Band brings family, graduates together
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 07/14/2008
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One local family band is ready to groove onstage at Dancing in the Streets.
The Groove Catz are a seven-member band of which six members are family and Purdue graduates. The band consists of three brothers, a brother-in-law, two nephews and a close family friend.
"We have always been musical," said Mark Molter, bass and
sax player and lead singer for the group. "We played music growing up."
Their mother's side was very musical and played on television and their cousins were in rock and country bands.
The Groove Catz started out as a sax quartet and added the oldest brother, who plays the electric guitar.
"Each of us digressed into a different instrument," said Molter.
The Groove Catz are a cover band, playing mainly music from the '60s and '70s.
"It's the music most of us grew up on and enjoy playing," said Molter.
For the past 20 years, the Groove Catz have played different styles of music under different names, such as Freeport, the Ball Park Franks, the Vinyl Kings and finally the Groove Catz.
"We came up with Groove Catz because most of the music we play is more from vinyl, and vinyl has grooves," said Don Molter, rhythm and acoustic guitar player.
The Groove Catz aren't like any other band. They choose not to play in bar settings and like to play at family-oriented events.
"Bands come and go; but being a family, it's constant," said Molter.
Don explained that they hand-pick where they play.
"We are very particular about where we play," he said. "Our goal was not to get rich and be famous; we do it for fun and for the challenge of playing."
Each member has family and likes for them to be able to come and watch if they want to.
"Our family's real close and faith kept us together," said Molter. "That important aspect helped keep us together geographically, and having a band helps us get together."
Another perk of being family is that they can read each other really well. One glance can cue the players to do something and react in different ways.
"When you play together so long and you're family, you know how each other plays and what's coming up," said Molter. "You don't have to say anything and can feed off of each other."
This will be the Groove Catz' first year performing at Dancing in the Streets.
"We are excited about playing," said Molter. "Because of the theme with the older cars, it's a good fit for us; we fit right in with the general theme of the festival."
The Groove Catz will be kicking off Dancing in the Streets from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at Riehle Plaza.