algebro
Chicago, Illinois, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Algebro is the solo project of local singer/songwriter Thom Cathcart. At first glance you may take note of his handlebar mustache, dopey demeanor and terrible choice of band name. But don’t let all that fool you; Algebro is a witty songwriter - a master of subtle sarcasm and dark humor.
Cathcart originally hails from Gainesville, Georgia, so it’s no surprise his music comes with a hint of southern charm. His debut full-length, The Algebro Album, is an 11-song collection of strangely charismatic folk songs that are sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes cheerful, but never cheesy. Take, for example, “Meddling Italian Neighbors.” This ode to drinking and dawdling is a happy-go-lucky melody full of jaunty tuba and organ, jangling tambourine, and Cathcart’s sluggish, clever vocalizations. Take a listen for yourself over at Algebro’s Bandcamp. - Chciagoist.com
"Algebro is Thom Cathcart, a recent transplant from Georgia. He’s quickly made some Chicago friends including Eddie Dixon who laid his ears and chops on to Algebro’s tres interesting compositions. The result is one of the most intriguing discs I’ve heard this year. " - richard milne WXRT chicago
"Algebro evokes a feeling of nostalgia for a time when music wasn’t dressed up for commercial radio pageantry. The Algebro album is a theatrical musical journey lead by Tom Cathcart’s cunning lyricism and supplemented by a band of Chicago music mainstays. After one listen of this honest and unassuming venture into folk noir, you too may come to the conclusion that Algebro is King." -Jesse Menendez host of The Music Vox vocalo 89.5 FM
- vocalo.org 89.5 fm
It must be said: Algebro has one of the worst, punniest band names I've ever seen. Judging a band by its name is usually far safer than judging a book by its cover—you won't miss much, for example, if you avoid every group whose name includes the word "funk"—but this is one instance where such a snap decision would lead you astray. Algebro's mastermind, singer-songwriter Thom Cathcart, is a subtly clever lyricist who knows exactly how much humor he can inject into a song—like the sad-sack drinking ode "Meddling Italian Neighbors," from last year's self-released The Algebro Record—without turning it into a joke. And the fardled indie folk he spins to back up his words—an odd hybrid of the Mountain Goats and Ween—could easily stand on its own. - Miles Raymer Chicago Reader
Discography
"The Algebro Album" released sept 10
Photos
Bio
Algebro is Thom Cathcart, a Georgia-born singer-songwriter and guitarist
living and working in Chicago. The Algebro Album is a collection of 11
of his darkly humorous, enigmatic, and occasionally heartbreaking songs.
He sings in a pure unaffected tenor over his own spidery guitar playing
and the expansive rhythmic and tonal palette of producer and bandmate
Eddie Dixon.
Strangest Girl I’ve Ever Known is a minor key love song stretched over a
throbbing beat and washed with static and reverb drenched guitar.
Meddling Italian Neighbors is an ode to irresponsibility built on tuba
and tom waits-ian organ. The other tunes wander through scraped and rattled
percussion, trumpet choirs, back porch harmonica, and fluid fingerpicking
before arriving at the swelling strings of the closing credits/final scene/
epilogue of Algebro is King.
The band is made up of Eddie Dixon and Adam Fitz, both singer-songwriters
and multi-instrumentalists, who were so in love with Algebro songs they
dedicated themselves to bringing them to life in a live setting. Switching
between guitars, bass, and keys and augmented by the encylopedic drumming
of Dan Salyers, they don’t play stripped down impressions of the songs
fully realised arrangements with a cinematic flair for mood.
"intriguingly off-kilter" TimeOut Chicago
"a subtly clever lyricist who knows exactly how much humor he can inject into a song without turning it into a joke." Chicago Reader
"a theatrical musical journey lead by Tom Cathcart’s cunning lyricism" Vocalo.org
"one of the most intriguing discs I’ve heard this year" WXRT's Richard Milne
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