The Caldwell

The Caldwell formed in Houston around songwriter and vocalist James Essary, previously a collaborator with Adam Bricks. Essary assembled the group after writing material for Modern Love, bringing together Evan O’Neil on organ and piano, Joshua Ojeda on bass, Marq Schramm on guitar, and Pastor Oropeza on drums. The band’s 2013 debut at Walters introduced songs that combined early rock-and-roll influences with a contemporary punk sensibility. Named for Essary’s mother’s maiden name, The Caldwell joined musicians from several local projects in an ensemble focused on melody, keyboard color, and tightly arranged guitar pop.