Fri 11/25 @ 8PM
Denis DeVito, core member and long-time leader of Cleveland swamp pop band Cats on Holiday, professes to be a long long longlonglong-time Kinks fan. He says that he was turned onto this quintessentially British pop band by Kevin McMahon, of Cleveland New Wave band of the ’70s and ’80s Lucky Pierre, of which DeVito was a member.
The Kinks, led by contentious brothers Ray and Dave Davies through their 32-year run, were swept over to the U.S. in the British invasion and quickly had three hits: “You Really Got Me,” “All day and All of the Night,” and “Tired of Waiting for You.” It was another five years before they had their next big U.S. hit “Lola,” whose gender-bending theme got them tied in with the rising glitter-rock movement and attracted a whole new audience. In fact, their strength was their detailed observation of post-WW II British culture and their albums were eagerly lapped up by devoted American Anglophiles such as McMahon — and DeVito.
So on the day after Thanksgiving, Cats on Holiday will be taking the stage at the Music Box with special guests such as keyboard player Moss Stanley, to perform an entire evening of Kinks material including their best-known hits, obscure favorites and hidden tunes from their records. Come dancing! It’s only $10 at the door.