Straight outta Jefferson County come the band, Catch Amy, who could be well on their way to stardom.

Lead singer/guitarist: Austin Naverud | Lead guitarist/background vocalist: Chase Farrant | Drummer: Robbie Richmond| Interim bassist: Joel Bland, filling in for Devin Mangus, who went strangely missing  at the beginning of summer (internship).

The guys divide their time between college and jobs, and writing, arranging, recording and performing an energetic hook-laden style of pop/punk that is, all at once, smart, introspective, heartfelt and captivating. Check them out on their Facebook or Myspace pages to listen their songs or catch them at the Topeka Farmers Market this Saturday performing for Music at the Market, 9-11 a.m.

I spent some time with the boys from Catch Amy and found them to be a down-to-earth, hardworking group of guys with a hilarious sense of humor. We had a great time talking about, music, songwriting, the future and the mysterious young lady named Amy.

Where did you come up with the name Catch Amy?

Austin: We started off with . . . ’5 Man Riot,’ and realized we weren’t a riot and we really didn’t have five men, then to ‘Streamline,’ then ‘Nuns with Gunz’ . . . one of our good friends mentioned the name Catch Amy and we pushed it aside, and then it was brought back up. There’s not really much of a story behind it, other than it’s good and original. Now it’s kind of evolved into . . . Amy is that girl you want to catch, she’s the perfect girl.

What’s going to happen if Amy is caught?

Robbie: Like in Grumpy Old Men, when they catch that big fish and they had to put it back . . . we’re grumpy old men and Amy is our big fish. (Everybody laughs)

Are your songs written from personal experiences or hypothetical situations?

Austin: Almost all the songs are real situations that came from real life. There might have been something that happened, and we wrote a song kind of hypothetically about it, but it’s all inspired by real stuff. People can relate to it because it’s happened to them too.

What do you feel sets you apart from other bands?

Chase: I would say originality, mentality, the drive for it and the music itself.

Joel: I like our band because we’re not setting out to prove something in particular; we’re just putting our music together and having a good time.

Robbie: Yeah.

Chase: Yeah.

Austin: Yeah!

What’s playing on your CD player, iPod, iPhone, etc. right now?

Chase: Right now, I’m listening to a lot of Muse, Ben Folds, Radiohead . . . I like Offspring . . . Oasis.

Robbie: I am a Blink 182 fanatic, it’s really disgusting. I know more about them than probably they do. I also listen to Sugarcult and Sum 41.

Austin: I was listening to the All American Rejects today. I think our music is very similar to theirs.

Joel: I tend to get into a little heavier rock than these guys, but lately I’ve been really liking Alkaline Trio.

What’s your ultimate direction for the band?

Austin: If we’re lucky enough, our goal is to go in the direction where we can make it writing music. As we grow older, our music would change  . . . you mature, you start seeing life in a different way.

Robbie: My dream is to be able to do this and make a living off it . . . playing my drums for a living, that sounds like a dream, I’d be pleased.  I might actually get good at it. (Everybody laughs)

Joel: As of this point, I’m only planning on playing for the summer, which would include the Warped Tour, which is awesome and more than I ever hoped for.

Austin: In the end we want to be successful, but the journey along the way, we could look back and say, ‘I spent all this time with my best friends, traveling around, seeing the entire country, maybe other countries.’

[ seveneightfive July 15 - August 31 | Robin Cremer | photo contributed ]