After months of touring the country and gaining national exposure, Tempe-based band, Katastro, returns to where its career began.
The band performed at the Marquee on Feb. 22 to an audience filled with friends, family and plenty of long-time fans.
Although the concert started early, there were quite a few opening acts. Katastro didn’t get on stage until nearly three hours into the show.
The crowd didn't seem to mind though as they screamed and swayed along to every song during the opening acts. The main two openers were local reggae bands Clairvoyant and Black Bottom Lighters.
Both openers were large bands, with an array on instruments, from saxophones to bongos to a DJ with turntables.
The music was an interesting cross between relaxed reggae and more energetic rock. The crowd reflected this mixture as well, filled with old and young fans of a variety of styles. There was no single stereotype present at the concert.
It seemed that the bands had a lot of friends and local support in the audience. Even the smaller crowd managed to get quite loud, singing along frequently.
After the final opening act, the crowd had dwindled down. By the time Katastro did finally start, there wasn’t much of an audience. However, as soon as people heard the music, they started to make their way back to the front.
Katastro's style is much different than those of its opening acts. The much smaller, four-piece band felt more like a real alternative-rock band. Its musical style is a unique blend of hip-hop, blues, jazz and rock.
The staging was simple but the fog machines and lighting made for a great show. The band was clearly in its element at home at the Marquee.
Several songs in, lead singer Andy Chaves took a break to talk to the crowd and express the bands excitement and being home.
"We can already tell this is going to be the best show we've played in Tempe," Chaves said.
Even though Katastro is gaining fame around the country, it was clear that performing for its fans at home still means a lot to the band. There were obvious friends and family present at the show.
Lead singer Andy Chaves even brought his 90-year-old grandfather on stage and then received an encouraging chant from the crowd.
The band performed favorites from their first three albums along with new songs from an upcoming EP.
If the band keeps up what it's doing, it can only go up from here.
Also if you missed the show on Friday, Katastro will be back in Arizona performing at a KUKQ event in March.
Reach the reporter at julianne.defilippis@asu.edu.
