BY STEVEN JUPITER
LEICESTER—Anyone who came of age in the 1980s and 90s will immediately recognize the music: Souxsie and the Banshees, U2, Muse, the Pretenders, Garbage, the Killers…all staples of the alternative scene of those decades. Leicester’s own Electrostatic Cats—a duo made up of Jonathan Czar and Gayle Malinowski—grew up in the era and still cherish that sound. And they’re planning to bring it to Brandon’s Town Hall Theater on Saturday, January 21.
Czar, who was raised in Poultney, has been playing music since he was a teen. He was part of the “borderline punk” scene in Rutland in the 80s, centered around the Valley Club, which is now Strangefellows, near the Amtrak station. He plays guitar, bass, and keyboards.
Three years ago, he persuaded Malinowski, a longtime friend and coworker in the IT department at Castleton University, to give drumming a shot. She had no prior experience but got hooked. “I’d been a dancer,” she said. “I had a sense of rhythm and timing.”
“Her arms used to get tired really quickly,” joked Czar. “But she’s one of the few drummers who can sing and play at the same time.”
And now they’re the Electrostatic Cats, named for Malinowski’s cat, Mario. A cartoon of his face graces Malinowski’s hot pink kick drum.
The Rutland scene tends to feature mellower music these days. “Bluegrass, a lot of acoustic,” said Czar. “People in Rutland County aren’t used to hearing alternative music live.”
“A lot of times when we’re playing restaurants, people stop what they’re doing to listen,” said Malinowski. “The music catches their attention.”
In their practice space at Malinowski’s home in Leicester, she and Czar launched into a solid rendition of “Brass in Pocket” by the Pretenders, with Malinowski on drums and vocals and Czar on guitar and keyboard.
“We heard the song recently and both of us immediately wanted to perform it,” said Czar.
The duo also write original songs. They indulged a request for a sample with a catchy, acerbic tune called “Things to Do,” which features the memorable lyric “I’ve got things to do and none of them include you.” “It’s on our set list for Brandon,” said Czar, “along with Souxsie and the Banshees, the Killers, Tragically Hip, even some Fleetwood Mac.”
Whether you grew up listening to alternative rock or are a younger fan of the 80s/90s vibe, the Electrostatic Cats’ show at the Brandon Town Hall Theater on Saturday, January 21 promises to satisfy your craving.
