Each year in late May, the 4-day party and noise-rock festival Caterwaul takes over multiple venues in Minneapolis. It’s a stacked lineup this year, to put it mildly, with each night’s headliners FACS, Young Widows, Naw, Pissed Jeans, and Uniform -- and that’s leaving a ton of other great bands off the list in the name of keeping our intro short.
SPB teamed up with organizers Conan Neutron, Rainer Fronz, and Melanie Thomas to get a feel for the fest. In addition to the bands named already, hear from Deaf Club, Buildings, Kowloon Walled City, Violenteer, Unstable Shapes, Something Is Waiting, Upright Forms, and Tonguecutter.
--
Must-see bands at Caterwaul 2025
Matt K. (Pissed Jeans)
Wipes are fronted by Allentown legend Ray Gurz, gotta peep their set. Find a big enough piece of trash and he'll do a skateboard trick on it.
Uniform feel like bruthers from different muthers even though I only see those guys in person like once every four years at this point... dying to see them play their last album, it's their best yet.
Deaf Club seem like a real hoot, getting accidentally kicked in the face by Justin Pearson is the hardcore equivalent of the Pope dabbing ash on your forehead (RIP).
Big'n would be great to catch, understated legends for sure.
Justin Pearson (Deaf Club)
Obviously, Pissed Jeans as they are one of the coolest modern bands around. I'm also looking forward to seeing the homies Young Widows, Fotocrime, Conan Neutron, and Uniform. However Deaf Club is performing on Monday, so I can assume everyone will be mourning by that day. But one nonmusical thing I am looking forward to is running into that dork, Ian Smith, the guy who has that little label 25 Diamonds, and seemingly Minneapolis' "Punk Rock Mayor". He had this to say to me recently via Three One G's email:
"It's going to be hilarious to whoop your ass in front of your pals, get you kicked out and then watch Uniform play after I do. Bring weapons."
So that in itself should sell tickets. More importantly, who says "whoop your ass"? Sounds like a grandma.
--
Caterwaul 2025’s organizers sent 5 questions (+ 1 bonus) to several Caterwaul 2025 bands and here are the results:
