The TnC Roundabout was fairly busy.  Every seat was taken, and the prime standing room filled.  The band was Cats Ass, an 80's cover band.  They put on a good show.  The crowd loved them.  They were loud and had a good light show.  Really, all the ingredients for a good time.

So, despite this, I wasn't a huge fan.  Not so much for the music quality.  I thought they played pretty good.   The trouble was the playlist.  I didn't know going in it was mostly 80's music, which unfortunately I hated first back in the 80's.  I personally look back at that time period and say the only good thing to come out of it musically, for me, is it drove me to a classical music phase of my life.  …Of course the downside was I totally missed Cobain and Nirvana.  I didn't even know who he was when it was announced he was dead.

Cats Ass at the TnC Roundabout April 2010

Cats Ass was a crowd pleasing band.  There seemed to be a high groupie ratio among the bar patrons.   There were lots of people who knew the band and their music well.  We missed the first set and arrived just as the band went on break.  In fact I heard them playing as we crossed the parking lot toward the bar but then they were off stage by the time we got in.

Complex guitar stuff is handled very well by Andy White.  He seemed to do a great job with everything from complex solos on.  Lead singer Kayla Feicher did pretty good.  Her vocal range seemed a little bit limited, but when she hit a song within that range, she sounded great.  The video I captured was a little outside of that sweet spot, so you know it won't sound any worse than this.   Cats Ass packs heavy.  I am guessing equipment out weighs musicians by at least a decimal place.  They were pretty loud.  And, they ran chemical smoke machines a lot.   Smoke machines which are going to still be working just fine after July 1st.  Google, PM2.5.

There were no greater fans of Cats Ass than the members and crew themselves.   I appreciate bands that travel with sound staff  I really do.  I missed the first set, and in the second set they mentioned they had been having some sound troubles.  During the break, their sound team worked it out.   …Or, at least anyway, I thought they sounded fine the second set.

Cats Ass playing the New Age Girls song Mary Moon

What I have to complain about is half about the band, and the other half just the bad luck of bar design.  The TnC has a lot of bar winding through the place.  Then with a band having as much equipment as Cats Ass also using up the floor, suddenly  there wasn't much space.  The sound guys were setup in about the only really prime audience space there was.   And, yet those folks running the sound board seemed to be as into the music as anyone else there.   So, it is a little tough for me to jump them too bad about it.  I wish it could have been laid out a little bit better for an audience of people wanting to listen to the music.

Andrew White, lead guitar with Cats Ass on stage at TnC Roundabout April 2010

There was a good element of showmanship to the performance.   The rhythm guitar player, Donovan Nohr, was wireless, and you know how those guys love to show that stuff off.  He was very mobile, wandering around the whole north end of the bar.   He spent a fair amount of time out on the dance floor, back to the audience, just enjoying the music.

There was a light show.  Some cool laser stuff that looked great in the smoke. The show also had pyrotechnics, which frankly, I've lost my taste for that shit ever since Great White.  

Musical highpoint was Cheap Trick, I want you to want me It played very well into Kayla Feichter's vocal range.   She did a great job of it.  And, it reminded me of the very first concert I ever went to.  Cheap Trick at Riverside Arena in Austin Minnesota back in the day.

I would say if you are into this era of music, Cats Ass did a respectable job of laying' it down.  

Back at the beginning of the night, as we pulled into the TnC, there was an unmarked state trooper who had somebody pulled over for a sobriety test.  We weren't interested in staying the whole night and risking that action.  So, at the end of the second set we blew outta there heading for the Snout where American Gypsy was playing.

We arrived just as she went on break.  Twice in one night.  I have always been lucky this way.   Once she got going it was a mixed comedy and music show.  She wasn't too bad, singing.  I didn't think the comedy was very funny. The show was also kind of audience participation stuff.  She had two dudes on stage in grass skirts at one point.   I said to The Wife, "If she trys to pull me up there we're fecken going to Deweys, man.."

Third set break, we made for the door.

American Gypsy has a web site at:
http://www.americangypsy.net/fr_index.cfm

Cats Ass has both a Facebook page and a web site at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cats-Ass/90672001630
http://www.catsasstheband.com

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Comments (3)

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We were there for Cats Ass and it was a great show. Especially after the first set when the sound was much better. TOTALLY 110% disagree with your view on their guitar player Donovan. Dude made Cats Ass look .. unprofessional.
And HOW can you NOT like the 80s?? It just ain't... American!!!

Say WHAT? , April 08, 2010

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I totally disagree with the above comment. Great show and I appreciate watching Donovan running around. If he stayed on stage you wouldn't be able to look at his fine ass! Who cares if it's "unprofessional". It's TnC Roundabout in Chippewa Falls, WI, not the flippin' Sydney Opera House.

... , April 12, 2010

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oww shame the link to the video doesn't work anymore, anyone can fix it? thanks!!

texan casinji , October 07, 2011

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