Rock Isn’t Dead: Jamming with Raedy Ping of the Cathy Santonies
GR!C Counselor Raedy Ping is the bassist for punk cronies The Cathy Santonies. She tells us how she got started and why she rocks.
GR!C: What’s your music background?
RP: Well, nothing official, really. I was a tap dancer when I was a kid so I loved listening to music and feeling the beat and stuff like that. I mostly just sang all the time and then started teaching myself power chords when I was like 14. I picked up the bass guitar a couple of years ago out of necessity for my band and I just plug through it and try to get better.
GR!C: How did the Cathy Santonies begin?
RP: It was probably fate, right? I met Mojo when we were in high school and we started playing angsty songs that would be really embarrassing to hear now. Ten years later, I ended up moving in with a drummer (Mr. Johnny Swanko himself) and Mojo moved to Chicago to live with us. And we thought; hey let’s try it for real! And so there you have it.
GR!C: What’s your favorite part about volunteering with GR!C?
RP: I really like kids in general and helping make rock music something that girls like to do too. My favorite part of camp, besides the final show of course, is when the girls have been working on a song all week and then finally one time it finally comes together really well. It’s so exciting and everyone feels like they made something good and creative together.
GR!C: Why do you think music is important for kids, and especially girls?
RP: Music is a great tool for expression, and kids don’t usually get a chance to express themselves and be really loud. Especially for girls, it’s important for them to learn there is a need for their voice in rock music and boys don’t own it.