Batwings Catwings

Artist Information

Biography

Take a Virginia Beach surf-bum, a small town Minnesotan skateboarder, a rabid Prince
fan and two multi-instrumentalist wunderkinds and what do you get? Inspired radio-friendly
noise pop with no pretenses. In Los Angeles—a place where surfing and skating and
certainly Prince are king—Batwings Catwings are right at home as a quintessentially So-
Cal band of party rockers, and affixed to a music community that has spawned some of
the world’s most game-changing musical acts. With some killer chops, sick hooks, and
an undeniable chemistry on and off stage, this band is the new-school poster child for
honest-to-goodness rock and roll.

Batwings Catwings was born at The Smell. Clay Johnson (drums/electronics) was at the
famed Downtown LA venue one night, watching experimental drum band Foot Village
and contemplating his musical future. In a serendipitous moment, Foot Village handed
their megaphone off to Dana Poblete onstage, and without hesitation she wailed. Within
seconds Johnson knew he would soon embark on a new musical era for himself. He
sent her three tracks, told her to write three songs and with that, she was in.

Two of those original songs made up half of their 2011 debut EP, "Peacock Collection",
which also boasted their ultimate surf and sand anthem "Endless Summer", inspired
by the eponymous holy grail of surf films by Bruce Brown. Now Johnson and Poblete,
alongside Ray Santillan III (guitar/sequencers) and Joshua Crampton (bass), write
collaboratively as Batwings Catwings, with a new 7" entitled "Radio" to set the tone for
their fresh new sound. Johnson describes their songwriting as “four people painting a
picture,” and as hectic as that sounds, the trust and respect they have for each other—
along with their diverse influences—manifest as something authentic and dynamic.

“If kids one day want to put our picture on their bedroom walls, we'd be stoked!" Poblete
says, laughing. She’s talking about the band’s affinity for radio pop, which is a theme
they explore on “Radio.” The title track has a pulsing synth intro, simultaneously
containing Poblete’s warm, purring vocals and allowing them space to build into a guitar-
driven chorus that brings to mind some of radio’s heavy hitters—from the Yeah Yeah
Yeahs to Foo Fighters. “"The song is about trying on different versions of yourself and
then realizing they're not really you,” Poblete says, “then you remember the things you
loved as a kid – those cool radio hits – and you realize you're still the same person
you've always been."

Batwings Catwings aren’t afraid of anything. They’re not afraid of pop, of being easy to
listen to, but they’re also not afraid of metal, of screaming, of challenging themselves
and finding inspiration in anything. In the end, they’re all “just really good friends,”
says Johnson. They write music, play shows, chill at the beach, and they also watch
basketball with a feverish zeal. This shared love for the NBA was the inspiration
for “Early Exit,” a song about the sport they love but also about a hard moment in a
romantic relationship. The song is a fearless three and a half minute glam-punk banger,
with muddy, dark guitars and a new wave rhythm.

Although their roots are in the experimental, noisy punk rock that the Smell is known
for, Batwings Catwings infuse it with an electro-pop flavor that transcends genres. They
owe their pedigree to their friends in bands like The Mae Shi and Woah Hunx, but also
to ‘80’s metal and ’90’s hip hop and grunge that they grew up listening to on the radio.
The results of these seemingly disparate influences are accessible, catchy songs with an
unmistakable punk edge.

Instrumentation

Clayton Johnson - Drums/Electronics
Dana Poblete - Vocals
Ray Santillan III - Guitar/Sequencers
Josh Carmpton - Bass
Jeff Byron - Guitar

Discography

Peacock Collection EP on Indiangold Records
Two songs on the Deathbomb Arc Singles Club
Radio 7" on Gravy Records

Official Website

http://www.batwingscatwings.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Last.fm
• MySpace
• Bandcamp

Audio

• Radio
  Listen   Download
• Early Exit
  Listen   Download
• Endless Summer
  Listen   Download
• Misbehaving
  Listen   Download
• Jealousy
  Listen   Download
• Peacock Collection
  Listen   Download

Video

endlesssummer

BWCW Radio video lower.mp4

Photo Gallery

Press

• Batwings Catwings - 'Early Exit' [+ Show ]
  

  spoofing Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' relationship, the appropriately wild clip is for the Los...spoofing Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' relationship, the appropriately wild clip is for the Los Angeles bands new single which is out now.

