Earlier in the year, a new supergroup side project was born in Denver, Colorado. Katharsis—consisting of Dave Watts of The Motet on drums, Chuck Jones of Dopapod on bass, Todd Stoops of RAQ on keys, and Marcus Rezak of Digital Tape Machine on guitar—made its formal debut back in early May, with the four lauded musicians coming together to create funk-rooted, psychedelic jams. With a focus on improvisation and innovation, the longtime friends formed Katharsis as a way to tap into their shared musical sensibilities while using their special blend of psychedelic funk to expose the cathartic experience of seeing music live and in person.
As Dave Watts noted to Live For Live Music earlier in the year, “I’ve been wanting to start a project with Todd and Marcus for a long time. When I found out that Chuck was moving to Denver, it seemed inevitable that we would put something together. These are three of my favorite guys to hang with, and they all happen to also be absolute monsters on their instruments.” He continued, “Katharsis is the ancient spelling of a word that means the act of releasing a strong emotion through artistic expression. That emotion is the pure joy we feel when get to play together!”
After their formal debut earlier in the year, more good news is on the way from the Katharsis camp, especially for those who were unable to catch the group in action in Colorado. In July of this year, the band spent three intensive sixteen-hour days writing, recording, and improvising at Mountain Star Studios in Rollinsville, Colorado. Katharsis has given Live For Live Music the privilege of getting a sneak-peek of what to expect from these sessions and the subsequent album that is due out later in the year.
“Diabolical” off Katharsis’ upcoming album was written and produced by Watts and engineered by Andrew Lundsford and perfectly encapsulates the vibe of this new act. With the powerful rhythm section propelling the song forward from its onset, the song presents a darker side of funk, all the while remaining deeply danceable. As the song progresses, the song embarks on an improvisational journey, becoming explicitly more psychedelic as it unfolds, complete with trippy ornamentations from the guitar and keys. You can check out Katharsis’s “Diabolical” below, and stay tuned for more information about the group’s upcoming release. You can also catch Katharsis live in September during their three-night run across Colorado.
Upcoming Katharsis 2017 Dates
September 27th – Barkley’s Ballroom – Frisco (free show)
September 28th – Aggie – Fort Collins, CO (opening for G. Love)