“Nobody needs a bunch of middle-aged white guys with guitars,” said Don DiLego in response to Fantastic Cat’s untraditional press photos of the members wearing comically large cat masks. If you love Americana, Folk, a touch of rock and roll, and have a great sense of humor, then you can’t miss Fantastic Cat’s Indianapolis debut on August 28th at HI-FI.
Recommended If You Like: Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Noah Kahan, Briston Maroney, Huey Mack, Joe Moreland.
It’s an age-old saying that if your intentions are clear, the world will notice. Singer/songwriters Anthony D’Amato, Brian Dunne, Don DiLego, and Mike Montali decided to take a quick break from the exhausting stresses that the music industry presents to have a little fun. This decision birthed a lighthearted side project by the name of Fantastic Cat, and its subsequent records titled “The Very Best of Fantastic Cat” and “Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat.” Sure enough, the project birthed from the pure love of creating art with friends has attracted widespread attention. Rolling Stone dubbed them as the “Harlem Globetrotters of Americana,” and their debut album “The Very Best of Fantastic Cat” earned them their national TV debut, sold-out headline dates around the US and Europe, festival performances everywhere from Sundance to Take Root, a song in the Showtime series Tulsa King, and a 50th anniversary take on Wings’ “Band On The Run” produced by legendary producer Butch Walker.
Individually, each member of Fantastic Cat boasts their own impressive resume along with a litany of critical acclaim. Paste declared Don DiLego’s latest album a “stunner.” NPR said Anthony D’Amato “sings and writes in the tradition of Bruce Springsteen or Josh Ritter.” Rolling Stone called Brian Dunne’s new record “the sleeper album of the year” and praised Mike Montali’s band, Hollis Brown, as “the soundtrack for a late-night drive through the American heartland.” Collectively, though, the four transcend their respective roots, emerging as a velvet-clad rock and roll cooperative far greater than the sum of its parts.
Despite this, the foursome uses the term “supergroup” in a playful manner. Don DiLego told Charlottesville’s “The Daily Progress” that “What we had first was the music; it wasn’t a gimmick. It isn’t a comedy band. It’s funny, but we’re not telling jokes.” Each member is serious about their songwriting, but Fantastic Cat will always be a place bred from serendipity.
“The Very Best of Fantastic Cat” was a showcase of each member’s individual songwriting ability. However, their newest album “Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat,” is their first amalgamation of the members’ combined songwriting abilities. Some would describe this as their magnum opus, but most would describe this as “purr-fection.”
The group will perform live at HI-FI in Indianapolis Wednesday, August 28th. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering their music, you won’t want to miss this intimate show.
Tickets are on sale for $20 in advance or $25 at the door on the night of the show. Purchase tickets online or stop by the Virginia Ave. Mercantile & Box Office in Fountain Square (1043 Virginia Ave. Suite 2) to purchase tickets with no service fees.