Catchfire

When one first watches Catchfire play a live set, this phrase comes to mind: a hodgepodge of misfits with a soft spot for hard rock. Clad in all variety of t-shirts and denim and hailing from all over the United States, Catchfire manages to create such a cohesive sound and vibe that you’d think they’d been together for 20 years. In fact, this Nashville-based stadium rock band is new on the scene— but they aren’t going anywhere.

The band is fronted by Maddy Ferri, a superb alt vocalist with unmatched stage presence. One is immediately drawn to her passion for the music, much of which she wrote along with Travis Fairley, lead guitarist and manager of the band itself. Those two keep the crowd on their toes: between Ferri’s long held out high notes and Fairley’s running across the bar, it’s a spectacle to behold. Holding it together in the rhythm section are Zeke Yarbro, Anyeiah Jordan, and Josh Johnston. Yarbro balances out Travis’ lead playing with perfect rhythm guitar, and Jordan, a human metronome, never overshadows the other players except when she pulls out all the stops in her killer drum solos. Johnston is the perfect final member, his bass playing blending in seamlessly and rounding out the already big sound of Catchfire.

Think Pearl Jam, Rush and ACDC, but don’t expect any kind of copycat band from Catchfire. Their sound is at once rooted in tradition but distinctly modern, and their aesthetics are as pleasing as their music. And don’t expect them to rest on their laurels or stick with what’s safe, either— this band is creatively driven and ready to take over the rock scene in Nashville and the rest of the world.