Don't let the name fool you. This isn't some
crybaby blues jam. There's a time and a place for
that, but Kat Blu was born rockin', and this hard
hittin' three-piece band from southern Minnesota
has been leaving big tracks on the rock music scene
ever since their formation on New Year's Eve
1994-'95. As a self-sufficient working band, Kat
Blu's persistence and passion have allowed them
to
achieve what other bands have not..
They have been making a lot of noise at clubs and
bars all around the Midwest over the years, and
other high-profile shows including Rockin' the
Hills, a four-day rock music concert in Bottineau,
ND., where they have stomped the stage two years
running. Twice, they have been one of the featured
bands at the Riverbend Music Festival, in Owatonna,
MN. They were invited to play as the opening act for a
portion of E'nuff Z'nuff's tour through ND and MN. They
have
played for the state A.B.A.T.E. rally in Regal, MN. and the list goes on...
With the release of two CD's of original music, Kat Blu is holding their own.
"Too Wild to Tame" was released in 1996, and their latest disc
"Uncaged" in 2003. Their songs have had airplay on local radio, as
well as being broadcasted in Eastern states, and there has even been interest
from overseas.
When they are playing a show, Kat Blu songs like, "Animal,"
"Too Wild to Tame,"" Kamikaze," "Numb," and
"Workin' Day" are frequently requested.
Kat Blu's impressive repertoire of hundreds of cover songs has been pleasing
crowds as well. Whether it's covering classic groups like AC/DC, KISS, Led
Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, and Rush, recent bands like Guns n' Roses,
Poison, Quiet Riot, The Beastie Boys, Green Day, and Metallica, or current
bands like Buckcherry, Nickelback, Puddle of Mud, and Kid Rock, people are
amazed at what only three guys rockin' on stage can sound like.
A three-piece band like Kat Blu is sometimes hard to sell...until you know
what they're made of. And if you ask them, these guys will tell you that they
wouldn't have it any other way. The special blend
of busy rhythms and sounds created by "Scary"
Larry Crawford, Reed Tostenson, and Elliot Pagel,
is something that you have to hear and see to
believe.
All three musicians have their own vocal and
playing qualities, and when you put them all
together, it's not quite like anything you have
heard before. Larry is one of the wildest drummers
/vocalists around, and his stage antics make him
hard to ignore. He's always hitting something, and
when people ask him how he can play and sing
like that simultaneously, his answer is honestly,
"I don't know...I just do it." Even other drummers
say,
"Wow!" or sometimes they just sit and stare...
As the guitarist, Reed's style is perfectly suited for a
trio, as he switches between playing rhythm, lead, or
both at the same time, even from one beat to the next.
He
has to...there's only one guitar on stage! His aggressive, from the hip (and
heart) axemanship is undeniable, and it's sometimes hard to determine just
exactly how he can do that! All bass players are the same, right?...Wrong!
Elliot has a special ability to not only hold down the bottom end, but also
enhance the rhythm and fill in spaces around guitar leads, while accenting
elements of the drums and vocals. His busy bass playing, and busy stage
presence make you wonder what a bassist in a four or five piece band would do
with all of his free time. Kat Blu doesn't go anywhere without the fourth
Kat...their sound tech.Gary Thofson. He knows the band better than they know
themselves, and he knows just how much sauce it takes to season the mix.
A veteran of studio recording, as well as running sound for many types of live
performances, you'd be hard pressed to find someone with a more talented and
experienced pair of ears.
Along with their CD's, Kat Blu has made available
t-shirts, sweatshirts, and of all things, shot glasses
bearing their logos and pictures. These are made
available at the shows, and also online, along
with their playing schedule, photos, sound clips,
and contact information on the official Kat Blu
website at www.katblu.net.