Batwings Catwings

Batwings Catwings was essentially born when TPF's Clay Johnson was voraciously exploring LA's DIY music scene and stumbled upon Dana Poblete, the singer of experimental "ethereal punk" band Puppy Dog, in 2009. Onstage at the legendary downtown Los Angeles venue, The Smell, she was screaming into a megaphone during a collaboration with tribal noise band Foot Village. It clicked in Clay's head that this was a magic moment. Dana, inspired by the musical creativity and dynamic live shows of local bands like The Mae Shi and Health, had taught herself how to make and perform music that would not only command people's attention, but turn them into friends.

Clay tracked Dana down and proposed starting a new band, Batwings Catwings. She was in, ready to make straight up awesome rock music that kids could get stoked on—just like what she felt in her earlier days as a teen fanatically traversing from her hometown of Virginia Beach to Norfolk, Richmond, and D.C. to catch her favorite indie and hardcore bands. The evolution of Batwings Catwings has been a natural progression back to that moment in time.

From the dancey yet dissonant sounds of their 2011 debut EP, Peacock Collection, to the arpeggiating Radio 7", to the poppy punk of the Whoa EP, their new record from Broken World Media, Coast to Coast, is the heart of Batwings Catwings—being worn on their sleeves. This band was raised on indie rock of the '90s and aren't shy about it—their 12" flaunts their unabashed love of poppy, athletic post-hardcore with more than an ounce of nostalgia. A DIY spirit with electric dueling guitars, penetrating distorted bass, fist-pounding drums, and melodic vocals—that's Clay Johnson, Dana Poblete, Ray Santillan III, Jeffrey Byron, and Cindy Sukrattanawong. That's BWCW.

But the best part? Their live shows are fierce and fun. Circle pits and high-fives. Good vibes all around. Whether they're sharing bills with METZ, Cloud Nothings, CSS, Future Islands, No Age, or their friends in underground bands like Unstoppable Death Machines or Religious Girls, Batwings Catwings is one of those rare rock bands who will look you straight in the eyes and make sure you have an epic time.