Ottawa Buzz: More Music For Cats From Four'N'Giv'r
Friday January 27, 2006 @ 07:30 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

Four'N'Giv'r

The operations behind Music For Cats Records may have moved to Toronto, but it's still an Ottawa label at heart. As proof, locals Four'N'Giv'r are joining the ranks this weekend to celebrate the release of their Psychle debut.

Head Cat Karen McLane, who's now based in the Big Smoke, says adding Four'N'Giv'r to the Music For Cats roster was an easy choice. "Firstly, I love the band," she says.

"And another reason to put out the record is that it's full of my friends. Bob, Mark and John have all been big contributors to the record company."

The trio in question are well-entrenched in the Ottawa music scene. Drummer John Westhaver has played in Resin Scraper, Beld and New Brunswick's Exploding Meet, as well as running the Birdman Sound record store and hosting "Friday Morning Cartunes" on CKCU-FM. Guitarist/vocalist Bob Whitmore played in Holy Hell and still hosts "Bob Ate My Homework" on CKCU. Bassist Mark McIntyre is well known for his work in Weapons Of Mass Seduction.

So what does all that experience add up to? According to McLane, the band are "a psychedelic, garage rock sort of band. That's right up my alley in terms of the type of records I buy. I love garage rock's spirit, its danceability and its primitive sound, and that is what Four'N'Giv'r is all about."

Westhaver concurs, saying that the group's a "combination of '60s/'70s garage-psych leanings. The sound is pretty big, as Yogi from the Double Pumpers [who recorded Psychle] totally understands loud and rockin.'" Westhaver says the trio was simply aiming for "in yer face with melody and some hooks," and they certainly got it.