The Cacti Hi-Fi
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The Cacti Hi-Fi

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Battle of the Bands winners to launch their Battle Ax tour this summer"

A lot has happened to Cacti Hi-Fi since winning MATC’s Battle of the Bands competition in February. Cacti Hi-Fi, a Madison-based band who sounds like “Foo Fighters play the Who with the same reckless abandon of the ’60s,” according to guitarist Charlie Abbott, have been working on a record deal and recording some new tracks, as well as planning a tour.

All of this is impressive, especially when the band has only been playing together for a little over a year. Influential local producer Perry Blanchard has expressed interest in signing the band to his label, Rough Road. There has also been talk of a full-length record. An actual record deal, however, is still in the works.

In the time that the band has been playing together, they have had some crazy, rockstar antics.
“Our first time playing with the Burden Brothers, our favorite band, was in Milwaukee at this 21 and up venue,” recalled Abbott. “We were pounced on by the bouncer for being underage. He eventually let us in, but said we had to leave right after our set. We stayed anyway, and he got really mad and called attorneys and the cops. We ended up leaving halfway through the set because the cops were on their way.”

The band no longer has these troubles in Madison because 18 and up shows can be held at a venue serving alcohol.

“It’s the best thing that’s happened,” said Abbott. “As a younger band, we were stuck playing basement shows, which were cool, but we are now booked at 18 and up shows.”

The band launches their Battle Ax tour this summer. For more information, check out thecactihifi.com or myspace.com/cactihifi. When asked if there was anything else he wanted to say in closing, Abbott left with this: “Buy our CD. It’s $5.”

LINDSEY HINKEL - The Clarion


"Rizzo from the Burden Brothers!"


“The opening act, Cacti Hi-Fi, was great. Young kids with plenty of energy.” – Rizzo - burdenbrothers.com


Discography

'06 - The Cacti Hi-Fi EP (myspace.com/thecactihifi)
'07 - Raw-Tracks.com release (Take Me Home, Caroline) recorded at Smart Studios Madison, WI

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Bio

In early 2006, Ross Busch and Charlie Abbott laid the foundation for a rock and roll band. With the addition of Zach Lewis and Zac Spangler the quartet quickly refined their gritty classic rock riffs into polished, noise-pop gems. With a thundering rhythm section and screaming guitars Spangler’s sharp/harmonious vocal sings with no shortage of Gen-nothing angst and irony. This band is perfect for its time and place, in a generation caught up on the past youthful, honest rock n’ roll is imperative. Wearing the influence on their sleeves, The Cacti Hi-Fi play rock n’ roll with the same reckless abandon that characterized the 1960’s.

Getting their start playing dive-bars and all-ages clubs the Cacti have quickly risen to premier local and regional stages along side national acts including The Burden Brothers, Spitalfield, and Aberdeen City. In September ’06 the Cacti released their self-titled EP and have since sold hundreds of copies to fans in Madison and Minneapolis. The Cacti have also booked apprx. 80 local and regional shows independently and plan to tour extensively this summer.

There is something special about this band. As younger artists they have continually turned heads while trying to break an adult music scene. They have the voice, ambition, and work ethic to do what they want in this business, don’t miss it.

Jason Prescott