Catbite

{{Infobox musical artist  | name = Catbite | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Ska]] * [[ska punk]] }} | years_active = 2018–present | label = Bad Time Records | website = https://catbite.net | current_members = Brittany Luna<br />Tim Hildebrand<br />Chris Pires<br />Ben Parry<br />Kayleigh Malloy | past_members = }} '''Catbite''' is an American [[ska]] band formed in 2018. They are signed to Bad Time Records.

The band has collaborated with other ska artists including [[Jer Hunter]], [[Mike Park]], [[Laura Jane Grace]], as well as [[Fall Out Boy]] singer [[Patrick Stump]].<ref name="m524">{{cite web | title=Hear Patrick Stump on Catbite’s new single Tired Of Talk | website=Kerrang! | date=2025-03-26 | url=https://www.kerrang.com/catbite-release-new-single-tired-of-talk-patrick-stump-fall-out-boy | access-date=2025-04-17}}</ref>

==History==

Prior to forming Catbite, Brittany Luna trained as a jazz singer but migrated to punk and ska.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matthewrix.com/videos/how-brittany-luna-from-catbiteband-went-from-jazz-singer-to-ska-front-women/|title=How Brittany Luna from Catbite went from Jazz singer to Ska front women?|date=12 January 2023}}</ref> Tim Hildebrand worked for [[The Interrupters (band)|The Interrupters]] as a driver and performed non-show duties and was also part of The Snails. Britt and Tim formed Catbite, and recruited their friend Chris Pires to play drums. Ben Perry joined Catbite about a year after the band started. Ben was formerly with The Snails and was initially just subbing in for the original bass player who had left the band before he became a full band member.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/catbite-interview-philly-ska-band-talks-making-of-their-great-new-album-nice-one/|title=Catbite interview: Philly ska band talks making of their great new album 'Nice One'|date=4 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://custommademusicmag.com/2023/12/everybody-talks-an-interview-with-catbite/|title='"Everybody Talks" – An Interview With Catbite'|date=8 December 2023}}</ref>

Catbite was formed prior to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Members said they "didn't think they would make it past those first three years."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://xpn.org/2021/08/05/catbite-interview/|title=Philly's Catbite are ska ambassadors for our collective new normal|date=5 August 2021}}</ref>

The first album, the self-titled ''Catbite'' cost around $400 to make over the course of four days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/76284/interviews-how-a-dog-bite-saved-catbite|title=Interviews: How a Dog Bite Saved Catbite |date=23 December 2021}}</ref>

Interest in the band started to grow around 2018 with a resurgence in ska. The band started to achieve national presence due to promoters like Jeremy Hunter of Skatune Network and Mike Sosinski of Bad Time Records. Bad Time Records started specifically to promote ska artists. Catbite was one of the label's earliest signings and the first new release following represses of older Kill Lincoln and We Are The Union albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundinthesignals.com/2021/03/catbite-sound-in-signals-interview.html|title=Catbite - Sound In The Signals Interview |date=4 March 2021}}</ref>

The album ''Nice One'' took 4 months to write. Catbite performed selections from the album live in July 2021 at a WXPN Free At Noon concert. This performance was then picked up by NPR's World Cafe podcast for a mini-concert series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/08/15/1117553553/catbite-nice-one-wxpn-mini-concert|title=Catbite balances styles, from two tone to third wave, with shades of power pop |work=NPR |date=16 August 2022}}</ref>

The band released a six song EP titled ''Doom Garden'' on May 9, 2025, which was produced by [[Illuminati Hotties|Sarah Tudzin]] and featured [[Patrick Stump]] and [[Sweet Pill]].<ref name="m524"/>

==Operation Ivy Covers==

Catbite joined up with [[Laura Jane Grace]] at the 2024 Supernova Ska Festival to perform covers of [[Operation Ivy (band)|Operation Ivy]]. Catbite again performed with Grace at [[Riot Fest]] 2024.

While in Chicago the group performed a secret set at a Riot Fest Afterparty at [[The Empty Bottle]]. The live recording of this performance was later posted to Bandcamp as a pay what you want fundraiser for the victims of the [[2025 California Wildfires]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/84606/laura-jane-grace-and-catbite-release-op-ivy-covers-live-album-for-charity|title=Laura Jane Grace and Catbite release Op Ivy covers live album for charity|date=16 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2025/01/laura-jane-grace-and-catbite-release-operation-ivy-covers-album-for-wildfire-relief/|title=Laura Jane Grace and Catbite Release Operation Ivy Covers Album for Wildfire Relief|date=20 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Full live set of Catbite and Laura Jane Grace covering Op Ivy at Riotfest 2024. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXaeZZS2KwI |website=Youtube |access-date=17 May 2025}}</ref>

Of the team up Grace stated "I hope it’s all leading towards Operation Ivy getting back together and playing"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2024/10/laura-jane-grace-isnt-just-doing-her-best-operation-ivy-impression|title=Laura Jane Grace Isn't Just Doing Her Best Operation Ivy Impression|date=18 October 2024 }}</ref>

==Discography==

* ''Catbite'' (2019) * ''Amphetamine Delight 7"'' (2019) * ''Catbite Live From an Empty War3house'' (2020) * ''Catfite: A HXC Version of Catbite S/T'' (2021) * ''Catlite: A Yee-Haw Version of Catbite S/T'' (2021) * ''Nice One'' (2021) * ''Wavebreaker #2'' (2022) (split EP with [[Mike Park]]) * ''Doom Garden'' (2025)

== References == {{reflist}}

[[Category:Third-wave ska groups]] [[Category:American ska musical groups]]