* MCats Madness – Sweet 16 – For Your Consideration

Dear Fans/Friends of The MCats Band,

There is lots of bad news in the world, including that the NCAA’s March Madness has been canceled. As we all live and work in isolation this week/month/season, perhaps a welcome distraction is in order. The MCats Band is here to help!

First, if you have not liked our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MCatsBand/) or subscribed to our mailing list (https://www.mcatsband.org/fans), please do so!

Second, please join us in MCats Madness!

For the month of March, The MCats Band is replacing its website homepage with MCats Madness! To celebrate our 15th anniversary, we, the bandmates, have identified and initially ranked our top 32 recordings, dating back to the first song at our first gig on 2005-03-19.

We are then asking you, our fearless fans, to rank ’em in head-to-head (and more or less daily) contests! Vote with your comments! Vote with your likes! Vote early and vote often, but – for the love of rock ‘n’ roll – vote! And, to quote David Letterman, “Please, no wagering.”

We will then remaster and republish the top tracks on The MCats Band website and The MCats Band Facebook page! Hopefully. Probably. Maybe. We’ll do our best. Your mileage may vary.

Respectfully submitted,
Your humble servants,
The MCats Band

P.S. We love you, mans!

P.P.S. The round of 32 is complete, and Sweet 16 has begun! There was only one upset in the round of 32 (#19 2014 “Can’t Get Enough” defeated #14 2014 “Bohemian Like You”), and your favorite recording may be eliminated this week! Here are the upcoming contests:

Mon 2020-03-16

Contest #17:

(5) 2014-03-24 The MCats Band – Runnin Down A Dream.mp3
v.
(1) 2016-12-11 The MCats Band – You Wreck Me.mp3

Contest #18:

(6) 2017-03-06_21-03-47 The MCats Band – Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin (Live Rehearsal).mov
v.
(2) 2014-01-05 The MCats Band – Honky Tonk Women.mp3

Tue 2020-03-17

Contest #19:

(13) 2014-03-23 The MCats Band – Breakdown.mp3
v.
(9) 2014-03-23 The MCats Band – Oye Como Va.mp3

Contest #20:

(19) 2014-01-05 The MCats Band – Can’t Get Enough.mp3
v.
(10) 2015-11-07_14 The MCats Band – Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones (Live).mp3

Wed 2020-03-18

Contest #21:

(15) 2014-04-02 The MCats Band – Just What I Needed.mp3
v.
(11) 2016-12-11 The MCats Band – Bad Case Of Loving You.mp3

Contest #22:

(16) 2015-11-07_26 The MCats Band – Love Shack by The B-52’s (Live).mp3
v.
(12) 2019-06-25-AWS-13 The MCats Band – Rock and Roll All Nite by Kiss (Live).mp4

Thu 2020-03-19

Contest #23:

(7) 2014-03-24 The MCats Band – Tush.mp3
v.
(3) 2014-01-05 The MCats Band – Just Like Heaven.mp3

Contest #24:

(8) 2015-11-07_15 The MCats Band – What I Like About You by The Romantics (Live).mp3
v.
(4) 2016-12-11 The MCats Band – Please Come Home For Christmas.mp3


* MCats Madness – Contest #16 – 2006 “American Idiot” vs. 2016 “Christmas”

“America Idiot” was an early favorite (and the first song that I sang) but has not stood the test of time. I personally love this version of “Christmas,” so this should be an easy contest!

(29) 2006-10-15 The MCats Band – The MCats Band – American Idiot (Live).mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/enaxnkhfhmgzik3/2006-10-15%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20American%20Idiot%20%28Live%29.mp3?dl=0

vs.

(4) 2016-12-11 The MCats Band – Please Come Home For Christmas.mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bk62yrgq2xv725t/2016-12-11%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Please%20Come%20Home%20For%20Christmas.mp3?dl=0

Which recording is best? Vote with your likes and comments!


* MCats Madness – Contest #15 – 2006 “Psycho Killer” vs. 2014 “Just Like Heaven”

This is an old recording of “Psycho Killer” performed at Paul’s house, I believe. Josh now sings this one. “Just Like Heaven” is a fan favorite and is the only song we play whose title is also the last 3 words of the song – fun fact! It’s also tricky to play as I have to change patches mid-song while singing

(30) 2006-10-15 The MCats Band – Psycho Killer (Live).mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a7lgz8mwc6qvkdu/2006-10-15%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Psycho%20Killer%20%28Live%29.mp3?dl=0

vs.

(3) 2014-01-05 The MCats Band – Just Like Heaven.mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xqif5r0mqvp8c6y/2014-01-05%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Just%20Like%20Heaven.mp3?dl=0

Which recording is best? Vote with your likes and comments!


* MCats Madness – Contest #14 – 2015 The Romantics vs. 2015 Linda Ronstadt

I think I have to recuse myself (Erik) from this one, as this is my wife, Rebecca, singing lead on “When Will I Be Loved,” and I’m singling lead on “What I Like About You.” Fun fact about The Romantics’ tune: this was the first time I sang, spontaneously, “you, you, you-you-you-you!” And know I always do it this way. OK, now vote for my wife!

