Federation of Horsepower
The Band:

Federation of Horsepower by Larry PerezL to R: Kriss Ward, Johnny Catfish, Troy Van Horn, Gregg Todt.
Photo: Larry Perez


 

The party line:

Fast cars, late nights in smokey back rooms, the smell of stale beer and cigarette smoke, sin, redemption and more sin ... these are just a few of the themes present in the music of Kansas City’s Federation of Horsepower. They’re not new themes ... the subject matter is well-worn... but lets face it kids ... this isn’t rocket science... it’s rock-n-roll.

Your first kiss, your first black eye, your first high- speed chase, your first night in a Mexican jail cell with a balloon full of something illegal up your ass ... whatever the case, you’ll find a little bit of all of that on tap here ... served up fast, loose and loud ... just like Grandma used to make.

The Federation of Horsepower... They don’t wanna save the world ... they just wanna make noise ...

Gregg Todt

Gregg Todt

Gregg built Federation of Horsepower from spare parts on a tight schedule in about 2004 and has fine tuned the machine into what it is today.

The wooly face of Federation, Gregg is the band's lead vocalist and chief songwriter. He also plays guitar ("like an ape," according to his own description) and jumps around quite a bit.

 
Kriss Ward

Kriss Ward

Kriss Ward--"The Mexican Sundial"-- is the original Federation drummer. He is also the third and fifth Federation drummer. Never mind. As the engineer of the freight train, Kriss turns up the steam, lays on the brakes, and finally says, "fuck it," as untold tons of rock and roll careen off the tracks and through the brick wall that is your life.

Johnny Catfish

Johnny Catfish

Johnny Catfish (real name, John Catfish) has been a Federation constant since joining the group in 2004. His forceful bass playing has dislodged ceiling joists and caused sentient mammals to fear earthquakes from here (wherever, ok?) to Houston. Catfish's unhinged stage presence has unnerved many a casual onlooker.

Troy Van Horn

Troy Van Horn

Troy Van Horn joined the band in 2006. He began playing guitar sometime in a previous century, most likely the 20th. A long time guitar teacher, Troy is known to unfurl verbose and often uncalled for tirades of notes. Ehh - someone had to do it.