Katie's Randy Cat

Irish punk/roots music band Katie’s Randy Cat hails from Toledo, Ohio, but they take their inspiration from around the globe, mixing a heavy dose of traditional Irish music into their spirited sound.

Katie’s Randy Cat are readying for a dual album release; the LP Irish Fire, which is a record of celebration that showcases the band’s history, and Die for These, which is packed with rebellious protest songs advocating for social change.

Rebel Noise is excited to host the premiere of the title track of Irish Fire. The song is a tribute to strong and independent women who face adversity head-on and enjoy everyday life with passion, intelligence, integrity, and assuredness.

The restless and spirited “Irish Fire” blazes with energetic zeal from the get-go with a jumpin’ to driving tempo from rhythm guitarist Greg Heldt and bassist Jon Zenz, fiery and concise guitar lines by lead guitarist Petr Kharchenko, and punchy drum beats and crashing cymbals courtesy of drummer Matt Jones. Lead vocalist Steve Steel exclaims fervently about a woman who’s a “perfect storm” and one to admire; a woman with “Gypsy spirit and Irish fire”. - REBEL NOISE

Katie’s Randy Cat (“KRC”) plays rebel music with an upbeat, electric edge, from heavy, Celtic-inspired original music to unique versions of traditional Irish folk music. Band members include lead vocalist/accordionist Steve Steel; lead guitarist Peter Kharchenko; rhythm guitarist Greg Heldt; bassist Jon Zenz; and drummer Matt Jones. KRC uses the Irish experience as a metaphor for experiencing the human condition, while at the same time smashing through the
siloed limitations of musical genres. KRC’s 2019 dual release, “Irish Fire” (released October 2019) and “Die for These” (forthcoming), highlight the two thrusts of KRC’s oeuvre: wanton, raucous celebration and no-holds-barred rebellion and social uprising.
In terms of the record itself, “Die for These” is a combination of traditional Irish rebel songs with original songs of social uprising. The title track is an original song stressing that KRC music uses Irish inspiration but is for anyone who fights against oppression. “SAM Song” and “Official IRA” are Irish Republican Army songs decrying the British occupation of Northern Ireland, with the former an upbeat rock tune and the latter infused with punk anger. The original tune “Remember Bobby Sands” is an homage to Bobby Sands, martyr of the IRA hunger strikes, who died in 1981. It admonishes social rebels to remember the sacrifices of Irish martyrs like Sands when faced with stress and doubt. - VENTS Magazine

Since forming in 2013, Toledo-area band Katie’s Randy Cat has delivered a traditional Irish sound with fast-paced, punk flair. But as they celebrate the release of their new CD “Irish Reply,” the founding members are letting the world know that they’ve expanded beyond their roots.

“We’ve gone in a lot of different directions,” said lead singer Steve Steel, who also serves as Toledo City Council President. “Basically, our first year’s worth of shows were Irish folk songs done in a punk style. We didn’t have any original songs; it was all Irish folk songs. Then, over the last couple of years, we started to write original music. But on this album— 11 song are original, and two are punk takes on folk music.”

Sweet release

“Irish Reply” will be commemorated with a release party on December 16 at O’Shea’s Irish Pub on Sylvania Ave. Not just a celebration of the new album, the release party is the next step for a band which has come a long way since it first came together.

“We’ve kind of evolved as we’ve had a Spinal Tap amount of members— Steve and I are the only original people,” bass player Jon Zenz said, referring to Steel. “New people kind of bring in different takes on things, and it gets tiring playing other people’s songs. It’s time to write your own.”

St. Patricks Day origins

The genesis of Katie’s Randy Cat came, naturally enough, on St. Patrick’s Day in 2013, as Steel got a last-minute call asking if he would be interested in playing a gig that day.

“And I thought, you know, I know enough musicians, and I know a lot of Irish songs. I’m sure I could put together an Irish punk ensemble for St. Patrick’s Day,” Steel said. “And we barely practiced, and it didn’t really come off very well.”

“It was terrible,” Zenz, who did the sound that night, said with a laugh. “It offended me so much that I thought, ‘If you want to do this and take it seriously, get a hold of me.’”

The pair decided to gather a group together to really dedicate themselves to the music. Katie’s Randy Cat has changed its sound evolved beyond Irish punk roots, a development that the founding members have embraced.

It’s gonna be rowdy

“Irish Reply” branches out into original material after several releases of Irish folk covers. “Slowly, but surely, Steve introduced us to new songs— probably, like, three at a time over the last year or so,” Zenz said. “And at one point, it hit us that, well, we have 12 original songs now. And then, ‘Well, next week we’re going to be in the studio recording!’

Steel and Zenz said they were both looking forward to rocking O’Shea’s on Friday, December 16, in honor of not only “Irish Reply,” but also perhaps a new era for their three-year-long labor of musical love.

“It’s going to be rowdy. O’Shea’s is probably one of my favorite places to play with this band. Just a dive bar where people are really into it. It’s going to be fun,” Zenz said. - Toledo City Paper

Katie’s Randy Cat were our Band of December 2014 and their “For the Green” EP reached no. 7 at the Best EPs list in 2014. Two years later, the band from Toledo, OH have released their debut album. An amazing album that also made our Best albums list in 2016.

