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Concert: The Catheters
February 1st, 2002, Crocodile Cafe, Seattle WA
Review and photos by DJ Johnson
Seattle's high-velocity rockers may just be kids (the oldest is 21), but they've been at this for something like six or seven years now and still manage to keep it sounding raw as a fresh flesh wound. And that's a good thing. I caught The Catheters' act in their hometown when they opened for Sweden's Division Of Laura Lee, whom they'd been touring with, and I was immediately caught up in the excitement they generated on stage. Pure power from four directions, three of them in constant motion and often converging and colliding, exploding backward in a hail of sweat and frenzied motion. No, I couldn't hear what lead shouter Brian Standeford was singing about, but his energy fit right in with the powerful guitar playing of Derek Mason and the aggressive rhythm section of Leo Gebhart (bass) and Dave Brozowski (drums). Having never even heard of this band until they took the stage, suffice to say I was too busy being surprised to spend my time worrying about details like what they were singing.
Like most crowds present to see another band, the people in this one milled around talking to one another through the first two songs as if no band was on the stage. Hint to people who go to shows: this is extremely rude. The Catheters only needed a song and a half to make those people turn over a new leaf and become, instead of thoughtlessly rude disinterested motormouths, thoughtlessly rude pushers and shovers trying to get as close to the stage as possible for optimum jumping and cheering. Warms the fucking heart, y'know?
Yes, The Catheters, through the pure excitement of their performance, snagged those people and had them for the rest of the show. I'd love to tell you what songs they played and in what order, but hell, I don't know the songs. There was the one where Derek led off with a really loud guitar riff and then the guys all started pogo'ing in approximate time to the kick-ass song. Loved that one. Then there was the one where Derek led off with a nasty guitar crunch thing for about ten seconds and then they all jumped as the band came in and Brian was shouting something - either "you know I'm the man for you honey" or "I'll blow up Iran for crude money - and they all kept pogo'ing into each other making explosions of sweat turn that became smelly rainstorms by the time it reached the audience. Then there was the one where Derek led off with... Well, it's not important which songs they played, or that you couldn't tell the songs apart, at least not at that volume; what's important is that The Catheters rocked their asses off and got the crowd hyper and it felt good being part of it.
Earlier in the evening, the merchandise booth had been doing good business on Division Of Laura Lee records, shirts and stickers, but the Catheters stuff had been piled high. After The Catheters set, the pile dwindled at a steady rate. I personally picked up one of everything: Three 7" records, one CD-EP, and a sticker. After listening to everything carefully, I can't find any songs about Iran OR being the man for you honey, so who the hell knows what I heard in there. On record, without the benefit of a stage, lights and enormous speakers, The Catheters still manage to throw some sparks. Listening reveals they aren't there yet. A bad habit that was noticed at the show is also found on the records, that being a general laziness about ending songs. Rock, rock, rock, kick ass, go, go....umm..hit a chord..everybody do something that sounds like you're at least no longer interested in this song. Perhaps play the root note on bass and let it fade out while the kick drum is halfheartedly tapped. They have a good sound and great energy. If they'd write endings to their songs they'd be one step closer to being a complete band.
Hopefully they stuck around to watch the headliners, Division Of Laura Lee, a truly complete band who pay attention to every detail of every song, from intro to ending. Given the youthfulness of The Catheters and the fact that they've stuck together since they were babies, plus the added experience they're getting touring as an opener for bands like DOLL and Mudhoney (and getting to watch those bands work night after night), I'm puttin' a 50 dollar bet on a breakout album by these guys no later than 2005. "Breakout" meaning on the indie level, of course. They might never get rich that way, but they'll be remembered. I'll remember this performance, for starters. Energy like that you don't forget.
© 2003 - DJ Johnson