Catch 22

Formed in New Jersey during the fall of 1996, the ska-punk outfit Catch 22 originated with singer and guitarist Tomas Kalnoky, trumpeter Kevin Gunther, and drummer Chris Greer. They soon added bassist Pat Calpin, trombonist Jamie Egan, and saxophonist Ryan Eldred, then spent the ensuing two years on constant roadwork while completely selling through the 2,000 copies of their self-issued demo Rules of the Game. Victory Records signed the band in late 1997, and Keasbey Nights appeared the next year, swiftly establishing Catch 22 among the label’s all-time top sellers. Exhaustion from nonstop touring prompted Kalnoky’s departure—he would subsequently lead the ska-punk group Streetlight Manifesto—after which the remaining members recruited Jeff Davidson as the new vocalist. Calpin shifted to guitar, and Pat Kays joined on bass for the 1999 EP Washed Up! Alone in a Crowd arrived the following year. When Davidson left in March 2001 the band had not yet secured a replacement, yet still issued Washed Up and Through the Ringer that November. The release functioned as a compilation, gathering the earlier Washed Up! EP, assorted rare tracks, multiple live recordings, and two fresh songs featuring shared vocals between Gunther and Eldred. That vocal approach persisted on 2003’s Dinosaur Sounds, which drew a divided reaction from listeners. Catch 22 Live surfaced in October 2004, accompanied by a DVD that added bonus material and footage captured the prior August at the Downtown in Farmingdale, NY. Touring continued, encompassing appearances at the 2006 Bamboozle and Warped Tour festivals. Their subsequent full-length, the concept album Permanent Revolution, traced the life of Bolshevik revolutionary Leon Trotsky and reached stores in June 2006. The group later led a cross-country trek that included support from Voodoo Glow Skulls, Big D & the Kids Table, Suburban Legends, and others.