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Tomas Kalnoky formed Catch 22 in 1996, later enlisting the services of drummer Chris Geer, trumpeter Kevin Gunther, bassist Josh Ansley, saxophone player Ryan Eldred, and trombonist James Egan. The same year the group issued their debut demo tape “Rules of the Game”, limited to 2000 copies. The tape quickly sold out through local promotion and Catch 22 went about finding a label to issue future material. Catch 22 subsequently sent their demo to Sean Bonner of Toybox and Victory Records, who signed the band to Victory and produced they debut album “Keasbey Nights”. The 1998 release introduced the band to a national audience, marked by its upbeat and positive approach. Following the release, bassist Ansley departed the group and was replaced by Pat Calpin, and Catch 22 issued the EP “UP!”.
Trumpet player Egan, who had been fellow trumpeter Kevin Gunther’s first music teacher, left the group in 1999, as did lead singer Tomas Kalnoky, who was replaced by Jeff Davidson. Catch 22’s sophomore album “Alone in a Crowd” was issued by Victory Records in October 2000 and featured the song trilogy “What Goes Around Comes Around”, “Bloomfield Avenue”, and “Neverending Story”. The record was followed by the group’s first national tour in which the band appeared with Mustard Plug, Reel Big Fish and a host of other ska bands.
Members Davidson and Soprano left shortly afterwards in 2001 with Ryan Eldred and Kevin Gunther assuming vocal responsibilities. Following the release of an expanded “Washed Up” EP entitled “Washed Up and Through the Ringer” featuring B-sides and rarities, Catch 22’s third full-length album, “Dinosaur Sounds”, was released in November 2003, marked by its darker themes and subject matter. The live CD/DVD “Live” arrived in 2004 showcasing a performance at The Downtown in Farmingdale, New York, followed by the band’s fourth studio album “Permanent Revolution” in 2006.
I saw Catch-22 live by chance – almost didn’t see them at all. Was staying with a friend in NJ, and went to the Bamboozle festival, and she wanted to see them. I was originally dubious, when she explained they were a ‘ska punk’ band, especially when she said that they had a saxophonist. I ended up going purely because they shared a name with one of my favourite books.
In the end, despite my earlier scepticism, it was well worth going. The energy in their live show is endless. And, being the nerdy lover of older music that I am, the addition of the saxophone had a ‘Madness’ hint about it that I loved. The music is fast-paced, but the band never seemed to get tired, and the audience seemed wired the whole way through, enthusiastic, jumping about like lunatics, which was quite fine by me, as it meant that no one was paying too much attention to my own stupid dancing. I might have enjoyed it more if I’d bothered to check out their music beforehand, as everyone around me seemed to be having great fun yelling the lyrics back at the band, but I had fun enough without, just revelling in the general atmosphere. The banter between the band and the audience was hilarious, even without having a super-fan’s deep knowledge of them.
It was great music for a beach festival, and when I later found out that they’d inspired bands from my teenage years like Sum 41 and Bowling For Soup, in retrospect, it became obvious. The music isn’t serious, isn’t deeply emotional, but great fun. It’s kind of sad that I haven’t been able to see them since, and I’m sad that I only found them by stumbling on to them after the bulk of their career was over with. Simply put, if you get the chance to see them, go.
AbiSetch
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