• New 7in. From Batwings Catwings [+ Show ]
  

  Noise punk foursome Batwings Catwings is celebrating the release of its new Radio 7?, out now on Gra...Noise punk foursome Batwings Catwings is celebrating the release of its new Radio 7?, out now on Gravy. Accompanying the title track and single, “Radio,” is, “Early Exit,” and you can stream the swift little record here, or below, courtesy of Purevolume. The band will also be playing a few shows around its hometown of Los Angeles, dates for which you can see below. By comparison there’s more going on in “Early Exit” that make the references in the band’s promo literature to Prince and experimental tendencies make sense. “Radio” begins with singer Dana Poblete monologue-ing about trends for a solid minute before the rest of the band comes crashing in. As a record, it’s a taste-test, but there’s enough there to make us want the full meal.

• BPM Video Premiere: Batwings Catwings – “Early Exit” [+ Show ]
  

  The phrase ‘early exit’ is applicable to so many different social instances, but the one that partic...The phrase ‘early exit’ is applicable to so many different social instances, but the one that particularly caught the attention of Los Angeles band Batwings Catwings was that of Kim Kardashian’s short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries. The song “Early Exit” was not written specifically for the ill-fated couple, but with the completion of the song occurring around the same time as the divorce, even singer Dana Poblete admits that it “almost feels like [they] wrote the song for Kim K and Hump!”
  
  As seemed appropriate, although the song was originally just a b-side to last year’s “Radio” single, they felt they needed to make a video to expand upon this connection. The band then worked with cinematographer Satomi Sugiyami and Editor Angie Meng to create an appropriately lo-fi and DIY video that incorporates the sadness of their marriage (using actual footage) with the fun of the song itself (by including nicely cut together wild shots of the band’s electrifying performances). The result is a striking video that will keep you engrossed despite its simplicity.

• Batwings Catwings Unveil 'Radio' 7" [+ Show ]
  

  Batwings Catwings' name might be Halloween-appropriate, but their unique brand of pop-ready, grungy ...Batwings Catwings' name might be Halloween-appropriate, but their unique brand of pop-ready, grungy punk rock is anything but spooky. Raised on a combination of metal, 90's hip hop, Prince and the noise punk made famous at LA venue The Smell, by bands like Abe Vigoda and The Mae Shi, Batwings Catwings is an undeniable combination of compelling, accessible and just dirty enough to really get your blood pumping.

• New Video. Batwings Catwings. Endless Summer [+ Show ]
  

  So. How is that New Year’s resolution to eat better coming along? If you’re finding yourself losing ...So. How is that New Year’s resolution to eat better coming along? If you’re finding yourself losing ground to the creeping paunch, Los Angeles no-wavish noise-poppers Batwings Catwings are here to help. Endless Summer is the first single from the just-released Peacock Collection EP, which was birthed at L.A.’s Infrasonic Studios with an assist from engineer Pete Lyman (No Age, Best Coast, Abe Vigoda). I can’t help but think people would have more success with their diet and exercise regimens if gyms simply played the Endless Summer video on loop in the cardio room. In fact, why stop there? Let just take things to their natural conclusion and hire Batwings Catwings frontdemon Dana Poblete and her Lydia Lunchesque pipes to teach Zumba classes.

• Batwings Catwings [+ Show ]
  

  “Batwings Catwings are the perfect sound for the season. (Thats like a terrible dad joke, isn’t it?)...“Batwings Catwings are the perfect sound for the season. (Thats like a terrible dad joke, isn’t it?) Anyway, born from the ashes of two other LA bands, Puppy Dog and TPF!, this troupe is fierce and friendly, punk and refined, happy and angry and all those contradictions that add up to the
  rock n’ roll spirit.” - 20 Jazz Funk Greats

• Batwings Catwings [+ Show ]
  

  Peacock Collection (EP) contains perhaps the most chaotic music you can possibly dance to. Batwin...Peacock Collection (EP) contains perhaps the most chaotic music you can possibly dance to. Batwings Catwings ferocious punk rock energy is irresistible and undeniable...

