Apparently, CATPISS is an odour used to describe key notes in wine tasting but all I can smell is sweat and good times on these beer drenched Novocastrians! Despite the noxious sounding name, CATPISS are a band radiating in positive energy, both sonically and in conversation.
Like most bands nowadays, I learnt about CATPISS from our own cowbell superstar, Dakota, on a recent trip to Newcastle. Before departing Brisbane, she instructed me on what venues to go to, and most importantly, the bands not to miss while I was down there. These included the likes of CATPISS, SoyBoy, and Goon Gremlins. She also told me to visit The Lass O Gowrie, Newcastle Hotel, and the not to be confused Station Hotel. This shaped my musical sojourn into the Steel City’s music hub, meeting new friends along the way.
To cut to the chase, CATPISS were such a great live act, I saw them twice that weekend. With their “punch you in the solar plexus showmanship”, it made me promise to see them again in Brisbane. Funnily enough, I suggested they team up with Dad Fight, which ended up happening at Vinnies Dive Bar.
A hasty quickfire with CATPISS was conducted in-between sets, working in a blend of their song titles together with their stable mates, Where’s Jimmy? (interviewed separately with the same questions). I didn’t have a preamble prepared so their vocalist Heath and drummer Lachlan kindly volunteered to do one for me:
“Team CATPISS, we love punk! So, with the singer and drummer, we met overseas, and formed this beautiful band upon return we called it CATPISS. I don’t know what else to say apart from just being a bunch of idiots that have a good time and know how to play an instrument. And we have a lot of fun doing it and a lot of presence! A lot of presence from the man right here!”
CATPISS are:
- Lachlan Corrigan (Drums)
- Ben Hastings (Bass)
- Jacob Dewberry (Guitar)
- Dylan Stipack (Guitar)
- Heath Turville (Vox)
1. TIME IS A COMMODITY as they say, so what’s something you’d like to make a reality for the band in the next twelve months?
Lachlan: A reality, hmmm.
Heath: A bit of a lyrical one for us there hey!
Lachlan: Well time is a commodity, I would love to have an album out. But who knows? Time is a commodity and it’s hard to come by.
Heath: Well, speaking of which, Lachlan actually gave us a bit of a goal, ten songs by the end of the year. So an album? Yeah, I’d agree yeah! That’s the big stuff.
OB: Yeah nice! I’ll be checking back in with you in October next year.
Heath: Oh, it will be out well before then.
OB: That’s the attitude.
Lachlan: Don’t promise anything! (Both lads have a laugh)
2. I’ve had a Bleak Week and I have Puke Juice and Cat Piss all over my brand-new lounge. What is the best musical formula to remove it?
Lachlan: Formula? Hmmm… I reckon, you could get around that with a bit of Marvin Gaye Got To Give It Up and you could get a bit of smooth dancing going, get a nice spring cleaning rhythm going on, pull everything off the lounge start again, you’ll just do the rest of the house while you’re in the groove.
Heath: Or even on the topic of Marvin Gaye Got To Give It Up, maybe just give and move to a different place?
OB: Or just live with it.
3. Who has the best Power Stance in Australian music in 2024?
Lachlan: Hugh.
Heath: Hugh Westcott of Where’s Jimmy?
Heath: There is not a better Power Stance IN THE WORLD!
Lachlan: That man has got it.
OB: I’m hoping Hugh comes back with the answer CATPISS.
Lachlan: We will hold him to it if he doesn’t!
OB: You’ll be able to exchange notes.
(Ah! Dad Fight started playing, and I don’t want the lads to miss out on their first ever Dad Fight show. So I picked up the pace)
4. I have the Paycheque Blues with only forty dollars left to spare on a Saturday night out in Newcastle. Where am I going to make the most of it?
Heath: Oh, forty bucks, what night is it?
OB: Saturday night.
Lachlan: The Hamo. Hamilton Station does five dollar beers all night!
Heath: So yeah that’s eight beers and…
OB: And a free gig normally, isn’t it?
Heath: It can actually be two free gigs, or one free and one paid, but if you hold up your wrist confidently sometimes you can just get through!
Lachlan: Yeah!
OB: Fuck it, I’m moving to Newcastle!
Heath: Do it!
5. What’s the best thing about Where’s Jimmy?
(Both lads look overwhelmed answering this question, you can almost smell the admiration they share for their stable mates)
Lachlan: (loud exhale) Ah man so much.
Heath: There’s just… too many things to say really. I think… I’d have to go for the camaraderie. We are not just co-workers and band mates anymore. We are brothers-in-arms.
Lachlan: Yes, we have become truly close friends now, it’s actually really cool. And it’s been a lot of fun. So, I think camaraderie is the perfect word.
OB: Oh, that’s mad. I love that. And that’s it.
Lachlan/Heath: Thanks Stephen, thank you OnlyBands.
OB: And that is the fastest one yet at four minutes and nineteen seconds.
Lachlan: We do it quick in CATPISS, we do it quick.
OB: That’s the way good punk is.
Heath: For sure.
The whole day was a success story at Vinnies with Dad Fight, CATPISS and Where’s Jimmy? punking up the day. I wish I’d left the tapes running during the day’s conversations to capture the sentiment from both the latter bands that have formed a snug punk pocket in Newcastle.
CATPISS are a band that I feel drawn to because the only thing warmer than the sincerity its members show their supporters is the radiant energy emanating from the band on stage. Whether it’s performing at their favourite pub for fun, with Heath shirtless, sweaty, swaggering around the room swinging his mic, or putting on a show to raise funds within their community, these lads are welcome north of the Tweed any time they please. And remember 2025 is the year of the Cat…Piss.
This article marks Shelvo’s first time on camera duties too! You’ll see some more shots from him very soon, he’s well on his way to becoming the backbone of our scene.
Make sure to give CATPISS a listen below:
