Steve Cataldo

I’ve known Steve for many years, and I’ve had the pleasure to play with him in a couple of bands. But I was aware of his musical abilities because of being involved with many of his cohorts. Moreover, Steve was a well known figure in the Boston music scene with the Nervous Eaters, a band started by Steve and his brother. I can’t remember how the connection was ever made, although Billy and the Jackals had something to do with it. And I’m very grateful for it. Steve is one of my favorite song-writers.

My favorite recording was made at the Blue Jay Recording Studio in Carlisle, MA, sometime in the late 80s, when the studio was still owned by a couple of folks from Wayland, MA. The engineer on this sessions was was Andy Mendhelson, a great overall musician.

Sadly, I don’t have any version of the recording other than an old cassette, which was already damaged before I go around to digitize it. The overall sound is muddy, and there are a few problems with the reproduction to MP3.

I’m not sure of the the exact lineup:

• Steve, guitar, vocals and whatever
• Billy Loosigian also on guitar
• Michael Walsh on bass
• Wally Baier, on keyboards
• and… Peter Calo, on guitar, maybe. I’m not sure.

But I love the recording, especially Billy’s lyrical solo ending with the song’s main melody. I still get goosebumps listening to it. Thank you Billy!

Steve with Billy in the dressing room at Bunratty's in Allston, MA. Unfortunatelly I can't remember who's sitting next to Billy.

The Reflectors

Before getting together the lineup mentioned above for Come Down recording Steve asked me to join The Reflectors, a group he had formed with Derik Dyer that also included Jonathan, one of the Paley Brothers and Jim Perry. We recorded several of Steve tunes, including the following, in a studio in the Boston suburb with one of the engineers who recorded the band Toto.

Derik Dyer at home in 2012.