NEW YORK (Cat
Empire Official Website/ www.thecatempire.com) - International touring sensation, The Cat Empire, which the Austin Chronicle hails for "mashing vintage keys, horns, tropical riddims, drop- funk bass, hip-hop vox, and turntables" returns to the U.S. this Fall in order to capitalize upon the frenzy initiated by its
Spring trek. The Melbourne sextet, fresh from their sold out Summer tour of the UK and Europe, mounts a 16-date jaunt including three stops north of the border which will secure its footing in North America.
The Cat Empire, a jazz-soul-hip-hop-salsa-reggae-ska-jam-rock hybrid, took its first steps toward seizing U.S. audiences this past May and June when they debuted their innovative sound in packed houses from L.A. to New York. They drew audiences from all over the country, as well as bus-loads of fanatic Canadians determined not to miss out on the Empire action. Next month will see the band return to play in theaters large enough to accommodate their fast growing contingency of musical converts. The Agency Group's Jordan Burger, who is booking the run says, "The Cat Empire are one of the biggest bands in Australia right now. And while their albums have achieved tremendous success, the live show is what its all about. You will be hard pressed to find a more entertaining, energetic, truly original show than this one."
In fact, it's the group's fevered performances that inspire rampant word-of-mouth buzz. The Cat Empire's success is a combination of the global snowball effect among its legions of fans (many of whom are American students who studied abroad and first learned of the band overseas), a strong Internet presence (boasting a high profile on MySpace) and a highly effective street team. The band has spent three years on a continuous world tour which seems to have enabled music lovers everywhere to 'discover' them. Excitement sparks within the music industry as well. Signed to EMI/Virgin in Australia, The Cat Empire is a free agent on American soil but the turnout of label representatives at the shows a few months ago indicate that its 'indie' status will not remain for long.
Since 2000, The Cat Empire has built a massive global following with its incomparable showmanship and two double-platinum albums. Their self-titled debut earned the group six ARIA nominations. Their second release, Two Shoes, was recorded in Havana, Cuba, and came out in Australia in April, debuting at number one, achieving platinum status in less than four weeks.
Originally formed in 1999 as a trio of Ollie McGill (piano, melodica, banjo), Ryan Monro (double bass, guitar) and Felix Riebl (percussions, vocals), the group expanded a year later with the addition of Will Hull-Brown (drums), Jamshid 'Jumps' Khadiwala (DJ, percussion) and Harry Angus (trumpet, vocals).
Tour dates and venues as follows:
Sept 24 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
Sept 25 San Diego, CA - Canes
Sept 27 San Francisco, CA - Independent
Sept 29 Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater
Oct 1 Madison, WI - Club Majestic
Oct 2 Chicago, IL - Cubby Bear
Oct 4 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
Oct 5 Cleveland, OH - House of Blues (Cambridge Room)
Oct 6 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
Oct 8 Baltimore, MD - 8 X 10 Club
Oct 9 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
Oct 10 Cambridge/Boston, MA - Middle East
Oct 12 New York City, NY - Irving Plaza
Oct 13 Toronto, Ont - The Opera House
Oct 14 Montreal, QC - Cafe Campus
Oct 15 Vancouver, BC - Richard's On Richards
