City of Caterpillar wormed their way into the ground—the underground, that is—shortly after the post-hardcore band formed in 2000 in Richmond, Virginia.
City of Caterpillar continue to promote their two albums: 2002’s self-titled release through Level Plane, followed by record Number 2 (Mystic Sisters), which just dropped last year on Relapse. Why the gap between albums? The band broke up in December 2003 but started playing reunion shows in 2016 that breathed new life into City of Caterpillar.
The four-person group waited seemingly forever for Mystic Sisters. But now that it’s finally arrived, we can say—without question—that City of Caterpillar’s new album truly is their most recent one.
Joking aside, Mystic Sisters is the bee’s knees for City of Caterpillar. They certainly seem proud of it, as the group are touring heavily behind it—including a stop at Oblivion Access this weekend. They’re booked to play a 45-minute set at Elysium nightclub starting at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday night.
New Noise interviewed City of Caterpillar vocalist/guitarist Brandon Evans in September 2022. Last week, we checked in via Zoom with him again to get his take on the band and what it has in store.
He spoke with us from his massive living room, which has enormous bay windows overlooking dozens of trees as its backdrop.
What are you most excited about Oblivion Access this year?
We don’t really play festivals too much. But last year we had recorded the record way before (and were sitting on it forever, you know?) I was definitely bummed. I was like, “Oh my God, this is exactly what I would love to be playing.” The lineup has so many cool artists (and we’re no longer sitting on the new record).
We didn’t really choose it. They reached out and asked us. Of course, we’re very excited. We didn’t think it was actually gonna happen (after the announcement of the first wave of artists).
What are you most proud of with Mystic Sisters?
The fact that it happened. That we released our second album 20 years after our first one—That alone is just surreal.
Is it ever uncomfortable for City of Caterpillar to tap into your older material because it represents an older version of yourself and the band?
Maybe. I thought that would be the case be at first, but once we reunited and thought we still sounded good, it felt like no time had passed.
How do today’s crowds at City of Caterpillar shows differ from when you started as a band?
Mmm, it’s evolved recently. At first it was the older heads, the people who would’ve seen us when we were actually abandoned before. And then at some point it sort of flipped, and (our concerts) became completely (filled with) very young kids like. It is awesome to see. I blows my mind that we can still connect (with music fans in 2023)—and they like it.
What broke the dam?
I have no idea. I’m along for the ride no matter what we’re making with our art. I’m just happy to see it reconnect to youth again. It’s pretty magical. (But) I don’t know why they’re (at our shows) sometimes.
Surely you anticipate that you’ll have quite a few fans at Oblivion.
I don’t know. The show’s gonna be killer. (Oblivion Access have) a great lineup. I’m bummed that I’m gonna be missing so much stuff I would love to be seeing.
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“We weren’t trying to do anything suddenly with the band. We literally were just trying to play one show [at a friend’s birthday party].” – City of Caterpillar’s Brandon Evans
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What lessons do you impart to younger music fans?
I’m a pretty patient person and kind of give too much time and space to things anyway. But as far as the band goes… the band broke up, and that was a difficult time. It marked was a big shift in my life that made me move to New York.
There’s a lot of setbacks, but I feel like it’s always just walls and setbacks of expectation and wishes and desires. We weren’t trying to do anything suddenly with the band. We literally were just trying to play one show (at a friend’s birthday party). Things kind of work out for the best when you don’t have a plan.
We’re gonna fly down and just play the one show—So we’ll probably lose money doing it. But we just did a tour to Texas and back and we couldn’t really hit many of the spots. So we’re very excited to go (to Oblivion Access) and be a part of it. I mean, we’re making it (to Austin) just for that show.
Are you gonna have time to see any other bands at Oblivion Access?
Yeah, I personally am coming longer and my goal is to see what I can. I will be there for the weekend, and I’m very excited.
Which, which bands in the lineup are you most excited to hopefully see?
Oh my god, there’s so much stuff, I can’t even remember the lineup. Tim Hecker. Blank Hellscape… We got Cloud Rat down with us like, so it’ll be killer to see old friends.
Oh, you’re friends with them?
Yeah. On the reunion tour, we toured with (them) on the West Coast. That was in, like, 2019. But we (became familiar with them) way before.
I recently spoke with Oblivion Access co-founders Dorian [Domi] and Dusty [Brooks], and they told me how they want the festival to capture the spirit of keeping Austin “weird.” Do you consider City of Caterpillar to be a weird band?
A “weird” band? Yeah. Just playing it to any normal human being, and them act like it’s music. Right. Like, this is psycho. I still believe (our music is) structured in a beautiful way—but it’s not very accessible.
Have you ever wanted to change the way you guys make music?
Not how we make it, but we play a lot of genres and are trying to make this band be everything that we want it to be musically.
Thanks so much for the interview.
We appreciate you reaching out and keeping us part of it all. See you in the pit, baby.
City of Caterpillar will perform at Oblivion Access at Elysium nightclub in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, 10:15 to 11 p.m.
For more advance coverage of Oblivion Access, read our fresh interviews with OA co-founders Dusty Brooks and Dorian Domi; and participants Cloud Rat, Cloak, Bosse-de-Nage and Pallbearer.
Photo courtesy of Reid Haithcock
