Interview with Andre Cataldo of Dear Genre
Musician and songwriter Andre Cataldo of the young band Dear Genre answered some questions for St Louis Music Press interviewer Angie Knost about the band and their upcoming appearance at Rock U Fest.
Dear Genre will be performing at the Rock U Festival at the Atomic Cowboy in St. Louis on September 24, 2011.
Dear Genre. (Photo provided by Dear Genre. Used by permission.)
Angie: What are some other bands that you think influence your band’s sound? Are there bands you often get compared to?
Andre: As far as influences, I have too many to count, but I’m not sure I could point out ones that significantly shape the sound of the music. We’ve been compared to a few and hear different ones every time, which is nice. Wavves, Best Coast, Arctic Monkeys and Weezer, just to name a few.
Angie: Can you give us a brief history of your band, as far as how the band formed and how you’re gotten where you are today?
Andre: Late last year I had gotten to the point where I was no longer playing with a band and was considering branching out and starting my own personal project. I started the band out of boredom and curiosity, and named it Dear Genre so I’d have a lighthearted outlet for my mess of songs to be placed under, without restricting it to a single genre. After “You Put the Fear in Atmosphere” was released in December of 2010, I was stuck without a band and a way to bring the full ideas out into the public, so out of desperation I posted a random Facebook status, asking any local musicians that were looking for a band to be a part of to contact me. Within an hour I had two old friends and one random stranger kid onboard, and they’ve stuck with me ever since.
Angie: How long have you been playing shows in the St Louis area? And what venues are your favorites?
Andre: Our very first show was in March, so we’re just starting to get the hang of things and still have much to learn. I know I’m safe speaking on behalf of the entire band in saying the venues and shows that have been the most enjoyable to us would have to be The Pageant and LouFest, that both happened in August.
Angie: How did you get involved with Rock U Fest? What are some of your thoughts about the festival?
Andre: We were asked to play Rock U Fest by a really nice guy named Christopher Davis who came to watch us at Off Broadway for the LouFest High school Battle of the Bands back in May. Personally, I’m so comforted by the fact that there’s a small gathering of people in St. Louis that care enough about the local music scene to put on an event like this, to highlight and encourage local acts young and old. I can already tell that everybody involved in making this happen have the best of hearts and are also excited to hear what St. Louis has been brewing up. I’m disturbingly excited for this festival and am positive that it’ll be a far out experience!
Find out more about Dear Genre with this LINK:
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