Cat Butt. The name alone tells you this has to be a good band.
The Influences second that motion: comic books, horror movies, beer...
Even the history of Cat Butt tells you that something cool was going on here all along. The hand started two years ago when' James ("Ultra-Sonic Noise Maker" to his friends) of 64 Spiders met up with David "Moth-Man" Emmanuel Duet, former Girl Trouble vocalist, and added a pair of U-Men, Tom Price and Charlie Ryan, to get rockin'.
The name is Dave's creation, which he first used for one-shot bands that he'd get together for shows in his native Texas.
"Not everybody likes us, but we like everyone."
As things got more serious, the U-members bowed out, leaving the band with its current line up of James on guitar, Dave on vocals, Erik on drums and Fly-Daddy Gundo on bass. The band played and recorded as a five-piece, with a second guitarist, and may be one again y the time you read this story.
"As a five-piece, we get this real thick and noisy sound. Sometimes you can lose dynamics," said James. "But we're not as abrasive [now] as we can be as a five-piece, so there's good and bad."
Abrasiveness is an important concept in the complicated world of Cat Butt, as Dave's comparison of his new and old bands demonstrates: "We're a little more abrasive than Girl Trouble was, but it's still that rock-out attitude, real 60s-based, real gut level," he said.
The connectIon between the two bands, who get along well and play together often, is musical as well, Dave is quick to admit. The Influences of Cat Butt and Girl Trouble tie in and both groups live bring to mind the bluesy smash and crash that so many music fans have come to associate with that favorite of all American practice spaces: the garage.
While Cat Butt has moved into the more stylish confines of Ballard's Music Bank practice studios, their music still carries those telltale traces of years of running home from school to practice with the guys before ad gets home (and gets mad about the noise).
But, while this rawness and abrasiveness to their music is prized by their fans, James says he can understand why record companies might not be standing up and taking notice. "I'm not surprised to see Soundgarden [signing with a major label] because I think Soundgarden has always been a band that could have made the crossover." he said. A band like Cat Butt would have a harder time signing, even with Independent labels, which often ignore bands until they have put out several records on their own, James notes.
Still, it's a good sign that record companies seem to be showing interest in some underground sounds, the band members agree. "Punk rock's been around for, what, 11 or 12 years now," said James. "Maybe that has something to do with It."
So corporate America Is finally catching on?
"Now that It's far too late," says Dave.
"WE'D BE LIARS If we said we all wouldn't like not having to work for a living and lust tour the country playing rock," Dave admits. But, the tours they expect to do will be on their own, arranged by the hand and done on the cheap.
Cat Butt plans a short swing down the West Coast in December before they head Into the studio to record an EP. Once the record Is completed, It will be time for an extended tour of the West Coast and Midwest, followed by an East Coast swing.
The band has done some out-of-town gigs, with varying results. Their shows at Portland's Sat yr icon were successful enough to et them invited back for a Halloween gig, but their last appearance there was at a sparsely-attended Das Damen show where most of the audience left before the headliners even took the stage.
Portland audiences are often too laid-back anyway, says Gundo. "They don't really responded at all. I've seen some great shows there where nobody responded," sez FlyDaddy.
Cat Butt has released- just one record, their single "64 Funny Cars," which has been sent out to radio stations and rock magazines around the U.S. "We're starting to hear back from the Stations," said Dave. "We're apparently getting airplay across the nation."
SONGWRITING CHORES In the band are shared, although Dave climes up with most of the lyrics. "Somebody will come in with a riff, or Dave can play guitar a bit and he'll come up with something," said James, and the song is built up from there during rehearsals. "Undisciplined Music Bank rock," Erik calls it.
"Music is a painting on a canvas of silence," offers Dave.
How's that again?
"Cat Butt is a real friendly band," says Dave.
"We try," adds James.
"We're sensitive," claims Gundo.
"Not everybody likes us, but we like everyone," James finishes.
They really do like everyone, as far as building up the other local bands. "U-Men!" the band choruses when asked for their favorite. "Other than that, you go down the list of pretty cool bands," says Dave. "Seattle's real fortunate that way."
The band members' favorite shows have included their record release party at Squid Row. ("One of our Sweatiest gigs," recalls James. "I had the crowd literally on my back.") and their Central Tavern show with Killdozer.
"Live, we all usually explode we get really into it," said Dave.
And so will you.