If you like blues music, you'll love Noah & the Stratocats. If you like rock and jazz, but hate the blues, you'll love Noah & the Stratocats. If you don't love the Cats, it's because you haven't heard them. Trust me, you will love them soon. The Stratocats are the fastest rising, most exciting band on the local Dayton scene. You can catch this talented trio almost any weekend at Gilly's or one of Dayton's Oregon District clubs.
The group is a tight-knit combo featuring Noah Wotherspoon on guitar and vocals, Josh Johnson on drums and Griffin Hussong on bass. Their repertoire ranges from Elmore James to Herbie Hancock to Jimi Hendrix and a handful of original tunes. Their distinctive sound combines the shimmering virtuosity of a guitar prodigy, the sizzling energy of a percussive maniac and the stylish interpretation of a tasteful bassist
To hear the Cats is to adore them! I say that objectively, since I suffer from "blues aversion
syndrome." To me, blues is never having to say you're sorry for being sloppy and cliché. That old 12-bar chord scheme seems too--well--predictable. But the Cats put imagination into everything they do, including the blues, so I've learned to respect them. Even when they let a guest blues harp sit in and blow those excruciatingly slow pitch bends, I don't run for the door. The Cats always rescue me soon enough.
But the group goes beyond blues. Their signature tune, "People Say" is a combination vocal
pleaser and acid rock masterpiece. At the Night Owl, they stretched this song for 20 minutes with the finest Hendrix inspired guitar you could hope for.
Did I mention Noah and Griffin are both 17 years old? You won't believe it! Noah has the intuition and technical skills of ancient dead elders like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. Personally, I like him better. Noah is a tiger. And he does fine vocals, too. Griffin has a range of styles and techniques that'll give you goosebumps. From bumble bee bass to boogey blues to popping funk, he keeps a classy backbeat going. Griffin has a great ear for improv--playing off both the guitar and the drums. If you're like me, you'll notice the best Stratocat tunes are the ones where Griffin is "dancing" on the bass!
Josh is the old guy of the group. He's 27. His inexhaustible energy and rhythmic dexterity put a
monstrously rich foundation under every tune. That's true even on the slow blues numbers--which would normally induce "12 bar boredom" in someone like me. Watching Josh is pure entertainment. He goes into what Mickey Hart would call a "drum trance" on every piece.
My favorite Stratocat tune is Jimi Hendrix's "3rd Stone From The Sun." A one-chord song like this is normally a bass player's snooze fest, but Griffin punches out high energy rhythms that keep this tune exciting. Josh always gets to show off his beat texturing skills while Noah pours out sonic oceans of feedback and fierce fast licks. I only had to hear this number once to be permanently changed. I decided this was the proof of the Stratocats' supremacy. I can't imagine Hendrix doing better than this 16 year old genius. Noah now carries the mantle of my guitar hero. I know my musical heart is in good hands.
On June 5-6 1999, the Cats will be playing the prestigious CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL for their second year!
