Caterwaul
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Loud, energetic alternative rock. Beautiful and fierce.
Status:
Band has broken up. Final album of previously unreleased material, Killer Fish belatedly released in December 1996.Betsy Martin is singing with Purr Machine. Kevin Pinnt has a solo disc out under the name Drumatic.
See also:
Wikipedia's entry on Caterwaul
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Caterwaul does describe Betsy Martin's vocals. Harsh-ish but still melodic music & vocals. The band is most distinctive in their use of Betsy Martin's voice and of the mandolin. Wonderful combination. (Neile)wonderfully heavy, weird rock featuring the child-like voice of betsy martin. a *fantastic* band, in my opinion.
for a bit of history of the band: bonton was the band that metamorphed into caterwaul. members were betsy martin, kevin pinnt, [Norm Kevern (bassist) and Mike Griffin (guitarist). There also was a brief period when there was a keyboardist named Mick]. bonton changed their name to caterwaul when mark schafer and fred cross replaced the two other guys. before the change, they recorded demos for an album which would have been titled periwinkle blue, but it never was released. (woj@smoe.org)
Recommended first album:
The Nature of Things is my favourite, but is the most difficult to find. After it I would recommend Killer Fish as it is currently available and also has a mix of their harsher and slightly more acoustic stuff. (Neile)
Recordings:
- The Nature of Things (1987)
- Beholden (1988)
- Pin and Web (1989)
- Portent Hue (1990)
- Killer Fish (1991/1996)
The Nature of Things
Release info:
1987—Lost Arts Records, Chameleon Music Group (U.S.)—LAD 0220
Availability:
Hard to find. Can occasionally be located at used disc stores.
Ecto priority:
Must have for lovers of alternative rock with strong female vocals. (Neile)
Group members:
Betsy Martin—vocals, mandolin
Mark Schafer—guitar, mandolin
Fred Cross—bass guitar
Kevin Pinnt—drums
Produced by:
Caterwaul
Comments:
This my favourite of their releases. "Cinnamon Color Of My Heart" is a haunting song. "Diminutive Do Se Do" is magic. An amazing combination of strength and melody. (Neile)
Pin and Web
Release info:
1989—IRS (U.S.)—IRSD-82030
Availability:
Can be found used in the U.S.
Ecto priority:
Recommended for lovers of rock with strong female vocals. (Neile)
Group members:
Betsy Martin—vocals, mandolin
Mark Schafer—electric & acoustic guitars, mandolin
Fred Cross—bass guitar
Kevin Pinnt—drums
Comments:
Another good recording by a wonderful band. This is a little harsher than The Nature of Things. (Neile)
Portent Hue
Release info:
1990—I.R.S., U.S.—IRSD-42281
Availability:
Can be found used in the U.S.
Ecto priority:
Recommended for lovers of strong female vocals. (Neile)
Group members:
Betsy Martin—vocals, mandolin
Mark Schafer—guitars
Fred Cross—bass guitar
Kevin Pinnt—drums
Produced by:
David Ogilvie and Greg Reely
Comments:
Another wonderful release. Recommended. Closer in sound to Pin and Web than either the first (The Nature of Things)or final (Killer Fish) recording. (Neile)
Killer Fish
Release info:
1991, 1996—Lost Arts Productions—0318-2
Group members:
Betsy Martin—vocals
Mark Schafer—guitar
Kevin Pinnt—drums
Kelly Castro—bass
Stuart Smith—rhythm guitar
Produced by:
Caterwaul & Glen Reely
Comments:
After five long years, this recording has finally been released by Lost Arts Productions, Caterwaul's management. They sat on the recording done in Fall 1991, right before the group broke up. This recording has 10 new caterwaul original songs and one cover "The River Song" by Donovan. it's a great album whose time was sadly delayed due to all sorts of problems. The album is more polished than even portent hue, but is still unmistakably caterwaul: big, crunchy (but not grungy) sound with betsy martin's wondrous voice over it all. i think it's quite good, though not their best (Pin and Web has that honor). (woj@smoe.org)It took me a while to order this from Lost Arts and now I'm sorry I delayed—it's wonderful. While it's still rock there's an acoustic edge to it that makes it easier listening than either Pin and Web or Portent Hue—more like The Nature of Things, which was my favourite of theirs. This makes me wish strongly that they had stayed together. A delightful mix of noisy melody and Betsy Martin's raspy voice. (Neile)
Thanks to Jens P. Tagore Brage for work on this entry.
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