Biography:
This is a weird band based out of Vienna, Virginia, near Washington DC. Although they clearly associate themselves with "rock" music, they often utilize strange instruments like the accordion and the euphonium. Mason Shelby and Paul Tsiaperas started playing together in 2000, when they were both in 7th grade. Armed with only a euphonium, a keyboard, and one drum, they recorded a pretty shitty tape for which they designed a shitty cover and tricked most of their friends into buying it. After a few years of experimenting and recording bad music, Mason and Paul went out and bought a guitar and a bass (respectively), in an effort to become more "rock" and less "shitty".
Paul and Mason played and practiced almost exclusively with each other, developing a powerful chemistry and an almost psychic link that allowed them to read each other, performing as a unit rather than individuals. Outside inspiration came from various sources. Several individuals stand out prominently: Mr. Sanger, their middle school band director, was a major musical and disciplinary influence on the impressionable euphonium players. The duo also grew up in households where eclectic folk music bands, like Eddie from Ohio and The Mammals, were played maybe too often. They also claim to be influenced by commercial jingles and musical theatre... and, of course, The Beatles. Seven years since their conception, they have been getting exponentially better with each passing year. Joined by the formidable drummer John Bradley Swanson II, they abandoned their awkward drum machines in lieu of the skilled British drum scientist that is Jay.
More often than not, they tend to write lyrics that are humorous or clever (sometimes both) but almost never obvious or blatant. Their lyrics have a tendency to be centered around quirky characters and settings, occasionally satirizing elements of society that they find ridiculous. In addition to writing and performing, they record and mix all their material in their own studio, underground in a dark basement. They call themselves a rock band because they are puzzled by the abundance of genres out there today. It's gotten real confusing. However, there is definitely a pop element to their compositions: they are fond of the verse-chorus-verse format, which they employ frequently. They aren't afraid of experimentation, though.
Overall, they play for themselves; they play what they like, despite a friend's suggestion to "try to sound more like Yellowcard". Catscan has evolved but never compromised themselves to sound more like the popular sound. The music world is in peril, and the only way to fix the solution, according to Mason, Paul, and Jay, is to present the world with something different, interesting... and genuinely good.
