The Catkillers

The Catkillers were an improv trio started as a Belgian Waffles! spin off in 1987. Clarinetist/saxophonist Eric Rensberger asked to sit in with TBW!, but only drummer Bob Wagner and guitarist Bill Zink took him up on the offer. After a few practices at the place Bill rented on Fess (leading to roommate Mike Whybark giving the trio their name - "Is that cat dead yet?"), the band started playing weekly at Eric's house outside Ellettsville. Wagner left in '89 and was replaced on drums by Keith Welch. At about that time, the trio (as well as frequent guests) had weekly open practices in a dance studio above the Ben Franklin store on the West side of Bloomington's courthouse square. Welch left in '93. Rensberger and Zink continued as a duo until '95, when ex-Jackwacker drummer Rob Stockwell joined. By 1999, both Zink and Stockwell were in Louisville, and The Catkiller's run was over. The band is represented by two official releases: the Real Folk Blues cassette from 1991, and the Wonderful World of Sound CD from 1998.