Hattiesburg’s Fat Cat hosted Northern California-based band Scowl on March 3, with three local DIY bands opening, drawing a crowd for a night of dancing and moshing.
The concert kicked off with energy as local bands Skinman, Shesmadefromsuede, and Opfor opened the show, with the audience quickly forming a packed crowd.
“It was so cool to see all of the local DIY bands opening for Scowl. They really increased the energy and got the crowd ready to go crazy for when Scowl hit the stage,” said attendee Noah Screws.
When Scowl took the stage, the crowd erupted in excitement, cheering as the band began their set. During the performance, lead singer Kat Moss expressed her love for Hattiesburg, with the crowd responding enthusiastically.
“We played Hattiesburg back in 2022 for Halloween, and it was a really special show. Since then, the scene has grown, and we had the opportunity to play a show in between tour dates,” said Moss. “I told everyone I wanted to play Hattiesburg, so we made it happen.”
As Scowl performed, the crowd started moshing. Attendees kept safety in mind, helping anyone who fell and checking on others in the pit. Moss later joined the crowd, singing and dancing with the audience.
“We exist to foster, support, and encourage the local artistic community,” said Fat Cat owner Cade Hamilton. “We’re very lucky that Scowl decided to make a little stop in Hattiesburg. There’s amazing talent in this city, and there are people who rep for us and try to get more music here. Hopefully, we can become a pit stop on bigger routes and get more artists coming to Hattiesburg.”
Fat Cat regularly hosts concerts, comedy nights, and themed events, and aims to bring the community together through art and expression.
“I just love how many young fem people and queer people are pioneering and making an effort to take up space and be front and center to mosh and dance. It’s clearly a scene that has a bit of a family dynamic, and everyone’s tight, and I think that’s very valuable,” said Moss.
Moss also expressed her appreciation for Hattiesburg’s DIY scene, praising the local bands for their confidence and authenticity.
Scowl is currently on tour promoting their new album, Are We All Angels, which is set to release on April 4. Moss also mentioned during the performance that the band plans to return to Hattiesburg in the future.
