Emerging from Toronto, Canada in 1998, Black Cat 13 carved a unique, albeit brief, niche in the late 90s music scene. This quartet wasn’t just another band; they were an electrifying fusion of raw punk energy and ominous electronic soundscapes. Despite their short lifespan, Black Cat 13 left an indelible mark with their innovative sound and the subsequent success of its members in other notable projects.
The core of Black Cat 13 consisted of Jesse F. Keeler, the rhythmic backbone on drums and the sonic architect behind the electronics, Robin Young adding layers of synth textures, Mark McLean laying down the basslines, and Lindsey Gillard fronting the band with powerful vocals. In a genre often perceived as male-dominated, Gillard’s commanding stage presence and distinctive vocal delivery – a blend of distorted shouts and rhythmic precision – firmly established her as a frontwoman to be reckoned with. The creative synergy between Young’s keyboard work and Keeler’s electronic manipulations was crucial to Black Cat 13’s signature sound, adding a layer of inventive electronica that went beyond typical punk rock fare. Complemented by Keeler’s driving drumming and McLean’s solid bass, the band maintained a hard-hitting, intense sonic identity.
Despite the compelling originality and attention-grabbing nature of their music, perhaps the name Black Cat 13, often associated with bad luck, foreshadowed their limited run. After only two years of activity, the band disbanded in 2000, leaving behind a small but potent discography. Among their releases, “I Blast Off!”, launched via Three One G Records on limited edition colored vinyl, stands out as a key example of their sound. This EP features four tracks, including a cover of San Diego hardcore act Struggle’s “War #1” alongside three original compositions.
The title track, “I Blast Off!”, immediately throws listeners into the deep end of Black Cat 13’s sonic universe. It’s a relentless surge of punk intensity interwoven with electronic elements that evoke images of dystopian robots orchestrating Earth’s demise, complete with laser-like synth blasts. The lyrics, both cryptic and unsettling – “It’s coming, we’re alone/ let’s wash, we grind the walls/ you drag me up and down stairs” – add to the captivating ambiguity and ominous atmosphere that defined much of Black Cat 13’s work.
While Black Cat 13 was relatively short-lived, its members were far from finished with music. Even before its dissolution, Keeler and Young formed Femme Fatale, indicating a continuous creative drive. Following the breakup, McLean and Gillard joined forces in The Sick Lipstick. However, it’s Jesse F. Keeler who arguably achieved the most widespread recognition. He went on to co-found the influential dance-punk duo Death From Above 1979, initially defunct but later reformed, amassing a dedicated global fanbase. Furthermore, Keeler’s electronic music inclinations, already evident in Black Cat 13, fully blossomed in MSTRKRFT, his well-known electronic project. In MSTRKRFT, the harder edge of his Black Cat 13 electronics shifted, taking center stage in a more dance-oriented context.
Although Black Cat 13’s time was brief, their fusion of punk and electronic music was ahead of its time, and the subsequent projects of its members testify to the band’s lasting creative impact on the Canadian and international music landscape. They remain a fascinating footnote in the history of Canadian underground music, a band that burned brightly but all too quickly faded, leaving behind a legacy ripe for rediscovery.
