Cats in Congress originally formed in late 2013 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The band went through multiple lineup changes before settling in its current lineup of Billy Lewis on guitar and lead vocals, James Kirwan on guitar and backing vocals, Forrest Newman on drums, and Jake Edwards on bass guitar. The band’s music can be described as pop-punk reminiscent of the early 2000s, such as Fallout Boy, Green Day, and Blink-182.

    Within the band, many different musical styles blend into one coherent mix. Billy draws influence from bands such as Fallout Boy, System of a Down, and Nirvana. James and Forrest draw heavily from classic rock, including Led Zeppelin, Guns n’ Roses, and the Police. Jake rounds out the mixture with hints of metal bands, like Metallica, Anthrax, and Pantera. Together, this leads to a unique blend of many different styles of music.

    During their two years as a band, Cats in Congress has played at many prestigious venues in the Pittsburgh area, including Stage AE, The Smiling Moose, and Club Diesel. They have also received media attention from PropertyofZack.com, The Homegrown Rocker (a Pennsylvania radio program that focuses on showcasing local bands), and The River’s Edge of Pittsburgh. They have also done local spots for IUPTV’s “Indie Rocker Ball” program. They have performed with the likes of Saving Abel, July Talk, and the Crookes.

    For information regarding booking, promotion, and other general inquiries, contact either Billy Lewis at 814-248-0161 or James Kirwan 814-619-6156.