Pet Sounds #81: Bassist/Vocalist for Art-Rockers Products Band Says She ‘Simply Would Not Be Here Without’ Her Cats
Minneapolis’ Products Band are as stylistically sinuous as their moniker is amorphous. Pulling primarily from R.E.M.’s best art-rock material, the crunchiness of Pavement and the Replacements’ dalliances with punk, Products Band have no qualms about dipping their toes in just about any body of water – or pool of liquid, for that matter. Those statements are verifiable on the quartet’s second full-length, Some Sudden Weather (Solid Brass), which came out in October 2023.
Products Band consists of Jo Kellen (guitar, vocals, synths), Konner Johnson (drums, percussion, synths), Alex Hanson (guitars, vocals, piano) and Jack Woolsey (bass, vocals). Woolsey and Johnson jumped at the opportunity to participate in the one and only –or at least extensive – online series in which musicians gush over their pets.
In the 81st edition of Pet Sounds, we learned a little bit about the music that Products Band produces – and we learned an awful lot about bassist/vocalist Wooley’s two pets: Casper, a gray cat that is 7.5 year old; and Disney, a 5-year-old black cat. To answer questions you probably have already, Disney the cat isn’t sponsored by Mickey Mouse’s mega-corporation, and Casper is indeed friendly but not a ghost. Whoa, ghost cats … now that’s a great idea for a movie.
How did Casper and Disney enter your life?
They both were adopted from the Animal Humane Society. I got Casper first, during the pandemic; he came from a hoarder house, so he was very thin and sick. Thinking of him back then still makes me tear up. Disney was adopted a year later while I was working for the Humane Society. I went to clean his cage, and he immediately jumped on my shoulders and began purring. I took him home the next day.
What was the greatest challenge in training them?
Casper is terrified of the world, so getting him to become more comfortable and feel safe in our home has always been priority number one. Disney is a talkative, overly affectionate attention seeker, so making sure he feels like he’s properly cared for can be an issue.
Describe each cat’s personality, in your estimation.
Their names were chosen before really getting to know them but became prophetic; Casper is the friendliest cat in the world but afraid of his own shadow, and Disney is at times too demanding of my attention, to a problematic degree. (Disney is getting a lot of slander here but I love him dearly.)
Do they play and wrestle a lot or mostly stay out of the way of each other?
Depending on Disney’s mood it can go either way. Either they’re sleeping together and grooming each other or he doesn’t want anything to do with Casper and just wants me to himself. Being the bold one, he dictates the mood for the day.
If each cat were a US president, which would they be and why?
Disney; Theodore Roosevelt. Casper; William Henry Harrison. Not much more to say.
What are Casper’s and Disney’s favorite food?
They go nuts for any kind of wet food. If I feed it to them too regularly, they will refuse to go back to dry food entirely, so I’ve got to space it out. [They] Also [love] ham. God forbid I ever try to make a sandwich around them.
Have Casper and Disney made appearances in your music, whether it be sound clips or in your lyrics?
Both Disney and Caper made appearances in our music video for “Pink Puma.” Konner came over to help me set up the backdrop, I remember Disney being easy to get on camera but I had to ask Konner to leave so I could try to coax Casper out from under the bed.
Has either cat run away?
I lived at my parents’ [house] for a short period of time between apartments, Disney made his way out and was gone for nearly 24 hours. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so sick to my stomach until he came running up the next day screaming at me.
How have Casper and Disney improved your life?
I simply would not be here without them. Knowing how much they love me and depend on me has kept me from making some pretty severe decisions. I think most pet owners (let alone any parent) will tell you that your outlook on life changes pretty drastically once you have a living being who depends on you entirely.
What advice would you give someone who is considering getting a pet?
Forming a bond with an animal is one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll have in life. That being said, you can’t create your perfect pet in a lab; they are sentient creatures with their own personalities and needs. They’re not all going to be exactly what you want, and it is extremely important to take in to account what is required for them to live their happiest, most comfortable life and an honest self awareness of whether or not you’re able to provide them that.
Lastly: adopt, don’t shop, and please spay and neuter your pets.
Check out the snazzy Bandcamp page for Products Band to explore their releases. Gorge yourself on more editions of Pet Sounds on its hub page.
The Bad Penny (beta) 
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