Catbite
Catbite | |
---|---|
Origin | Philadelphia, United States |
Genres | Ska, Third Wave Ska |
Years active | 2018–present |
Members | Brittany Luna Tim Hildebrand Chris Pires Ben Parry |
Website | https://catbite.net/ |
Catbite are an American ska band formed in 2018. They are signed to Bad Time Records.
The band has collaborated with other ska artists including Jer Hunter (JER, Skatune Network, We Are The Union) and Esteban Flores (Matamoska).
History
[edit]Prior to Catbite, Brittany Luna was the vocalist/keyboardist for the band The Snails. Originally Britt trained as a jazz singer, but migrated to punk/ska.[1] Tim Hildebrand worked for The Interrupters (band) as a driver and performed non-show duties and was also part of The Snails. Britt and Tim formed Catbite, and recruited their friend Chris Pires to play drums. Ben Perry joined Catbite about a year after the band started. Ben was formerly with The Snails and was initially just subbing in for the original bass player who had left the band before he became a full band member. [2][3]
Catbite was formed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Members said they "didn't think they would make it past those first three years."[4]
The first album, the self-titled 'Catbite' cost about $400 to make over the course of four days.[5]
Interest in the band started to grow around 2018 with latest ska scene resurgence. The band started to achieve national presence due to promoters like JER of the Skatune Network project and Mike Sosinski of Bad Time Records. Bad Time Records started specifically to promote ska artists. Catbite was one of the label's earliest signings and the first new release following represses of older Kill Lincoln and We Are The Union albums.[6]
The album 'Nice One' took 4 months to write. Catbite performed selections from the album live in July 2021 at a WXPN Free At Noon concert. This performance was then picked up by NPR's World Cafe podcast for a mini-concert series.[7]
Operation Ivy Covers
[edit]Catbite joined up with Laura Jane Grace at the Supernova Ska Festival to perform covers of Operation Ivy.
Catbite performed with Laura Jane Grace at Riot Fest 2024.
While in Chicago the group performed a secret set at a Riot Fest Afterparty at the The Empty Bottle. The live recording of this performance was later posted to Bandcamp as a pay what you want fundraiser for the victims of the 2025 California Wildfires[8] [9]
Of the team up Grace stated "I hope it’s all leading towards Operation Ivy getting back together and playing"[10]
Discography
[edit]- Catbite (2019)
- Amphetamine Delight 7" (2019)
- Catbite Live From an Empty War3house (2020)
- Catfite: A HXC Version of Catbite S/T (2021)
- Catlite: A Yee-Haw Version of Catbite S/t (2021)
- Nice One (2021)
- Wavebreaker #2 (2022) (split EP with Mike Park)
References
[edit]- ^ "How Brittany Luna from Catbite went from Jazz singer to Ska front women?". 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Catbite interview: Philly ska band talks making of their great new album 'Nice One'". 4 August 2021.
- ^ "'"Everybody Talks" – An Interview With Catbite'". 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Philly's Catbite are ska ambassadors for our collective new normal". 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Interviews: How a Dog Bite Saved Catbite". 23 December 2021.
- ^ "Catbite - Sound In The Signals Interview". 4 March 2021.
- ^ "Catbite balances styles, from two tone to third wave, with shades of power pop". NPR. 16 August 2022.
- ^ "Laura Jane Grace and Catbite release Op Ivy covers live album for charity". 16 January 2025.
- ^ "Laura Jane Grace and Catbite Release Operation Ivy Covers Album for Wildfire Relief". 20 January 2025.
- ^ "Laura Jane Grace Isn't Just Doing Her Best Operation Ivy Impression". 18 October 2024.