The Calico Cats
The Calico Cats were originally formed in 1997 by brothers Kris and John-Paul Nowak as a response to the pop-alternative driven cover bands taking over their local area. The brothers wanted to create the "new" definition of a rock band.
They
drew from many influences. Whose energy would be a fresh, welcome change
to the predictability of suburban life. And while the first version of
The Cats lasted only a few months, the Nowaks never lost their vision.
In 1999, Erik Boehm, organist, and Dan Kmiec, bassist, joined The Calico
Cats and immediately set out for the recording studio to produce their
self-produced debut CD, The Calico Cats.
This Chicago-based band began performing in and around their hometown, and eventually branched out to other suburbs, before landing some key gigs in the city of Chicago, The year 2000 was especially fruitful for The Cats, who saw their once-a-month gig schedule balloon up to three gigs a week, coupled with an expanding and loyal fan base.
What the Calico Cats attempt to create is a spontaneous environment that will remain as fresh for the members of the band as it is for their audience, while still maintaining a cohesive and recognizable sound. They achieve this balance by creating rock music that contains elements of nearly every style of popular American music, including blues, country, jazz, raggae, funk, latino, and bluegrass. And, when performing live, it's impossible to predict what style they might rely on, or where they might be headed next. This spontaneous energy keeps the musicians on their toes, as well as it keeps their audiences on their feet and dancing.