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Calling Cadence on Benatar and McCartney: Rae Cole and Oscar Bugarin of L.A. lush indie rockers Calling Cadence talked about their Pat Benatar and Paul McCartney experiences.

Rae Cole: At the end of my 7th grade year, my teacher at the catholic grade school I attended assigned us a project to report on any historical person of importance. We were to research their biography, design a poster board, and on the day of presentations, dress up as them. Most girls chose major beautiful women figures: Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn. I was determined to choose a singer, since that was what I did and was known around school for. My mom came up with the greatest idea: Pat Benatar.

I bought the wig, striped T-shirt, black leather leggings, listened to every album, and learned all about how she came to be. Needless to say, on the big day, all the moms at my school were impressed, my mom was so proud, and none of my classmates knew who I was. But I felt like I was just the coolest person at that school.

So for my birthday the following year, my Mom bought us tickets to see my favorite singer and her husband guitarist Neil Giraldo play at the Grove of Anaheim. July 19, 2006, my mom and I dressed up all cool and went to The Grove. It was my first concert ever; I was 14 and the youngest person there. I will never forget the middle-aged dude next to us asking me “which one of you is the real fan?” And surprising him with my response that I was also a singer and knew all the words to nearly every one of her songs.

The show was simple: no crazy outfit changes or lighting. Just Pat and Neil playing thru all the songs I knew by heart. And her voice was still incredible! I sang along the whole time. I was so inspired by the rockstar because of her classical training in opera. She was and is like the coolest technical singer alive. That concert really left an impression on me and pushed me to value classical training even when I just wanted to be a pop or rockstar.

So thank you Pat Benatar. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you!

Oscar Bugarin: Almost to the exact day last May I got to see Paul McCartney live at SoFi Stadium. That was the most spiritual experience I think I’ve had at a concert. The Beatles are at least in the top five for me, if not top two of influences or inspirations in music. Being able to see Paul McCartney live was just such a ride of emotions. Seeing music that I had grown up listening to that I never thought I’d be able to see live, especially performed by a Beatle, was huge. We got to see him do his performance with John Lennon behind him up on the big screen and playing along on the rooftop of “I’ve Got a Feeling,” I’ve never really cried before at a concert. 

It made my whole life complete in a way. He played somewhere around two to two and a half hours, if not maybe a little bit longer, which is amazing for him at his age to keep on doing that. He still had the same band that he’s had for probably about 15 years or more now.

Nothing really gets better than that for me. I don’t really get starstruck so much when it comes to seeing concerts and seeing people or celebrities. But that was the one exception for me. I could reach back into my eight-year-old self while listening. Growing up in LA, I think someone gave me my first Beatles mixtape and a 12-string guitar to me when I was about 12 years old, and that started my whole journey diving into the Beatles world. As a songwriter myself, those are the best songs that have been written in the 20th century.

The biggest thing too is the longevity of his career and his performances. It made me think I could get there to almost being 80 years old and still rock out, and still have that much energy. Music comes from such a special place in all our hearts, and music transcends this physical realm in a way. It confirms that and inspires me to just keep on going no matter what, to just keep putting the music out there and keep drawing from inspiration and follow in his footsteps.

Calling Cadence on Benatar and McCartney: Calling Cadence’s single “Rosie” is out now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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