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If you missed any Fat Tuesday celebrations last month, we're sure Cats On Holiday didn't. The roots/Americana band felt right at home with the party, as they extend the holiday all year long. Now out with their third disc, "Workin' Man," Lakewood guitarist Denis DeVito gave OhioOnline music correspondent Peanuts the word on where the cats have been workin' and traveling of late. |
| OO: |
Who inspired you to play music? |
| DD: |
"I grew up in a large family of 10 and music was always listened to in the house. My older sisters would be tuned-in to WIXY 1260 AM at all times. Motown and British invasion music are what I took a liking to early on." |
| OO: |
Were you in any previously well-known acts in the state? |
| DD: |
"I was a founding member of Lucky Pierre, a new wave group of the early 1980's. We had quite a bit of success in Ohio and did a small amount of touring, from Pittsburgh to Chicago. We released three singles and shared bills with groups like the Plasmatics, John Cale, Pere Ubu, Mink DeVille and others." |
| OO: |
What national acts have affected you? |
| DD: |
"Tough question. I am quite influenced by the story telling of Ray Davies of the Kinks, but my musical style is not similar to his. I'm more subliminally influenced by Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett and Elvis Costello, but I don't sound like any of them. I like to think of myself as a storyteller who passes on what I have experienced." |
| OO: |
How did the band get its name? |
| DD: |
"As I said before, I'm a huge Kinks fan. If you open the jacket of their Muswell Hillbillies release, the band is sitting in a pub and the sign on the wall says 'Cats On Holiday.' I don't know what it meant on the wall, but I always loved the name." |
| OO: |
What's the term you use for your music? |
| DD: |
"Swamp pop. Not only do we have rock driven guitar, bass and drums, but we have a classically influenced violin, a scratchy washboard and some button-box. I have a great love for Cajun and Zydeco music. Band members were formerly in Ohio acts like Lucky Pierre, Don Kriss & The Vettes, Home & Garden, Carlos Jones, Jehova Waitresses and 15-60-75 aka the Numbers Band." |
| OO: |
Favorite Ohio venue? |
| DD: |
"Either Cain Park in Cleveland Heights or Lock 3 Live in downtown Akron. They are both perfect for a nice warm evening." |
| OO: |
What's the dream bill for the band to be on? |
| DD: |
"We match up well with NRBQ and have opened for them. They have a tendency to jump all over the map, like Cats On Holiday does. I would be absolutely honored to be on a bill with Lyle Lovett or Steve Earle." |
| OO: |
"We match up well with NRBQ and have opened for them. They have a tendency to jump all over the map, like Cats On Holiday does. I would be absolutely honored to be on a bill with Lyle Lovett or Steve Earle." |
| DD: |
"We've shared a bill with Hillbilly Idol on a number of occasions. Both are roots band, but they dwell more on country and we rock. Lost State Of Franklin is another band we've played with. Again, they are more traditional country and the Cats play swing, Zydeco and blues, but both bands are in the same vein." |
| OO: |
Now tell me about the new disc. |
| DD: |
"It's our third and we've appeared on many compilations over the years. It has 11 songs and was recorded at Magnetic North in downtown Cleveland under the very qualified ear of Chris Keffer, as have all our discs. Magnetic North is a professional studio and we work quite well with Keffer. I could see recording a more layed-back 'acoustic' disc at a home studio in the near future." |
| OO: |
Any airplay to speak of, besides that of the radio stations in Ohio? |
| DD: |
"We have received some responses from overseas radio stations acknowledging they have aired our music, but nothing on a regular basis." |
