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Captain Soularcat brings Southern rock to Turley Park

Somewhere in the country, Captain Soularcat is probably riding around in a big yellow school bus. When this mysterious yellow bus comes rolling into Carbondale on Thursday don't be alarmed; grab your friends and head out to Turley Park for the 7 p.m. Sunset Concert.

Guitarist and vocalist Matt Williams has watched time and time again as concertgoers open their ears and ease into the unfamiliar groove of Captain Soularcat. Just recently in California, it happened again.

"These people, they don't know what to think when they see a bunch of Georgia boys come into town in a big yellow bus," Williams said.

Captain Soularcat played the High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, Calif., on July 4, where the band headlined one of the stages.

"There are so many different kinds of people in California. People really come out and support the music," Williams said.

Alhough Captain Soularcat has played a couple of festivals in California before, headlining a stage at the High Sierra Music Festival was a pretty big deal for them. The festival was the biggest music festival they'd ever played. Familiar with playing "the Southeastern circuit," consisting of Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, the state of California took a bit of getting used to for the band, but they were very happy with the end result.

"It's like a totally different scene," Williams said.

California is a long way from home for Captain Soularcat, with all its members living no more than 45 minutes from Atlanta.

The band formed in 2000, but Williams didn't join until a year ago.

"Ever since then, we've found our little niche; we've found the right guys," Williams said.

Captain Soularcat's other members include Scott Warren (bass and vocals), Benji Shanks (lead guitar), Gaurav Malhotra (percussion and vocals) and Travis Cline (drum kit).

Although Captain Soularcat comes from the southeast and is most familiar with playing around three or four shows per week when they're home, location shouldn't necessarily imply the band's genre.

"It's definitely the rock and roll genre; sometime I get caught saying southern rock," Williams said.

But before potential listeners draw images of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the like, there is more they need to know about Captain Soularcat.

"It's rock with a twist; it's really energetic, that's what I love about this band," Williams said."

With every show, Captain Soularcat aims to play each song a little different, making individual show experimental and unique in its own way.

"We try to hit as many different musical genres as possible, really," Williams said.

Warren, a founding member of the band, brings strong and solid rock to the sound. To that, Williams stirs in his passion for bluegrass.

"It kind of blends well. Scott writes real, real powerful rock," Williams said. "That's kind of how we met, we both love bluegrass."

The band plays a variety of cover songs, as well as originals.

Prior to his involvement with Captain Soularcat, Williams was a member of an Atlanta jam band called Dysfunction Junction.

"I've played bass, keyboard; I've done a little bit of everything," Williams said.

Growing up, he sang in church and took piano lessons. At 16, he got his first guitar. Music has been important as long as he can remember.

"I've loved music my whole life," Williams said. "My mother sings a whole lot. It's always been in my blood, it runs through my whole family."

Expressing himself and spreading positive vibes through music make his involvement with a band and touring something he plans to pursue as long as he possibly can.

One of the greatest things about being in Captain Soularcat, Williams says, is developing a connection with people he has never met through music.

"This is what I'm going to do; this is my talent, this is my gift," Williams said. "I'm not a lawyer or a doctor by any means."

Williams considers himself lucky to have become a part of Captain Soularcat, which he feels is almost like being a part of a baseball team, or any other team, in how everyone becomes close and works together.

"You develop a certain kind of brotherhood," he said.

The greatest challenge involved with being a part of Captain Soularcat, Williams said, is just struggling to get by financially and getting big enough to feed themselves.

"Living off peanut butter and tuna fish. That's definitely the hardest thing," Williams said.

The price of gas to travel via Captain Soularcat's school bus also gets pricey.

"We've kind of learned how it goes, how much gas costs," Williams said. "Instead of traveling real long distances, you have to kind of attack it little by little."

Captain Soularcat has had some help getting its name out there, expanding their touring area and picking up more shows than they used to.

"We signed with a booking agency in March," Williams said. "That has helped out tremendously."

The name of the booking agency is Simon Says Booking out of Massachusetts. They are a nationwide agency, so they can book Captain Soularcat anywhere.

"They're helping us so much by spreading us around," Williams said.

When touring, Captain Soularcat make sure to stop, see the sights and take in the new places they visit.

"It's almost like you're on vacation when you're working; you can't beat that," Williams said. "We eat that tour stuff up. Everywhere we go, we've got sightseeing to do, pictures to take."

Williams describes Captain Soularcat's shows as "just a big burst of positive energy."

"We bring the heat, no kidding around," he said. "There's a special power behind our music. I can't stop dancing when I play. There is definitely a lot of soul behind it, you can feel it."

This outpour of energy is what makes Captain Soularcat stand out among other bands.

"It kind of brings folks together; that's what we drive off of," Williams said.

And driving forward is what Captain Soularcat intends to keep doing.

"Our goal is to keep this school bus on the road," Williams said.

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