Band Bios: Meet the Cats

Kimberly started playing drums, guitar and singing at a young age starting with cover bands in the early days to performing throughout the US. Covering a wide range of music from originals to raw blues, she wound her way around the music scene returning back to her native North Carolina in 1996. Locally, Kimberly played drums and sang in various groups including Jamie Anderson’s Broad Street band playing festivals and coffee houses. She played with The Outskirts, a roots rock group from Raleigh and Deja Blu Band, a local kicking blues band before forming the original Feral Cats with local Kinston talent that "put it out" for several years. These new Feral Cats have her fronting with hand percussion and harmonica taking dance blues to a new level to "blues your socks off". Her talents include vocals, percussion, harmonica, and guitar with club, festival and studio experience. With a cache of originals to work on she loves writing music and performing hard driving blues.

Rick grew up in Butler, PA just north of Pittsburgh and started playing guitar when he was 9. He was playing in bars and at wedding receptions before he had his driver’s license, his dad had to take him to gigs and stay with him so he could be in the bars he played at. Playing in many rock and roll bands and lounge bands (think matching leisure suits!), following the genres of the time, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, from country, to disco and funk, to arena rock. Rumor has it that he still has a pair of spandex pants from the “big hair band” days. He moved to NY in the 80’s and remembers the days when they had to rent a 21 foot U-Haul to get the band, sound system, and light show to gigs (thank goodness for Roadies). Rick has moved from NY to NC to NY and to NC and does not plan any more moves. 

 Drew Questell is a multi-instrumentalist native to the Triangle area. His musical journey began around age 8 when he took interest in playing the guitar. He began formal instruction at the age of 10 and was playing before public audiences by the age of 13. Drew is a graduate of the Appalachian State University Hayes School of Music where he studied Jazz and Classical guitar. After college, Drew resided in Nashville, Tennessee where he furthered his professional playing experience by working with numerous noteworthy artists both live and in the studio. Drew has performed at venues ranging from Nashville Broadway strip honky-tonks to Carnegie Hall in New York City. He enjoys combining elements of influential genres to form a unique style and feel. 

 Matt grew up in the Baltimore/Washington DC area and began playing piano at 7 years old. His first gig was playing “helter skelter” at the 7th grade catholic school talent show and he’s never looked back. He studied Music Education at VCU in Richmond, VA where he played in several bands through his early 20’s. He moved to the triangle area in 1996 where he was Music Director at a large church and part time rock start/ jazz man for 20 years. Currently he teaches over 20 students private piano lessons, plays weekly solo gigs at a local wine bar and rocks with The Feral Cats Band. 

Feral Cats R2 began their journey in the summer of 2018. Finding the right groove has taken them down a few roads to get them to this point in time but working out  “the groove” with everyone's own flavor has been the magic cat sauce that make the Feral Cats successful. Hard work, dedication to their craft plus the love of the blues has quickly set this band apart making the crowds dance ever since. With gigs scheduled to play around NC at clubs, festivals and parties the group has assembled a great list of dance blues, soul and rock so come out and “Take us in”.