DAG VAN DE ACHTERHOEKSE POPMUZIEK met THE KILKENNY CATS

What started in 2014 as a spectacular evening at one location has since grown into a major Achterhoek event spread across 25 locations and with 50 participating acts from this region.

THE KILKENNY CATS

By far the longest-running band from Laren (Gld) and the surrounding area is the power pop group The Kilkenny Cats. In 1989, a group of friends decided to combat boredom and showcase their love for bands like The Ramones and The Stooges. In addition to covers of these bands, the (then) teenagers soon started playing their own songs as well.

Demos from the early period were in high demand during the many club performances in places such as Atak (Enschede), het Burgerweeshuis (Deventer), and the Metropool (Hengelo). In the latter club, they also gave a successful performance as the opening act for punk guru Jeff Dahl. In that same Hengelo, the band was invited twice for a session and interview at RTV Oost. In the studio of the Metropool, a subsequent demo was recorded in 1992, titled Fools and consisting of four original compositions and a respectful, yet furious cover of Strawberry Fields Forever. The demo received rave reviews, even in Metal Hammer/Aardschok; ‘The demo by The Kilkenny Cats has balls’.

In the nineties and the new millennium, The Kilkenny Cats remained true to the principles of punk, garage rock, and power pop, without closing their eyes and ears to new influences. This can also be heard on the independently released CD Distorted Fairy Tales (1999), which features sixteen original compositions. In 2003, a subsequent CD appeared, containing twelve original compositions, titled Acrobat. The CD was reviewed favorably in music magazine OOR; ‘The twelve short and powerful songs go from 60’s pop (Beatles, Beach Boys) via 70’s punk pop and rock (Jam, Ramones) to 80’s wave (occasionally a Cure guitar part)’.

The teenagers of back then have since become fifty-somethings. Although ambitions are on a significantly lower burner, old habits die hard. From time to time, The Kilkenny Cats make themselves heard on stage again. There, the 36-year-old band still plays original work, supplemented for taste with covers by, among others, Cheap Trick, The Beatles, The Kinks, and The Ramones.

The Kilkenny Cats consist of:

Arjan Langeler: vocals Bert Nijenhuis: guitar, vocals Dennis Fokkink: bass guitar André Beuzel: drums

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