Some line-up changes have taken place and the current personnel is Steve Steel (vocals, accordion, keys and tin whistle), Petr Kharchenko (lead guitar), Greg Heldt (Rhythm guitar), Jon Zenz (bass) and Matt Jones (drums, vocals). The album opener is titled “Maggie Malone”. At the beginning it’s a tin whistle accordion version of “Molly Malone” but soon it bursts into a fast-paced Celtic punk song featuring electric guitar. Track no. 2 is the single of the album, “Irish Reply (The Last Words of Big Adam Maguire)". This is the first number on which the band's new approach can be clearly noticed: an amazing Celtic punk-rock based on the American rock classics sounds. It’s a sort of suite with different parts. Firstly, a catchy part featuring tin whistle and accordion. Secondly, after a bass line, the song gets a bluesy The Doors treatment where Eric Oblander guests on harmonica. And, finally, the main theme comes back.

“Words” is an upbeat track where accordion and drums are showcased.

“Rise Up” is based on “The Battle Cry of Freedom” tune (the one that Billy Bragg chose for his “There’s Power in a Union”). The rhythm section does a great job, together with the backing vocals. This amazing number is followed by another kick-ass song: “Shots with Monaghan”. It’s an Irish ballad with guests on trumpet (John Grafing) and trombone (Kevin Haberkamp) that can be filed together with the Arse Craic and The Gobshites stuff.

“Fare Thee Well” is an accordion led song and Nichole Carpenter guests on vocals. Katie’s Randy Cat move to the Shane MacGowan territory on this track. Awesome. Track no. 7 is called “Wait”, a solid Celtic punk anthem that reminds me of the Hungarian band LochNesz. Guest Ted Voudouris plays violin.

Katie’s Randy Cat show a more intimate side on “On the Wind”. The violin, the guitar and the keys create the right atmosphere.

The first traditional number on the album is track no. 9, “Leaving of Liverpool”. Punk rock rendition with tin whistle, electric guitar and accordion. The next number follows a different approach, since “Thousand Names” has a funkie feel. Once again Nicole Carpenter adds backing vocals. “Old Dun Cow” is the second standard on “Irish Reply” and Katie’s Randy Cat have chosen a live rendition instead of a studio version. The result? Brilliant!

Finally, “Window (Sixty Minutes)” is a Velvet Underground infused number and “First of the Rest of the Day” is a good sing-along number to finish the album.

Katie’s Randy Cat “Irish Reply” is a great Celtic punk-rock album. The lads from Toledo have been able to offer something new and fresh on a field where a lot of bands don’t take any risk. Hats-off! - Celtic Folk Punk

Our Band of December 2014 , Katie’s Randy Cat, hail from Toledo. Their Toledo is not the old City of the Three Cultures in Spain where The Fatty Farmers are based, but a city in Ohio, USA .

“Four the Green” is the second EP released by the four-piece and the first one to include a couple of excellent original songs. The opener is titled “Katie’s Randy Cat”. A funny story about painting the town red with a girl called Katie O’Donnell and how the night ends. This upbeat Irish punk song is really addictive and I’m, sure that you’ll enjoy it.

The next number is the other self-penned song, “For the Green”. The EP liner notes state that it “is a story about awakening to the never-ending need to take part in the struggle. It should be heard loud, in its entirety, so the neighbors can ask what all the shouting’s about”. Steve on accordion and vocals, Jon on bass and Steve on drums do a great job on this modern rebel song on which Petr’s guitar work is perfect. I would define their sound on “For the Green” as an angrier version of the Aussie band Sibin.

The last two tracks are the standards. I have always loved “Kitty”, a song that can be found on The Pogues debut album “Red Roses for Me”. I’ve always wondered why the bands cover any other traditional ballad recorded by The Pogues, but turn down this one. Accordion, tin whistle and an electric guitar part can be heard on the Katie’s Randy Cat rendition. Congrats boys for giving a new lease of life to this song!

Finally, Katie’s Randy Cat deliver their own cover of “The Rising of the Moon”. The song begins with tin whistle and a slow-paced rhythm section, and then the full band speeds up. There is an interesting accordion and electric guitar work after the chorus and before the next verse. Everybody knows that I prefer to listen to "not so worn-out" ballads, but taking into account that there are two original songs and one ballad that is not over-exposed, I feel that the balance is OK for an EP.

The four track EP package is a jewel case with an inlay card stating the track list, line-up, contact information, credits and the liner notes about track no.2. The lyrics are not included, but all of them can be found at their reverbnation page. The fantastic artwork with an Angelina Jolie looking Green heroine has been made by Isaac Klunk. Have a look to his work here.

After having released a covers EP in 2013, Katie’s Randy Cat are pushing forward with their Rebel Irish punk. “For the Green” is the proof that they are able to write their own stuff without being compared to Dropkick Murphys or Flogging Molly. That’s what I call identity and evolution. Add this EP to your wish list, since it’s one of the best EPs of the year. - Celtic Folk Punk