Amber Calling

"Dude, it's heaps important," singer Mike Porcaro fervently affirms, when asked how crucial it is for his band, local outfit Amber Calling, to get their debut EP 'The Truth About Lies' out into the world.

"Especially because you've got bands like In Fiction and The Getaway Plan, who are doing heaps well here in Adelaide and in Australia, and you've got bands like us - if we get the recordings out there and get them out there nice and early it's always gonna help us, especially at our live show, to back it up with a good CD."

Nice and early, unfortunately, might be wishful thinking. "It's been like two years that we've been waiting to get this thing out," he admits. "I mean, the CD was recorded like a year and a half ago now. We recorded the CD and then I had some throat problems. I was a pretty heavy smoker. I went to the doctor, he told me I had to quit smoking and drinking. I did all that, and then it didn't really help much, so I had no choice but to leave the band. They got a fill-in singer while I was getting my shit together, pretty much, and then about five months later, I went to the doctor, got my check-up, and he said I was all clear.

"When we did our pre-production, we did 11 tracks. If we were to have done an album out of those 11 songs, we wouldn't have been happy with it anyway. The five songs that made it to the EP were the ones we were happy with. But starting off with an EP's good; hopefully the next step will be the album."

So, after a rocky road, Amber Calling are finally beginning to gather themselves some momentum. They've slugged it out hard on the live front for years, beginning as 919 back in 2005, before changing their name and gradually developing their sound into the combination of pop-punk, emo and indie rock that has found its way onto 'The Truth About Lies' - from the Matchbook Romance-like blast of opener My Fatal Mistake to the New Found Glory-influenced ballad For Eternity.

Now, after an intensive incubation period, Amber Calling find themselves the inaugural signing to new independent label Tenspeed Music. "It just takes a huge load off you," Porcaro says of the label. "Especially because they're doing most of the booking side of things. They're actually doing really well, man. I know they're looking at a couple of other bands now, so being the first ones on there is almost an honour, I suppose, because we were the first ones to be picked to do it."

Not that they've been resting on their laurels while everyone else does all the work - Porcaro, along with brother and bandmate Dave, has set up 'We Are Godzilla', a clothing and record store on Waymouth Street, to help support the band and the rest of the local scene.

"We came up with the idea to open up an alternative CD and clothing shop," he excitedly tells me. "It's pretty much got Aussie music, local clothing lines, local bands, Australian bands' gear and merchandise. It's right next to The Underground, so it's the perfect spot for it as well. You get kids that every time they go to a show, they come in here and get their stuff.

"Pretty much it's either you're all in or you're not in at all, really, because you've gotta be 100 percent dedicated to being in the band. The good thing about being in the band and having the shop, is we've got the five people in the band who can all come in and work if they need money and whatever, and then that way we can work around band practices and stuff."

As dedicated to the local scene as he clearly is, however, the next couple of months will see Porcaro and Amber Calling take their wares elsewhere on an extensive set of East Coast dates. "It's a good experience, because you get to see what the scenes are like in each different state. The scene in Brisbane compared to Adelaide is totally different." Porcaro says. "But it's always good to get out on the road. You get to bond with your band - you gotta spend 17 hours in the smelly van with each other, but it's all good experience!"

Matt Vesely

'The Truth About Lies' is out now through Tenspeed Music.

Amber Calling play with The Getaway Plan and Closure In Moscow at The Governor Hindmarsh n Sat 28 June.