Artist description Spooncat! is a nine-member, five-year-old pop/rock band from South Dakota. They feature a great four-piece horn section, two keyboardists, and a tightly woven rhythm section. They play throughout the upper-midwest part-time, about seventy shows a year, and have two independently released CDs.

Music Style Funk and soul-injected rock, as well as other styles.

Musical Influences Beatles, Sly & The Family Stone, Steely Dan, Prince, Frank Zappa, Stevie Wonder

Similar Artists Hard to nail down. Dave Matthews? Prince? Jamiroquai?

Artist History It all began in the summer of 1996, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota when singer/keyboardist Napoleon joined forces with his two brothers (bassist Truckdrivin' Omar and The Amazing Bronko, also a keyboardist), his musical collaborator from high school (guitarist Captain Peever), and drummer Johnny "The Clock" Richardson, to start a project. Creatively, they drew on a background of serious study and professional experience mixed witha tendency toward experimentation that would test the principle that music should be innovative, infectious and especially fun.What could be more fun than a horn section? Sugar D, Ra'tian Gord-o, Lil' Lester and Yahmo B. There joined the fray soon after, and with the final addition of 'Sha, a percussionist, they played their first show in October of that year. The resulting music was a blend of funk, rock, old soul and jazz that was readily danceable and quite original.1997 saw a change in drummers. The Clock went on to continue his full-time drumming gig. Spooncat! turned to the crafty young Rainmaker, and the result was splendid. Two years later, multi-talented 'Sha left to pursue full time bass playing opportunities.That summer they went into the studio and independently produced their first album Navigate the Fabulous. The Spooncat! performance schedule began to pick up significantly, and throughout 1998 and 1999, playing more and more, they sharpened their skills and fine-tuned their on-stage chemistry until this spring, when they went to Minneapolis' OarFin Studios to record The American Jiggler, an eleven song album that launches their sound into the open.Today, listening to Spooncat! live, you can expect to have every part of your music jones satisfied. There is the deep groove, the changing textures, hot horn arrangements played by one of the tightest horn sections around today. Their songs are melodic, multi-faceted, cleverly written, and stylistically diverse. Throw in some old Sly & the Family Stone tunes, the second side of Abbey Road, maybe some Earth Wind & Fire, and lookout--you are havin' a party! To this day they continue to juggle and consolidate their bag--you can see Spooncat! three nights in a row and see different stuff every time. But all the while knowing that they will deliver fun. Spooncat! is currently involved in a live recording project, and will soon begin studio work on a new album.

Group Members Sugar D: alto & tenor saxophones / Ra'tian Gord-o: trumpet / Truckdrivin' Omar: bass / Napoleon: vocals, keyboards, trumpet / The Amazing Bronko: keyboards, vocals, trombone / Rainmaker: drums / Little Lester: baritone saxophone / Captain Peever: guitar, vocals / Yahmo B There: trumpet, vocals

Instruments Wurlitzer electric piano, Fender-Rhodes, Hammond organ, Piano, Synthesizers, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Trumpets, Saxophones, Trombone, Human Voices, Assorted Percussion

Albums Navigate The Fabulous (1998); The American Jiggler (2000)

Additional Info Visit spooncat.com for photos, merchandise and the schedule.

Location Sioux Falls, SD - USA

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