only a few months before their Superbowl gig at the Green Street Grill, and the release of an independent EP in 1999 called Cool Rocketships in Space. The album was picked up by Intelligent Records, the label that now supports their new, full-length offering - its release will be Intelligent Records' first nationally.
Creating the disc is only the first step, however. Getting it distributed, marketed, and sold is a bigger monster that the band must learn to deal with.
"It's frustrating because it's the chicken and the egg problem. They want to see all kinds of success before they start selling the records," Wisner said.
Infiltrating the Boston market shouldn't be that big of a problem for the band. Through extensive live playing and positive band response, they've managed to skyrocket past a lot of other area bands to gain local fame thanks to their accessible style, as well as their friendships within in the music industry.
"Making friends really helps, otherwise it's really hard to break in. Some people think it's unfair... but I was in those bands that had to play new band night for a while. You know, you play at like midnight on a Tuesday, and you get 20 friends to come, and they pay you like $15. I've been there," Wisner said. "But the bands are really supportive. It's hard to break in initially, but once you do, it's really good," Wisner said.
After this weekend's show, Calendar Girl has a few local spot shows set up for the end of April and in May before they set up a longer tour that should cover Philadelphia, Washington DC, New York City, and Buffalo among other North East stops.
"We're not trying to get out to California this time," Anguish said.
Calendar Girl will release its CD and perform at T.T. the Bear's Place (10 Brookline Street, Cambridge) on Saturday, April 7 at 9 p.m. with The Decals and Frigate. Tickets are $8.
