Mike Kuster

The Catoctin Cowboys are growing!

I’m excited to welcome fiddle player E.B. Brooks and guitarist Jimi Cupino to the lineup, joining longtime band members Rockabilly Mikey C, Hank Kehlbeck, and Michael “Ponyboy” Joyce.

I love meeting all of the great musicians along the way and about building a band.

It’s not just about finding great musicians. It’s about finding people who understand the songs, understand the music, and bring something of their own to the stage.

That’s exactly what I’m excited about with the latest chapter of Mike Kuster and The Catoctin Cowboys, my Maryland country band based in Frederick County.

Welcome to the Cowboys, E.B. Brooks and Jimi Cupino

I’m proud to officially welcome E.B. Brooks on fiddle and Jimi Cupino on guitar to The Catoctin Cowboys.

If you’ve followed my music for a while, you know that I’ve always had a deep love for traditional country music. My songwriting is heavily influenced by the sounds of guys like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard, and I want The Catoctin Cowboys to bring that spirit to the stage.

That’s one reason I’m particularly excited about adding fiddle to the lineup.

E.B. Brooks brings another layer of traditional country sound to the band. A good fiddle player can add swing, energy, emotion, and just the right amount of honky-tonk attitude to a country song. I’m looking forward to hearing E.B. put her stamp on these songs.

On guitar, Jimi Cupino is joining the Cowboys and bringing his own style and experience to the band.

Great country guitar isn’t about trying to fill every second with notes. Sometimes the best guitar part is the one that knows exactly when to get out of the way and let the song breathe.

I think Jimi is going to fit right in.

The Longtime Cowboys Are Still Riding Along

While we’re welcoming two new members, this isn’t a complete overhaul of the band.

Far from it.

Rockabilly Mikey C, Hank Kehlbeck, and Michael “Ponyboy” Joyce remain an important part of The Catoctin Cowboys.

These guys have helped shape the sound and personality of the band, and I’m grateful to continue sharing stages with them.

A band becomes more than just the sum of its parts after you’ve played enough shows together. You develop a musical shorthand. You know where somebody is going before they get there. You know when to push a song and when to pull it back.

That chemistry is something you can’t manufacture overnight.

And that’s what makes adding new musicians so exciting.

You get to keep the chemistry you’ve built while adding new ideas and new energy.

And Yes, Lonesome Chris Is Still a Cowboy

There’s one more familiar face I’m hoping to see onstage whenever his schedule allows.

We’re still inviting “Lonesome Chris” Thompson to join us whenever he’s available.

Chris has been part of the Catoctin Cowboys family, and I’m always glad when we get the opportunity to have him back with us.

We’re also continue to count our blessings to have Jared Coffin on drums and Steve Starmer on bass guitar standing by to ride in and pick-up when needed.

So while the lineup may vary from show to show depending on everyone’s schedules, the goal remains the same:

Put some great musicians on a stage and make some damn good country music.

A New Chapter for Mike Kuster and The Catoctin Cowboys

I’ve always believed that live music should feel alive.

My records are one thing. Taking those songs onto a stage with a great group of musicians is something completely different.

That’s where songs can grow.

That’s where you discover new parts.

And that’s where an audience becomes part of the experience.

With E.B. Brooks joining us on fiddle and Jimi Cupino joining us on guitar, I think we’re going to be able to bring even more of that traditional country sound to our live shows throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and beyond.

The Catoctin Cowboys may continue to evolve, but the mission hasn’t changed.

We’re here to play real country music, original songs, and the kind of live show that makes you want to stay for another song.

And I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.

Come See the New Catoctin Cowboys

If you’ve seen Mike Kuster and The Catoctin Cowboys before, come see us again and check out the new lineup.

If you’ve never seen us live, now is a great time to come out.

We’re bringing the songs, the stories, the fiddle, the guitars, the honky-tonk attitude, and a whole lot of Maryland country music to stages throughout the region.

Welcome to the Cowboys, E.B. and Jimi.

And to Mikey, Hank, Ponyboy, and Lonesome Chris—thanks for continuing to ride along.

The lineup might change.

The music will keep evolving.

But we’re still just a bunch of Cowboys trying to make some good country music.

I’ll see you down the road.

— Mike Kuster