Led by the raw but melodic vocals of Manon Gordan, Philadelphia's the Cats released an album last year called Relax on Everyone. It left an impression with it’s mix of catchy but broken indie and bruising bar rock. Imagine if Robert Pollard and GBV and Katie Crutchfield and Waxahatchee were playing a Broad Street pub lock in. Or something.The five piece return with “Grave Desecrator”, a new track taken from an upcoming tape that will be released on the band’s own label Forward Fast. Take a listen and read what Manon and guitarist Ben Schorr have to say.Noisey: Is “Grave Desecrator” based on a real person or incident?
Ben: I wish. The only incident is that someone left that answering machine message at my parents’ house a long time ago.
Manon: This is 14-years in the making.What’s the best thing about living in south Philly?
Manon: We lived here because it was cheap and it’s not so much anymore. Ask us again in two years. You got some love on some best of 2014 lists. Did you start the band with the intention of getting on best of year lists?
Ben: I think we started with the intention of trying to figure out how to use a 4-track more than getting on any list.
Manon: We started as a cover band. You are putting together Dead Hell in a Bucket a compilation tape. Which is the best band on the tape?
Ben: The tape was kind of the product of sheer boredom. I put a lot of friends on it because they make great songs. I am thankful I could reach out to some strangers and get such awesome tracks though. Everyone on there is awesome. Honey Radar, Ivan the Tolerable, David Kenneth Nance, and Darlingchemicalia gave me some real bitchin’ hits.You cover the Verlaine’s "Lying in State". When was the first time you heard it? Do you have a favourite Flying Nun/NZ band?
Ben: I really don’t know when I first heard it. Honestly, it probably wasn’t more than five years ago. We found our track half-finished on a tape that was recorded about a year before we actually finished it. That Flying Nun catalogue is crazy and I am always discovering good stuff. Right now, I am loving the Exploding Budgies/Goblin Mix collection.
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Ben: I wish. The only incident is that someone left that answering machine message at my parents’ house a long time ago.
Manon: This is 14-years in the making.What’s the best thing about living in south Philly?
Manon: We lived here because it was cheap and it’s not so much anymore. Ask us again in two years. You got some love on some best of 2014 lists. Did you start the band with the intention of getting on best of year lists?
Ben: I think we started with the intention of trying to figure out how to use a 4-track more than getting on any list.
Manon: We started as a cover band. You are putting together Dead Hell in a Bucket a compilation tape. Which is the best band on the tape?
Ben: The tape was kind of the product of sheer boredom. I put a lot of friends on it because they make great songs. I am thankful I could reach out to some strangers and get such awesome tracks though. Everyone on there is awesome. Honey Radar, Ivan the Tolerable, David Kenneth Nance, and Darlingchemicalia gave me some real bitchin’ hits.You cover the Verlaine’s "Lying in State". When was the first time you heard it? Do you have a favourite Flying Nun/NZ band?
Ben: I really don’t know when I first heard it. Honestly, it probably wasn’t more than five years ago. We found our track half-finished on a tape that was recorded about a year before we actually finished it. That Flying Nun catalogue is crazy and I am always discovering good stuff. Right now, I am loving the Exploding Budgies/Goblin Mix collection.
‘Grave Desecrator + 4' will be available from Forward Fast soon.Like this story? Like NOISEY on Facebook.