AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS CATYLYST!...
1. HI... WHO ARE YOU THEN, AND WHAT WE CAN WE DO FOR YA?
My name is Chris and I play guitar and sing in Leeds rockers Catylyst. Would you like a drink?
2. WOULD YOU CLASS YOURSELF AS PART OF LEEDS' THRIVING MUSIC SCENE, OR ARE YOU ABOVE AND BEYOND IT?
We're part of no scene and every scene, we're not 'scenesters' at all. We'll play for anyone who gives a fuck, whether that be 150,000 hardcore metalheads in Rio de Janiero or 4 decrepit pensioners in Clacton on Sea. Leeds is a cool place, and it's where we live and base ourselves, and we're proud to be a part of it, but there's point going round thinking 'Let's be the biggest/best/loudest band in Leeds'. We think a bit further than that. At the end of the day, we are totally committed to this band, but we still have a laugh and don't take ourselves (ie our personalities) too seriously.
3. HOW'D THE RECENT TOUR WITH ROCKERS DRUGDEALER CHEERLEADER PAN-OUT?
It was a good laugh. Like any tour at this kinda level, there are quiet nights and there are quieter nights, but we've been asked back to every place we played, and that says summat to me. The DDCL boys are a good laugh, really really sound lads and because we saw them so many times, we ended up choreographing dances to their songs, the best of which was Jamie's nu-metal mosh in Secrets. The best night for us was the date in Leeds, cos there was a lot of people there and it showed that all the hard work we've done in Leeds is starting to pay off. OOooooohhh. We've just gotta keep it up now.
4. HOW HAS YOUR MUSICAL STYLE PROGRESSED SINCE YOUR FIRST DEMO RELEASE?
I fucking well hope so. Our first demo was quite frankly cack and I hope no-one ever hears it. We were still young pups then though, so that's one excuse, and the line-up has changed 50% since then too. Now we've got a cracking line-up and cracking songs. Our first CD had some okay tunes but we've progressed since then. For want of a better word, we're a lot more 'mature' now.
5. WHAT OTHER BANDS IN AND AROUND LEEDS SHOULD WE PEEL OUR EYES FOR AT YOUR DISCRETION?
Ooh... Brody - our tour buddies. Alice In Chains/Tool style rocky metal which is a bit too intelligent for me at times, they're flipping great. Mr Dogg, who Wally played drums for for a bit, who do punky metally stuff ala Goldfinger, great tunes and Maff can downstroke like a motherfucker. Mr Shiraz who I played trombone and guitar for for a bit, they're a metally punky ska type band, cool people and they've really improved of late. Parva are an indie rocky band, again some ace tunes, they've just lost their record deal after Mantra folded, but it shouldn't be too long tim they get another. Phluid who you know all about. Her Alibi are a cool emo-rock band, les Flames! are a cool garage punk rock band (the other three in Catylyst aren't so fussed though), Scaramanga Six are dead good, Colour of Fire are a superb emo-punk-rock band, dead stylish and really good backing so they'll go far, bastards. And None of Them Knew They Were Robots too, they're kinda similar to Colour of Fire but kinda not, lovely guys and again some ace tunes - there's summat special going on there. I love Parisman too, electro rockers, and 4 Day Hombre are always brilliant, with some beauty harmonies. And last but not least there's the fantakka Downfall who are starting to get some recognition, a great emo-punky-power-pop-rock three piece, watch out for their new CD. That's my Mark Goodier moment over. Oh and not to forget Aztec Foyer, Side Project, Robochrist, the Chris Catylyst Ordeal, Th3rd Eye, Strapping Young Tom and Col, and a few others who have absolutely nothing to do with the members of Catylyst no sirree.
6. WHAT'S COMING UP FOR YOU? ARE ANY RECORD COMPANIES RIGHTFULLY HOUNDING YOU YET?
We're releasing a CD on Blunt Monkey Records (www.bluntmonkey.com) in May, with national distribution, so you'll be able to get your mucky mitts on that very soon.
7. AND, LASTLY, WHO ATE ALL THE PIE?
Ermm... we shared it I think. But there was a fuck of a lot of it.
8. UNLESS YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY PLUGS RIGHT HERE, WRITE NOW...
Keep your eyes and ears open for our May/June tour, keep checking the website for an overhaul soon and don't eat yellow snow. Or shit. =====
E-mail the man!... [email protected]
www.catylyst.com