Catawampus- Band Interview (2026)

Edition Thirty-One – Week Thirty-One; Unit 2:

Written by: Mercedes Barreto

Why did you call the band Catawampus? Is there significance behind the band name?

“The name comes to us from one of the romantic partners of a previous member of the band. It hit, it fit, and it stayed. The name represents us well as a group, and does the same for our song choices. We try to pick songs from an artist that are not the low-hanging fruit ones that you expect to hear, but are instead just slightly off the mark of what you’d expect. A dart throw that is ever so slightly Catawampus from the predictable “bullseye” song would be from that artist. This isn’t an exclusive rule, but does continue to surface as a pattern. It also applies to the artists we chose to cover, not just the songs themselves. Plus, it’s a fun word that shows up in unexpected places. Now, you’ll start seeing it, too.”

What have been some recent advancements with the band? Any interesting announcements?

“This year we have made advancements with the venues we are playing, the imaging and branding we present on stage, and our social media presence. We also recorded and released studio recordings of some of our staple songs! We are proud to say that we have a residency at Newburgh Brewing Company for the year, which was a goal of ours for the back half of last year.

We also now have a full stage branded banner as well as a vertical post banner that spans the station of our keyboardist. This accompanies the stickers and coasters and business cards we have always had. The branding initiative is spearheaded by our rhythm guitarist and vocalist Richard McKay. Our keyboardist and vocalist Michael Leary has taken point on our audio and video capture and editing. You will find live footage videos across our social media and YouTube pages that he curates, edits, and produces. We alternate between capturing direct audio from the mixing board and live room audio for these videos. Michael also produced and mastered the studio recordings that we put out recently. Those can be found on our YouTube page as well.”

What is the style of music the band performs, and what are some upcoming shows?

“We cover a wide range of music. From Fats Domino to The Black Keys, Wilson Pickett to Elvis Costello, The Spinners to Fleetwood Mac. Songs you forgot you loved, from all walks of sound.

Upcoming shows:

4/11 | Union St. Brewing | 7-9pm

5/9 | Newburgh Brewing Co. | 6-9pm

5/29 | The Partition Saugerties | 7:30-10:30pm

6/6 | RMV Cellars | 6-9pm

7/11 | Newburgh Brewing Co. | 6-9pm

Follow us on social media to see more! (See following questions).”

What is the dynamic for all band members on and off the set?

“We each have a wide breadth of musical tastes and interests. You hear that in our set list. We all enjoy performing and taking chances musically. And all of us sing so we can move the focus around the band and keep our audience engaged. And we’re always adding new songs.

Richard [Rhythm Guitar]: A former architect, he gets into the aesthetic and visual aspect of marketing and stage presentation. He grew up singing in choirs and immersed in different musical genres. Off stage, he likes cooking, tennis and growing food.

Michael Welti [Lead Guitar]: A Binghamton University graduate who met his romantic partner there, drives a white car, loves the Mets, and plays guitar. A Father, Husband, contributor to his community, and someone you want in your corner.

Michael Leary [Keyboards]: A Binghamton University graduate who met his romantic partner there, drives a white car, loves the Mets, and plays guitar (no, we’re not kidding). Michael is a multi-instrumentalist and active member of the Hudson Valley music scene, and under the moniker The Learicist performs in multiple bands as well as his own solo shows.

Dave Yozzo [Bass]: A man of many pursuits and instruments, some known to others and some that might surprise you. The most recent addition to the band, Dave has brought a unique style and flexibility to our shows.

Johnny Muff [Drums]: A Navy Veteran and fun-loving athlete, Johnny provides exactly what you’d hope to find in a drummer. A willing vocalist, the life of the party, an excellent sense of time, intentional and exciting risks on stage, and an overall balance to the dynamic of the group.”

Who are some music industry executives the band would be honored to collaborate with?

“We’re always interested in speaking to people in the music business, but are mostly a DIY band. We’d love to meet people who also take that approach! Some examples would be: Daryl Hall, with what he’s put together in Pawling and Live at Daryl’s House; Cory Wong, with his leveraging social media to get to Madison Square Garden; and Joe Bonamassa, with his four walling shows and mastery of promotion. We’d love to play shows with other bands! We have found that it can be a challenge to find venues that can support that, as well as finding a date where neither band already has a booked show! We are also available for private events, parties, and promotions whenever those are brought to us.”

Where can we hear more, and why should we? What makes Catawampus an iconic band for the times?

“Instagram: @catawampus_band

Facebook: @catawampusband

YouTube: @catawampus_band

Iconic is a high bar, and only applies to a select few. But we are proud to say that we have found our identity in this scene nicely. We tell everyone, “We’ll play your favorite song”, because we’ll have at least one song in our set list that lights up an audience member with “Oh my gosh, I used to love that song!” That’s where we get our biggest joy. Think of a mix tape or a playlist you made to give to someone you care about, hoping that they’d love these songs as much as you do.”

Anything to add here?

“Supporting live local musicians is incredibly important, especially now. Even if it’s not us, go see musicians in your area and actively support them. Follow them on social media, talk about them with friends. Art is a mutual relationship, and the audience matters as much as the performer. See you out there, Hudson Valley!”

Questions For The Photographer-

What made these photos special or stand out in some way?

“The photos were taken at Newburgh Brewery. They have a nice stage, some lights, and the band brought more lights. I loved the material they do. Many songs are what I call rock standards that are not covered by other bands. These guys have been around and know what they are doing.”

Do you recommend the band for future opportunities and more?

“I do recommend this band for other shows in other venues. The crowd loves them, and people who know music do as well.”