Starling & the Call Boys

It’s hard to nail down a specific sound for Starling & the Call Boys, but that’s pretty fitting for a band as unique and multifaceted as they are.

Since forming the band last year, Sierra LeBeau, Roger Frank, Josh Erhardt, and John Bortnem have been creating music that combines their favorite parts of pop punk and indie rock. The entire songwriting process is a very collaborative experience for them.

Erhardt said that they meet up about once a week for band practice and songwriting sessions. Most of their songs are written together as a band, but they have also pulled songs from the vault. LeBeau, who has been writing music for a long time, is the main lyricist of the group.

“I can write a song, but they’re more skilled with instrumentals,” she said. “They can help me put it all together.”

“It’s hard to start from nothing, so it’s good to bring our ideas to each other,” Erhardt said.

LeBeau and Erhardt typically come up with a lead, while Frank and Bortnem bring the finishing touches to a song. They work together to figure out what each individual song needs to become the best version of itself. Each member has their own tastes when it comes to music, and they all bring something new to the table.

Band performing at Red Rooster Coffee House

“We have such an eclectic mix of songs, so there’s a huge range,” LeBeau said. “It’s fun to see how a song ends up if you don’t keep it in a box.”

“Sometimes we throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks,” Frank said.

Their cover songs follow a similar process. If all the members like a particular song, they add it to their repertoire, regardless of how out-ofpocket it may be.

Starling & the Call Boys meet up about once a week to write music and practice, but these practices aren’t too different from regular hangouts. They started making music together last summer, but the members have been friends longer than they’ve been bandmates.

Bortnem said that their friends threw themed music genre parties, and they would put together a band to perform at those. When they performed at Tabitha DeVos’s Halloween party, LeBeau was up in the front row, and the rest is history.

Since the group’s foundation is built on their friendship, that energy carries over to their stage presence.

“We have chemistry and we know each other, so people see that on stage,” Frank said. “Music is just another way to have a conversation.”

Making music together is an extension of their friendship. At every step of the creative process, it’s obvious that the band has fun. Even their interview felt like a hangout session, filled with inside jokes and plenty of banter that could be made into its own feature story.

“I get disappointed when I find out that a band aren’t friends,” Erhardt said.

“I just want to play together and keep making music.” – SIERRA LEBEAU

This year, Starling & the Call Boys performed at several shows, including the Pauer of Sound festival, Fallout Creative festival, and at the Kuhnert Arboretum. They also opened for Cheap City at the Red Rooster Coffee House.

“I like the Arboretum shows,” Frank said. “They were some of my favorites this year. It’s a pretty venue, and a lot of people go out to see the music.”

“Our first Rooster show was a favorite,” LeBeau said. “It was a lot of fun and we had a lot of support. Our friends made surprise merch for us, and the vibes were so fun. It was packed and we had a good time.”

“The Red Rooster is a good place to cut your teeth,” Frank said. “Dan is very encouraging.”

Erhardt, who has a background in studio work, wants to record some of their songs. In the future, they’d like to get enough original music prepared to release a full album. They would also like to play at more out-of-town shows to expose their music to even more people.

Some members are involved in other projects. LeBeau performs solo as Starling Call, and Bortnem and Frank play for Citrisity, another local band.

At the end of the day, for Starling & the Call Boys, making music is about making connections.

“I just want to play together and keep making music,” LeBeau said…

• For more information about upcoming performances, visit their Facebook page at Starling Call.