Left on Cates blends the eclectic tastes of jazz, punk, classical, hip-hop and metal into driving, fast-paced power rock rifts.
“People spend too much time trying to label what they listen to,” Vivirito said. “We’re just the bastard child of three people’s skills and backgrounds.”
Left on Cates
Bassist/vocalist Kelley, from Charlotte, bases a good deal of his material on Ben Folds, not necessarily his style, but more his passion for music and words.
“He’s one of the best songwriters I know,” Kelley said. “When he sings, you can tell it’s really meaningful. A lot of people throw together words to fit four chords, but Folds has very introspecitive lyrics and I like that about him.”
Left on Cates places its rock soul in the band’s drive to continually push themselves to newer levels of excellence.
“Our signature sound rests in our willingness to step outside our comfort zone and push ourselves as musicians,” Vivirito said. The band specializes in time signature changes and a collaborative approach to pushing the limits of the alternative rock genre. “We want to play things people haven’t heard before,” Vivirito said.
A small setting, like at Sandy’s bar, will allow fans the chance to enjoy more than just the band’s edgy rock music. The intimate setting lets the audience experience a more personal view of the band.
“When we play at Sandy’s, it’s like we’re part of the crowd because we literally play on the same level as everyone there,” Vivirito said.
The three guys call people out in the audience and shout out jokes to encourage a more lively show.
“I hope fans enjoy it as much as us,” Kelley said. “Because I hate being seperated from the crowd. I really like interacting with everyone.”
A primarily original band, listeners can expect a series of unique scores. However, the band also jams to a few covers as well. They generally play unexpected covers from early 90s rock. The songs might not be mainstream hits, but are still recognizable favorites from bands like the Foo Fighters, Weezer and Rage Against the Machine.
The three-man group started out as a duo in need of a drummer in 2003, when Kelley and O’Connell left Charlotte for college. Vivirito answered a wanted ad for a drummer he found on a flyer outside of Harden. Although he didn’t click with guitarist O’Donnell right away, the band became official in 2004, a year later.
With a name based on their first song, which they later scrapped, the band hopes to branch out to more than just the Charlotte and Raleigh areas. Ironically, there’s also a Cates Street in Raleigh.
This rocking trio promises to bring the heat at every show.