Phat Cat Swinger: Hollywood’s hottest little big band comes to the Avalon
Aug 25, 2023 12:17PM ● By Jan Weeks
If you long for those musical days of yesteryear, when big bands, jazz and smooth singers like Sinatra and Bennet ruled the airwaves, get ready to trip down Memory Lane with Phat Cat Swinger, taking the Avalon stage for the second concert in Community Concerts of the Grand Valley’s 79th season.
The 11-member group was founded in part by members Marco Palos, who plays alto sax, and baritone sax player William Pattison. Influenced by Bobby Darin, Louis Prima and more, their current setlist also includes music from new bands such as Bruno Mars, Royal Crown Review and Brian Stetzer, making Phat Cat one of the hottest swing bands in the country.
Two of the members also perform intermittently with Louis Prima, Jr., and the Witnesses, who appeared at the Avalon in 2022.
Showmanship is the name of the game when the group surges onto the stage, bringing to life re-imagined musical arrangements from timeless eras, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Michael Bublé, Disney and everything in between.
The band effortlessly channels the rockstar energy of Freddie Mercury and the flamboyant styles of Elton John while bringing laughter to audiences with their spontaneity in their choreography.
Besides touring the U.S., where they often appeared on the Disney Resort stages, they’ve rocked Europe and made videos with Christina Aguilera and the Jonas Brothers. Phat Cat Swinger will continue on with the mission to bring smiles, laughter and great classic and new music with a high energy twist to audiences for years to come. It’s the band’s own way of passing along the torch to generations that lie ahead of them.
Join in the high-energy fun on Tuesday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Avalon Theatre, 645 Main St. in Grand Junction. The theater has elevator service, handicapped seating, a drop-off area in front of the theaters, plus downtown dining and parking options. Doors open one hour before the show.
