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Album Liner Notes (Critique)
The Howlin' Cats'
by Bob Engelman
(Writer, Guitar Digest/Vintage Guitar) 3-10-2001 After 40 years in the music business in some shape or form (I started early!), I've had the priviledge of hanging out and /or interviewing many of the top artists from the 50's through 2001. One thing that hasn't changed is that I still enjoy listening to and hanging with local talent. I've done my best to promote local talented performers as much as I've helped my friends perform on a national level. One of my pet projects has to be (have) been to get Grand Funk Railroad, and the Ventures elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (I won't rest until they are inducted!). I am known as an honest reviewer and have been entrusted by many PR and record companies with their clients' reputations. If somebody plain "Sucks", I'd rather turn down the assignment (The old "If you can't say something nice about someone" philosophy). The years of reviewing concerts, albums, and doing interviews have made me extremely critical of performers. I have grown accustomed to expecting the best out of every performance, and am not satisfied with anything less. So much for the disclaimer, on with the review! The Howling Cats have been playing together for three years or so, but each of the three members have spent a lifetime playing with cover bands or recording with various acts. The basic three piece "Power Trio" format has suited the band well, and allows them to competently cover their intent, which is blues and classic rock. If you take guitar, bass, and drums, and marry the instruments with competent vocals, you come up with the Howling Cats. The "Cats" are a trio that virtually spend much of their waking hours (when not practicing) putting potential new equipment through their personalized torture test, in order to constantly update their sound to match the material. As I mentioned earlier, they feel that the audience deserves the best, and they aim to deliver! The band's goal, is to take a classic from the 50's on up to present time, personalize it, and let it loose! I've noticed that the band strives for perfecting it's materials rather than straying into the void of adding material just for the sake of expanding their set list. Bobby Ray Laverty Jr., is as skilled as they come with the guitar, and nails down the chops on complex material with precision and authority. Drummer Gene Klaus (a carpenter by trade) can pound the drums like he's driving a ten penny nail with a sledge hammer (when required), or use a feather touch on classics like "Malted Milk". Bassist Frank Andrusak has the groove lines down, and from experience, can relate to using everything from a "Wall of sound" bacndrop to soft walking bass shuffle. The Howling Cats are capable of sharing the stage with any touring act. Thypcal comments at a HC gig are "That's the best version of that song I've ever heard!" If you want to hear bubble gum music, top 40, or disco, go somewhere else! If you want to hear synthesizes or horns, go somewhere else! If you want to hear boring stuff played by by bored unacceptable musicians, you guessed it, go somewhere else! If you want to have fun and watch well rehearsed veterans play "In your face" music, I'm telling you where to come find it! The preceding was not a PAID solicited advertisement, or written at gunpoint, it was entirely voluntary. (signed) Bob Engelman
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