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Small, but Powerful

You either view a “hurricane” as a natural disaster or as a cocktail that has Bacardi 151 in the recipe. No matter which one you go with, they’re both powerful and will guarantee live up to their hype. This is the exact reason Little Hurricane chose the name for their band, we’re “small, but powerful.”

Little Hurricane consists of Anthony “Tone” Catalano, 29 (slide guitar, keys, lead vocals) and the beautiful Celeste “CC” Spina, 27 (drums, mandolin, backup vocals). In search for a drummer, Tone took to Craigslist and found CC, a drummer in high school that has never played in an actual band before. Who would have thought the duo would take home the Best New Artist Award at the 2010 San Diego Music Awards after being together for a mere six months.

Little Hurricane often compared to The White Stripes, is set to release their much anticipated debut album in December titled Homewrecker. Alongside an album, typically comes a tour and that is exactly what they plan on doing. Little Hurricane will be playing a Farewell Show on November 27th at Bar Pink before they venture on a year long tour across the United States.

Hometown:
Tone: Santa Cruz, CA
CC: Chicago, IL

How long have you lived in San Diego? Reason for moving here?
T: Seven years ago for music and to be close to LA, but not actually in LA.
C: Five years, I wanted a change in scenery.

How long have you lived in San Diego? Reason for moving here?
T: Seven years ago for music and to be close to LA, but not actually in LA.
C: Five years, I wanted a change in scenery.

Favorite happy hour:
T: West Coast Tavern
C: West Coast Tavern

Favorite cocktail/beer:
T: Stone IPA
C: Dirty Shirley

What is something only a local would know about San Diego?
T: Señor Mango’s (Smoothie shop on 30th Street in University Heights).
C: Kobey’s (Sports Arena) or the National City Swap Meets. Amazing!

Favorite place to perform in San Diego:
T: Winston’s
C: Casbah

Favorite place for live music in San Diego:
T: Casbah
C: Birch Theatre

Congratulations on the recent success! Did you have any idea when you formed Little Hurricane that you would win a Best New Artist Award just six months later?
No Idea! We’re happy that others are as excited as we are about Little Hurricane!

Were majority of your songs previously written or did you work from scratch six months ago? If so, that is pretty amazing to have success so quickly.
Thanks! We wrote most of the songs within a couple months of forming the band. This project has been very inspiring for us.

Have you had any recent interest from record labels since you’ve won the Award? What are your thoughts of signing with a major label?
Nope, but it’s currently a pretty exciting time for bands. There has never been more opportunities and power to do what they want with their music without immediate help from a major label.

You’re currently working on your debut album, when will it be released and what should we expect from it?
The self-produced album will be called Homewrecker and is set to be released by the end of the year. Expect to hear a whole lot of noise from two people!

Tone, is the first time you’ve had a female in one of your bands? Has she been easier, harder, or about the same as if you had another guy in your band?
It is a first for me. Having a female in the band definitely smells a lot better than dudes, although there is more crying involved.

What has been the biggest challenge or lack there of with a female in the band?
I have to carry all the heavy things.

CC, how long have you been playing the drums and how did you get started playing them?
I’ve been playing drums on and off since the age of ten - I started playing in the school band.

CC, what type of bands did you play with previous to little hurricane?
Little Hurricane is my first real band; my only previous experience playing drums was in marching and jazz band, and messing around with friends in a garage or whatever.

CC, do you have a female drummer idol?
I really love the way Karen Carpenter played the drums - she was an amazing musician.

CC, any important significance with the tattoos?
Some more than others - the roses are for my niece, Maddie.

How did you two meet?
Craigslist.

Are you dating?
We’re best friends.

Why the name little hurricane?
It best describes our band - small, but powerful.

Who are your major influences?
Van Morrison, Carole King, George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic.

What’s in your iPod?
T: Gorillaz, The Helio Sequence, Blind Pilot.
C: Where is my iPod?

Describe your sound.
Dirty Blues.

Have you previously played in bands similar to the sound of Little Hurricane?
No.

Where was your first show in San Diego and how’d it go?
Soda Bar back in March. It was great! We opened for River City and The Western Set.

What are you bringing to the local music scene?
Well for starters, we bring our own furniture and lamp.

What is your most recognizable song?
“Homewrecker”

What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?
Real life experience - good and/or bad.

How is the San Diego music scene?
It’s great! We’ve experienced nothing but love and support.

What has been your all-time low as a band?
Having nowhere to shop, but Guitar Center.

What has been your all-time high as a band?
Playing at a sold out show at the Belly Up.

What’s your ultimate direction and goal as a band? Are you looking for fame and fortune?
We are looking to play music as much as possible, write new songs and whatever comes along.

Any crazy groupie stories to date?
Not yet.

What do you enjoy doing for fun outside of music?
T: Outdoor stuff, chillin’ with my dog.
C: Crafting, I’m very crafty.

Do you still have other jobs besides the music scene?
Yea, Tone works for MTV, and CC tends bar.

Plans for November, December, the New Year?
Taking little hurricane on the road. We’re going everywhere!