The Amazing Acro-Cats at Diana Wortham Theatre
Following a two-year, pandemic-induced hiatus, I couldn't have predicted that my triumphant return to rock photography would involve taking pictures of...cats. Yet there I was, at the Diana Wortham Theatre on the evening of May 7, snapping shots of felines.
But these weren’t ordinary, lazy, do-nothing house cats. These cats have actual talent. These cats have appeared on television and in movies. These cats are stars!
Tuna and the Rock Cats have been a band for well over a decade, and they’ve gone through many trials and tribulations along the way. Assembled as a power trio in 2004 by animal trainer Samantha Martin, the band hit the ground running early, quickly building up a cult following while playing intimate rooms such as small art galleries. As the vast demographic of cat lovers took notice, audiences grew, propelling them to bigger and bigger stages.
Before rocking the house at DWT, Tuna and the Rock Cats performed a number of logic-defying tricks as the Amazing Acro-Cats. From tight-rope walks to literally jumping through hoops, these cats defied all preconceived notions about what cats can be trained to do. They followed Martin’s directions well enough to prove what they’re capable of, but they also set the record straight about who was really in control.
In moments of her cats’ defiance, Martin showed great humility. The seasoned feline specialist knew that teaching the most aloof of domesticated animals would be challenging. Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2015, performance anxiety got the best of the cats. But they rose to the occasion when they nailed their performance at the 2018 Puppy Bowl halftime show.
For Saturday night’s show, Tuna and her bandmates tapped into the sloppy chaos of punk rock and the slacker vibes of classic indie rock. Their improvised performance had an anything-can-happen vibe reminiscent of Butthole Surfers shows. Like a wasted Keith Moon, Bowie blasted through some rapire-fire beats before abruptly knocking over his kit in an act of youthful defiance, and when not sitting on her roomy skull, Jax roamed the audience, searching for groupies.
A trio dubbed The Jazz Cats (including my personal favorite, Buggles, on trumpet) eventually joined in, providing their own unique rendition of George Michaels’ “Careless Whisper.” They even got some accompaniment on tambourine from a chicken named Cluck Norris. Fortunately for all, Tuna’s consistent trademark cowbell playing kept the band in time.
The merchandising push from Martin came on a little strong times, but it would be impossible not to be thoroughly impressed by the stage show she and her Amazing Acro-Cats put together, to the extent that one’s mind spins at their potential. Considering how felines were able to become one of the ruling powers of the internet while putting in minimal effort, just imagine what a traveling troupe of performing cats are capable of.
(Photos by Jonny Leather)
