Somehow the stars aligned for me seeing Circles Around The Sun in 2024.
I’m counting down 12 shows that stick out for me in 2024.
I got to see CATS three times this year, at Chicago’s Chop Shop, at the Turf Club in Saint Paul and at Vegas’ Meow Wolf — all within a month’s period.
Their show in Las Vegas on the eve of Phish’s Sphere run sticks out in my mind.
But I have to go with the Turf Club show March 24. It was the third time CATS played the venue in as many years and all in March.
The band brought that disco funk and their trademark psychedelic vibe. They also had harpist Mikaela Davis and her band Southern Star in on the action. The electricity was fully turned up on this occasion. It didn’t hurt that a number of my Minneapolis music friends were present up front and getting down at the disco-funk dance party that was directed by The Wizard, aka keyboardist Adam MacDougall.
I didn’t get nor take many pictures at this most recent CATS show, but I did shoot this picture of Adam MacDougall at the Turf Club in March of 2023.
The synergy between guitarist John Lee Shannon and MacDougall was as strong as I’ve seen between the two at this show.
This mostly instrumental jam band holds a special place in the hearts of many ever since their improbable formation as a project to produce set-break music for Fare Thee Well (the 50-year celebration of The Grateful Dead) in 2015.
I’ve loved their music — and their evolution — ever since. The first time I saw them perform as an after-show for Phish’s Chicago Northerly 2017 run remains an all-time late-night show fave.
My 2023 interview with CATS drummer Mark Levy can be read here.
The band was supposed to first play the Turf Club in 2019, but canceled last minute, and founder Neal Casal died in August of that year. But Casal made it known to the band that he hoped they would continue.
We’re all thankful they have kept the torch going.