• Week in Pop [+ Show ]
  

  If you find yourself lacking noise and keyboard ya-yas in your life then get a load of Batwings Catw...If you find yourself lacking noise and keyboard ya-yas in your life then get a load of Batwings Catwings strobe-edit styled video for "Early Exit." Having released their first mini-album Peacock Collection in early 2011 and later their Radio single on Gravy Records, their devotion to pop-crafting proves as strong on their B sides as their A side. Check out BC as they take on the LA scene where the band claims, "where surfing and skating are king."

• Batwings Catwings [+ Show ]
  

  Their cacophonous blend of posturing post punk bass lines, obnoxiously grating vocals and oddball sy...Their cacophonous blend of posturing post punk bass lines, obnoxiously grating vocals and oddball synths merging droney rock with doomy vocals and a fun party vibe that ultimately melts into a wavey synth dance attack, it could just be a matter of time.
  
  

• New Song : Batwings Catwings : Radio [+ Show ]
  

  Their greasy food-lovin’ video for “Endless Summer” first enamored us with LA-based band, Batwings C...Their greasy food-lovin’ video for “Endless Summer” first enamored us with LA-based band, Batwings Catwings. Now they’ve announced a new7? vinyl single that will be available this October 24th.
  
  A-side, “Radio,” again recorded with band fav Eric Nordhauser at his LA-based Infrasonic Studios (No Age, Best Coast, Fools Gold, Abe Vigoda, Wavves), starts off a little more tender than we’ve come to expect from frontwoman Dana Poblete, but the track soon explodes and rages forward, ending just in time to leave you begging for more.

• Short Takes [+ Show ]
  

  L.A.-based Batwings Catwings recently released this EP on Indian Gold Records and the band throws do...L.A.-based Batwings Catwings recently released this EP on Indian Gold Records and the band throws down 4 energetic and enticing tracks where dance-pop pep and melody mixes equally with punk rock menace and noise. The urge is great to shout along with vocalist Dana Poblete’s sing-talking exclamations, all while moshing to the dynamically churning rhythms of Clay Johnson on drums, Pepper Glass on guitar, and Josh Crampton on bass.
  
  Dana is ready to rumble on the chanting anthem “Jealousy” as she sing-shouts “It’s getting heavy / It’s getting out of control.” The guys have an assured command of the rhythms so that the tune doesn’t devolve into messy chaos, but treads that borderline with detuned guitar belligerence that recalls “Aneurysm” by Nirvana. At one point Dana exclaims “I want your full attention.” She’s got it.
  
  “Endless Summer” erects noisy slabs of guitar, drums, and cymbal crash on the verses, then maneuvers into a dreamy vocal chorus with Dana sighing the song title longingly. The EP’s title song is the band’s most developed number with Dana’s vocals alternating between a Kathleen Hanna-styled inflection and a moodier tone that verges on melancholic. The constantly choppy churn of guitars, drums, and cymbals keeps the energy high and reflects the modus operandi of the band.

• Batwings Catwinings - Radio [+ Show ]
  

  Los Angeles band Batwings Catwings has been on my radar for a bit here and their new 7? for song “Ra...Los Angeles band Batwings Catwings has been on my radar for a bit here and their new 7? for song “Radio” is available on November 1st via Gravy Records. We have the title track for you to download below. It’s a good one!

• Batwings Catwings - Early Exit [+ Show ]
  

  LA band Batwings Catwings sort of sound like the b3sci blog distilled into a band. Lovers of punk an...LA band Batwings Catwings sort of sound like the b3sci blog distilled into a band. Lovers of punk and metal but with an affinity for top 40 and hip hop BC are definitely b3 kindred. Heavy guitar music with great pop songwriting sensibility gets us really excited. We’re psyched to debut the band’s track for “Early Exit” b/w “Radio” (which you can download here for free).

• Batwings Catwings #1
  

  This week's TOP TEN! 1. Batwings Catwings - Radio 7"

Setlist

Changes from show to show. 6-9 songs depending on time allowed. No more than 35 minutes.

Basic Requirements

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