When most bands form, they usually start with friends jamming in a garage or classmates meeting in music school. But Fantastic Cat isn’t like most bands. This group came together when four successful solo artists decided to join forces, creating something special that’s bringing them to The Hamilton Live in Washington DC on Thursday, May 1.
In an interview with Parklife DC, Don DiLego, one of the band’s four frontmen, shared the unusual story of how Fantastic Cat was born.
“I had this idea for years,” DiLego explained. “I used to talk about it after shows, telling everyone I wanted to do a songwriting project like Golden Smog did in the ’90s.” But getting busy musicians together is tough when everyone has their own career.”
Eventually, DiLego and his friend Mike Montali from the band Hollis Brown decided to make it happen. They invited Anthony D’Amato and Brian Dunne to join them, and the foursome spent a couple of weekends recording at DiLego’s studio. Their plan wasn’t to form a touring band; they just wanted to make music together.
“The idea was to make a record with no plans, no stress about being an artist, no stress about streaming or touring,” DiLego said. “Just make a record for the sake of making a record.”
But after COVID restrictions lifted, they decided to play the songs live. That’s when something unexpected happened: They realized they didn’t want to be “four guys on stools with acoustic guitars.” Instead, they decided to swap instruments throughout the show, even though some of them weren’t experts on drums or bass.
“We said, it doesn’t matter, because we weren’t a band and we weren’t trying,” DiLego laughed. “We were just trying to throw a party.”
They still needed a name for their first show. Rather than argue about it, they made a pact: They would ask the waitress what their band should be called and go with whatever she said. When she returned with their beers, they asked her the question.
“She didn’t even hesitate,” DiLego remembers. “She just said, ‘You’re Fantastic Cat.’ And she walked away.”
Watch the official music video for “So Glad You Made It” by Fantastic Cat on YouTube:
That simple moment changed everything. Having a good name helped cement the band’s future and gave them direction for their style and merchandise. What started as a casual project became something more serious.
Now Fantastic Cat is returning to The Hamilton Live, a venue DiLego describes as a perfect fit for their music. Located at 600 14th St NW in downtown DC, The Hamilton Live is known for its excellent acoustics, intimate space (though still large enough for big-name artists), and great food. (It’s part of the Clyde’s Restaurant Group, known for quality dining.)
“The acoustics are great, the food’s really good,” DiLego confirmed, “and everyone is very nice there. They take care of us, we enjoy going back.”
The venue creates a special atmosphere for concerts. DiLego appreciates that Hamilton audiences commit to the experience. “They’re usually pretty excitable, and you know they’re in there for the entire show. They’re not coming for a few songs and popping out and going somewhere else. They’re making an evening of it.”
Fantastic Cat has been building momentum since their 2022 debut album, The Very Best of Fantastic Cat. Despite the tongue-in-cheek title (it was their first album), the record earned praise from Rolling Stone as “a wildly satisfying collection” with “equal doses of Dylan and Springsteen.” The band has since appeared on CBS Saturday Morning, sold out shows across the USA and Europe, and they had a song featured in the Paramount+ series “Tulsa King.”
Their most recent release, the deluxe edition of “Now That’s What I Call Fantastic Cat,” expands on what Rolling Stone called a “gloriously fun…breath of fresh air.” The deluxe version adds previously unreleased studio tracks and live performances.
Musically, Fantastic Cat defies easy categorization. With four distinct songwriters sharing vocals and switching instruments, their sound spans folk, rock, country, and Americana. DiLego notes that on their first album, you could often tell who wrote which song, but as they’ve evolved, the lines are blurring.
“Everyone has their own unique imprint and style,” he explained. “I think the lines are getting a little more blurred, where we sort of have an idea now on every song how to best utilize ourselves as a band.”
Watch the official music video for “Oh, Man!” by Fantastic Cat on YouTube:
What should audiences expect at their Hamilton show? DiLego says they break from the sometimes overly serious approach common in Americana music. “Our shows developed into, say, a comedy routine, because there’s a lot of bad comedy coming from us,” he joked. “But it just made it fun.”
They’ve discovered a balance of playing serious songs while keeping the atmosphere light. “We want to make each other laugh and have a good time while playing songs that aren’t joke songs,” DiLego said. “Our songs are serious and take on serious topics, but on stage, we’re not preaching to anybody. We’re just up there trying to get people to smile.”
The band is excited about their future, having recently spent two weeks in Charlottesville, Virginia, recording their third album, expected to be released around March or April 2026.
For those new to Fantastic Cat, DiLego hopes people leave their shows feeling good. “We want people to say, ‘Hey, I needed a night out to just listen to some good music and feel good about having been there.’ And that’s kind of just how we ended up rolling with our live shows.” Adding to the evening’s appeal is opening act Jake Thistle, a rising talent in the Americana scene. Thistle has been garnering attention for his soulful vocals and impressive guitar work that showcase musical maturity beyond his years. DiLego expressed enthusiasm about sharing the stage with Thistle, noting, “Jake brings this authentic energy that really connects with audiences. He’s the perfect artist to set the tone for our show.”
Whether you’re already a fan or discovering them for the first time, Fantastic Cat’s May 1st show at The Hamilton Live promises a night of strong songwriting, energetic performances, and genuine musical chemistry.
“Some aspects of the research and/or drafting for this piece may have included AI assistance.”
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Fantastic Cat perform live at The Hamilton Live on May 1!
Buy your tickets online now!
Fantastic Cat
W/ Jake Thistle
The Hamilton Live
Thursday, May 1
Doors @ 6:30pm
$20/$25
All ages
