(Author’s Note: I had the pleasure of interviewing Anthony “Tone” Catalano, lead vocalist and guitarist for Little Hurricane, about a month ago. To read that post, click here.)
Let’s play a little game, shall we?
Male guitarist/vocalist. Female drummer. Raw, lo-fi, blues rock sound. You know who I’m talking about, right? It’s got to be the White Stripes. Right?
I definitely could be talking about Jack and Meg, but I’m not. I’m talking about Little Hurricane, the “dirty blues” band out of San Diego. When Little Hurricane dropped their 2011 debut album Homewrecker, the comparisons were inevitable. And while I’ll grant you that the two bands have much in common, it would be grossly unfair to characterize Little Hurricane as White Stripes wannabees. The White Stripes are a more eclectic band, crossing genre lines left and right, largely staying in the garage/alternative/indie rock spaces, with dalliances into blues rock, and even some punk and blues crossovers. Little Hurricane had their own unique and original sound, which was much more blues rock grounded, occasionally straying into Americana territory.
But wait just a minute…
All of the above refers to the original Little Hurricane. That band, a duo made up of Anthony “Tone” Catalano (lead guitar and vocals) and Celeste “CC” Spina (drums), disbanded in 2024. The new Little Hurricane, now a trio with Catalano joined by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Hattie Craven and drummer Ryan Kronenberg, began touring in August, focusing on shows on the west coast, with a couple of early stops in Wyoming. This past weekend they made their way east, for shows on Friday (November 28) at the Moxi Theater in Greeley, and Saturday (November 29) at the Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues in Denver.
If you’re a longtime fan of the original band, which put out six albums from 2011 to 2023, it’s understandable that you might have some reservations about the new lineup’s sound. You might wonder whether Little Hurricane’s signature style is gone, replaced by something entirely unfamiliar. Since they haven’t released any new music yet, there’s nothing to judge by. Maybe you’ve even considered skipping their concerts, worried they won’t deliver the Little Hurricane live experience you expect.
Well, my friends, I’m here to tell you that doing that (this past weekend) would have been a big mistake. The reformed band not only preserves the essence and style of the original group but also ventures into new creative directions. Along the way, they put on two lively, dynamic shows that truly impressed.
Catalano’s distinctive fuzz toned guitar sound is still there. His outstanding slide work and showmanship is still there. And his powerful, soulful, emotive vocals… yes, still there.
The songs are still there. The vast majority of the songs performed in these two sets (see the photo gallery below for the complete setlists from both nights) came from the original Little Hurricane’s existing catalog.
But with this new lineup, there’s so much more. Craven is enormously talented, both as a vocalist and an instrumentalist. Over the course of a full set, she will play mandolin, banjulele, guitar, bongos, and tambourine. She’ll provide lead vocals (more on that later), co-lead, and rich harmonies. Kronenberg is much more than just a powerful drummer. Playing drums in a band that doesn’t have a designated bass player is challenging, for both the drummer and (in this case) the guitar player. Catalano and Kronenberg have developed a chemistry that makes the absence of a bass player a complete non-issue.
The setlists for the two night were mostly the same, with slight changes in sequencing. Friday night’s set included twenty three songs, clocking in at an hour and twenty-five minutes. Saturday night’s set was a bit shorter – twenty songs, with a running time of an hour and twenty minutes. All of the songs performed on Saturday were also performed on Friday.
Of the twenty three total songs performed, nineteen came from the five Little Hurricane albums released between 2011 and 2019. The remaining were originals or covers that had not previously been included in Little Hurricane releases. Included in those was a southern gospel traditional called “Working On A Building.” With Craven providing an incredible lead vocal performance, and she and Catalano exchanging guitar chops, it was one of the (many) highlights of both nights. (I speak the truth when I say that Hattie Craven has a VOICE!)
Other highlights included “Mt. Señorita”, from the Same Sun Same Moon (2017) album, “Easy Wind”, a Grateful Dead cover that hasn’t been released on a Little Hurricane album to date, “That Woman/Poor Me” (which featured some very cool, very smooth extended guitar work in the outro) from the Love Luck (2019) album, and the show-stopping cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine”, from the Stay Classy (A Collection of Cover Songs) (2013) album. On both nights Catalano delivered absolutely chilling vocal performances on that song, complemented by an arrangement and guitar work characteristic of Little Hurricane’s style.
I should also highlight “Moon’s Gone Cold” from the Same Sun Same Moon album. For this track, Catalano plays a four-string acoustic guitar while Craven contributes mandolin and harmony vocals, creating a blend of semi-Country and semi-Americana styles. Catalano mentioned that he couldn’t have performed this song with Little Hurricane’s original lineup. (You can enjoy a great acoustic version of the song by clicking here.)
And then there’s “Crocodile Tears” from the band’s 2011 debut album Homewrecker. It served as the penultimate song of the set on Friday night and was the grand finale on Saturday. Both performances were electrifying. During this track, Catalano’s intensity surges as he leans over his slide guitar – positioned flat atop a keyboard stand – and belts into a gritty microphone, delivering a performance that practically brings the house down. With Craven offering exceptional co-lead vocals, it’s a superb choice for closing out their set.
Each night’s performance offered a blend of nostalgia for the past and excitement about what’s to come. As a longtime fan who loved the classic sound of Little Hurricane but had never seen them live, it felt like crossing something off my bucket list. More than that, it was inspiring to witness the band’s new direction and potential. Judging by the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd – especially during Saturday’s lively show in Denver – Little Hurricane’s future looks incredibly promising.
The Greeley and Denver concerts wrapped up this first mini tour for the new band. For Catalano, it was a chance to return to touring, reconnect with his musical roots, and consider what lies ahead. When we spoke in October, he mentioned that he’s approaching things cautiously and thoughtfully. While he’s interested in releasing new music, he wants the process to happen naturally over time. I appreciate this measured approach, but I’m eager to know: When will Little Hurricane perform along Colorado’s front range again? Hopefully, it won’t be too long… come back soon, Tone. (And bring Hattie and Ryan with you.)
Story and photos by Rick Witt www.rickwittphotography.com
