SKANEWS Webzine - TOP CATS Interview

THE TOP CATS interview
(11 / 2000)

SKANEWS : The Story so far...

TOP CATS : Top Cats formed in february, 1998 in South London, through a combination of old friendships, chance meetings, jam sessions and adverts. The goal was always to form an old-school ska band with the emphasis on exciting live shows. It took 3 months to find the line-up, starting from a nucleus of Guy on bass and Si on drums then adding Damien on trombone. Natty Bo had been known to Guy and Si for several years before we found out he could sing, and what a singer, Megumi had recently returned from Japan, revealing herself as a formidable alto sax player after a chance meeting outside Gaz's Rockin' Blues in Soho. Tim da Buska was found playing in Peckham market in a jazz
band. Everything fell into place one week-end.We did our first gig the next week after 2 rehearsals! However, the T.C.'s went through about 7 guitarists before meeting Olly and the original trumpeter was replaced a year ago by Robin.

SKANEWS : Line up

TOP CATS :
- The voice : Natty Bo (front man extra-ordinaire) - singer & percussion - formerly with Trojans and Archaos, he dj's weekly at Gaz's Rockin' Blues.
- The T.C. horns :
    Megumi 'Mesaku' Lerner (The beautiful Miss Megoo) - alto & baritone sax - formerly of Trojans and several Tokyo based bands. Her costumes and solo's are always electric.
    Damien Snakehips - trombone - previously a funk band member and now also a sculptor with Arts Express. He is the bogle guv'nor!
    Tim da Buska (the svengali of swing) - tenor sax - numerous jazz bands and a hip-hop act. A stalwart of street entertaining and donkey driving.
   Robin Sidewinder - trumpet - has played with Rico Rodriguez, Earl 16, Manaseh, Soothsayers, Stereo MC's, Dodgy & many more. Down to earth pragmatist and wicked soloist.
- The rocksteady rhythm crew :
Olly-day (dapper man about town, the sunshine of the day)) - guitar - founder of several bands with sister Rachel (killer dancer!) and co-founder of Cool Tan Arts and Pullit centres. He commutes between Paris and Peckham in the name of love.
    Guy Boom - electric and double bass - Top Cats is his first band, though G,. writes electronic dance music in his home studio. He supplies rocksolid riffs and a solid foundation to the T.C.'s music.
    Si Tang! - drums - film and video artist, promoter and former hip-hop/funk drummer. The backbone of the band, logistics manager and often live sound engineer.

SKANEWS : Musical influences

TOP CATS : Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae, especially The Skatalites in their many guises; Prince Buster, 40's & 50's r'n'b, swing jazz, Slim Gaillard, soul, and good music everwhere.

SKANEWS : can you introduce your records ?

TOP CATS : In March 2000 the Top Cats released a CD album "Mr. Donkey Paradise" and a 12" EP of 9 original songs written by members of the band. Produced and arranged by the Top Cats and recorded live in Toe Rag Studios, a studio equipped with microphones, mixing-desk, reel-to-reel tape machines and plate reverb built in the '50's and '60's, to create a powerful and truly authentic sound that comes close to capturing the energy of Top Cats' live shows. All the tracks were recorded live, even vocals, with the whole band playing together in the same room to capture the vibe and energy of the T.C.'s.

SKANEWS : can you talk me about your lyrics?

TOP CATS : Top Cats are not political, we believe in sending out good vibrations, having fun and not preaching to our fans.

SKANEWS : Have you try to find a record compgny or a distributor ?

TOP CATS : No we are putting out our own discs, though we have licensed material to Jamdown Records in the U.K. and Porkpie Records in Germany. We'll let them come to us rather than go begging for a shitty deal. World domination will come soon enough.

SKANEWS : Well, you auto-produced your records ?

TOP CATS : Yes, though the album was mostly engineered by Dr. Liam Watson at Toe Rag
and he contributed to the production.

SKANEWS : Is it hard for a band like The Top Cats to find a record label?

TOP CATS : Don't know, don't really care.

SKANEWS : Can you talk me about your covers versions ?

TOP CATS : We play some covers, but try not to be obvious: Storm Warning, Amen, Skaing West, On Broadway, In the mood for ska, Dinah, Riding for a fall and Perfidia. They were originally a way to get a big live set quickly and to introduce ska to some in the band who'd never played it before. Our
repertoire of over 30 songs is mostly original material.

SKANEWS : You have played in France last august...

TOP CATS : Everyone was really generous, especially Var band "De la Colline", audiences went crazy up and down France. Many venues and people said we were the best band they'd ever seen which was great to hear. We're coming back in February!

SKANEWS : What are your plans for the end of 2000 and 2001 ?

TOP CATS : We're touring briefly in November/December (dates below) then again in Feb. in France, later we will be in Spain and Portugal. We hope to go to USA and Japan in the summer and maybe even New Zealand in the Autumn. We're also refining new material and will record 3-6 songs at the end of 2000. It will be available early 2001 on cd and maybe vinyl. We intend to put out a new cd every 6 months.

CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN TOUR DATES :

18.11. Belgium-Kontich/LINTFABRIEK
19.11. Germany-Stuttgart/tbc
21.11. Italy-Camerino/tbc
22.11. Italy-Milano/BLUESHOUSE
23.11. Italy-Firenze/AUD.FLOG
24.11. Italy-Touro Sul Trasimeno(Perugia)/DUE LUNE
25.11. Italy-Vicenza/INTERNO20
26.11 Italy-Olginate/LA TASCA
27.11. CH-Geneva/CAFE OBLOMOV
28.11. CH- Luzern/SCHUEUER FOYER - tbc
30.11. CH-Bern/ISC
02.12. D-Mainz/REDUIT
31.12 AMSTERDAM/MELKWEG

SKANEWS : Do you try to find a distributor in France ?

TOP CATS : Yes ! And across Europe. If the deal is right.

SKANEWS : Do you want to play as a bacling band for a jamaican artist ?

TOP CATS : Of course. We have had interest from The Skatalites and Prince Buster is very keen.

SKANEWS : What do you think about Ska scene in England and rest of the world now ?

TOP CATS : There are a lot of ska-punk bands and two-tone revivalists, but we seem to be the only new band putting out the Jamaican sound. We can't wait to get out to ska fans in America and Japan next year.

SKANEWS : You are very popular in England...

TOP CATS : We play all over the U.K., favourite gigs include Glastonbury, WOMAD and, of course , Notting Hill Carnival, we've played there in 98, 99 & 2000. We've had radio play from David Rodigan on KISS 100fm, Andy Kershaw on Radio 2 and the World Service, lots of pirate stations and appeared on Channel 4 tv. Jerry Dammers (The Specials), Joe Strummer and the rest of The Clash, Buster Bloodvessel, Maroon Town, Gaz Mayall & the Trojans, Duke Vin, and Rico have all come to our gigs many times.

SKANEWS : Last words...

TOP CATS : See you in Paris in early February!

Interview : Jean-Pierre Boutellier / Skanews.