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Kat Dooley-Wandersee onstage at Ladies Night in November at the Palace Theater.Katrina Tulloch/tulloch@syracuse.comKAT TALEFROM IIKat” and “The Kat’s Meow.” For the band's entire tenure, Kat and Kate have always held down day jobs in health care and education, respectively.They believe Syracuse has a solid music scene, but they never left their jobs to pursue music full-time. They point to Joe Altier and Off the Reservation as rare examples of local musicians who use music as their sole source of income.“Music is our passion,” Kate said. “But we love our careers”They often go out and support other local bands, such as Letizia and the Z-Band, Hard Promises, 3 Inch Fury and Under the Gun. “We’re all friendly,” Kate said. “I think Syracuse’s music scene is like a big family”Back when Kat Tale started, they saw more competition for the kind of music they played: the best of Pat Benatar, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joan Jett, ZZ Top, Alanis Morissette, Heart and Melissa Etheridge.“Our crowd is older now, but so are we,” Kat said.They released an album of original music in 2012. The two women each have a tattoo of its title, “Believe.” Lately, they’ve been covering songs by Miranda Lambert and Sugarland, digging deeper into country music.They sing at weddings, benefits and funerals often, as an acoustic duo.Kat Tale plays at The Gig at Turning Stone, Paper Mill Island and Buffalo’s in Baldwinsville. They’ve also logged many hours at Jamesville Balloonfest, Ladies Night at the Palace and the New York State Fair.“We get flashed a lot,” Kat said. “These women just pull up their shirts while we’re performing. We don’t know why, but it keeps happening.”Kat Tale’s current lineupalso includes lead guitarist Ranee Ross, bassist Bob Volk, keyboardist Greg Gannett and drummer Eric Wilson. Kate’s husband, Royce McManus, doesn’t play in the band, but he never misses a show.“I can carry a mean amp,” he said.The band has changed many times with instrumentalists, but Kat and Kate have always been constant. Kat remembers when she married and got pregnant. Kate predicted she would quit.She didn’t. In fact, Katplayed a Fulton concert while seven months pregnant.“I was like, ‘Oh my God, her water’s gonna break,’” Kate said.They never seriously considered breaking up.“We love each other and there’s always someone who wants to play with us,” Kate said. “Over the years, we’ve been through a lot together.” “Now, we’re sisters,” Kat said. “She calls my mom ‘Mom.’ ”This Kat Tale has far more than nine lives.
Newspaper Details
Syracuse Post Standard
Syracuse, New York, US
Sun, Feb 19, 2017
Page 78
Full Page
Clipped by
Onondaga C.
NY, USA 09 Jun 2025
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