(25) 2015-11-07_17-44-59 The MCats Band – When Will I Be Loved (Live Sound Check).mov
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ls6q1o9qd8vymyg/2015-11-07_17-44-59%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20When%20Will%20I%20Be%20Loved%20%28Live%20Sound%20Check%29.mov?dl=0

vs.

(8) 2015-11-07_15 The MCats Band – What I Like About You by The Romantics (Live).mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/si6j9wej21mkavm/2015-11-07_15%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20What%20I%20Like%20About%20You%20by%20The%20Romantics%20%28Live%29.mp3?dl=0

Which recording is best? Vote with your likes and comments!


* MCats Madness – Contest #13 – 2015 “Christmas” vs. 2014 “Tush”

Our lead singer, Eamon, sang zero songs at our first gig, and Paul was the last to debut as a solo singer. Paul does the crooner songs, like “Christmas.” I had forgotten about this recording of “Tush” and almost didn’t recognize Eamon’s voice!

(26) 2015-11-07_21 The MCats Band – Please Come Home For Christmas by The Eagles (Live).mov
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qnyf2isk6byuo5f/2015-11-07_21%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Please%20Come%20Home%20For%20Christmas%20by%20The%20Eagles%20%28Live%29.mov?dl=0

vs.

(7) 2014-03-24 The MCats Band – Tush.mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3f5xoeb7s7ceztz/2014-03-24%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Tush.mp3?dl=0

Which recording is best? Vote with your likes and comments!


* MCats Madness – Contest #12 – 2014 “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” vs. 2019 Kiss

“Mary Jane’s Last Dance” is a song I play entirely with my left hand. The Kiss tune started as novelty one and has matured into one of our best covers (IMHO)!

(21) 2014-03-24 The MCats Band – Mary Jane’s Last Dance.mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/clysm3nlyla54ik/2014-03-24%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Mary%20Jane%27s%20Last%20Dance.mp3?dl=0

vs.

(12) 2019-06-25-AWS-13 The MCats Band – Rock and Roll All Nite by Kiss (Live).mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i5cbhuxjxrai59x/2019-06-25-AWS-13%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Rock%20and%20Roll%20All%20Nite%20by%20Kiss%20%28Live%29.mp4?dl=0

Which recording is best? Vote with your likes and comments!


* MCats Madness – Contest #11 – 2015 “It’s All Been Done” vs. 2016 “Doctor, Doctor”

Our nickname for the Barenaked Ladies tune is “I” since that’s the (conspicuously) first word of the song. “Bad Case Of Loving You” (AKA “Doctor, Doctor”) reminds me that we lost Robert Palmer too soon.

(22) 2015-11-07_01 The MCats Band – It’s All Been Done by Barenaked Ladies (Live).mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/aogka28lifp9pp6/2015-11-07_01%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20It%27s%20All%20Been%20Done%20by%20Barenaked%20Ladies%20%28Live%29.mp3?dl=0

vs.

(11) 2016-12-11 The MCats Band – Bad Case Of Loving You.mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gmlz742pi21ok4f/2016-12-11%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Bad%20Case%20Of%20Loving%20You.mp3?dl=0

Which recording is best? Vote with your likes and comments!


* MCats Madness – Contest #10 – 2019 “Can’t Get Enough” vs. 2015 “Love Shack”

This rendition of “Can’t Get Enough” was performed at Hard Rock Boston, which was a blast! “Love Shack” is a fan favorite – an audience-participation song – but the women are generally not close enough to the mic!

(17) 2019-06-25-AWS-01 The MCats Band – Can’t Get Enough by Bad Company (Live).mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5c48xr4y0n3buzr/2019-06-25-AWS-01%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Can%27t%20Get%20Enough%20by%20Bad%20Company%20%28Live%29.mp4?dl=0

vs.

(16) 2015-11-07_26 The MCats Band – Love Shack by The B-52’s (Live).mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/n1gfdz8h8uy686v/2015-11-07_26%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Love%20Shack%20by%20The%20B-52%27s%20%28Live%29.mp3?dl=0

Which recording is best? Vote with your likes and comments!


* MCats Madness – Contest #9 – 2019 “Doctor, Doctor” vs. 2014 “Just What I Needed”

“Doctor, Doctor” may have the longest name of any song in our setlist! “Just What I Needed” is one of the “original 13” that we learned for gig #1!

(18) 2019-06-25-AWS-03 The MCats Band – Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) by Robert Palmer (Live).mp4
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lqyjfxm718u0v0w/2019-06-25-AWS-03%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Bad%20Case%20of%20Loving%20You%20%28Doctor%2C%20Doctor%29%20by%20Robert%20Palmer%20%28Live%29.mp4?dl=0

vs.

(15) 2014-04-02 The MCats Band – Just What I Needed.mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/59e5hh73u8muxut/2014-04-02%20The%20MCats%20Band%20-%20Just%20What%20I%20Needed.mp3?dl=0

Which recording is best? Vote with your likes and comments!