Preview: Make Do and Mend

It's interesting that Make Do and Mend chose Jets to Brazil's "Cat Heaven" to cover. The song, slower and more stripped here than even the original version, is not necessarily one of Jets to Brazil's best-loved, and, indeed, perhaps its least best-understood. Appended to the YouTube version of the original, also slow, but sweeter, and filled out with the piano, are memories of feline companions long departed, albeit somewhat mystifyingly.

"my cat died on the 29th and the day she past was very painful for me so i listened to this song and the first few days i listened to it brought back alot of tears," the YouTube user Peantoe wrote two years ago without punctuation, capitals or the world's best spelling, "but it did make me think of her and it helped me relise she is in a better place and she is happy :) now when i listen to it it just reminds to put a smile on its a great song and very comforting to listen to especially if you have lost a kitty who was dear to you."

"This song is not about a cat," Soultooth replied 10 months ago to the rash of feline nostalgia. "Why are there so many people talking about their cats that died? I don't mean to be insensitive, I would be very hurt if my cat died, but that's not what this song is about."

"Actually it started from losing a cat," Colby Evans attempted to clarify three months ago. "He missed it and dreamed about it, and the dream expanded to life. It's symbolic about dreams giving us what we want and then waking up to having none of it."

Of course, the cat is not the issue here, and, alas, Jets to Brazil won't be playing any gigs in Prague or anywhere else anymore. Make Do and Mend will, however, Monday, March 4, at 7 p.m., at Klub 007 Strahov, supported by the punky London four-piece Apologies, I Have None and Pennsylvania's Daylight.

You'll probably hear "Cat Heaven" as a sort of interlude sometime in the set, or perhaps right before the encore, maybe the second-to-last song of the night. It's still sweet, if a strange number to cover, so grab a hand and hold it, or take your bottle back to the bar for a freshie. The night will be more about power pop and punker peals. It might just be the best 250 Kč you spend all Monday.

Milan Gagnon can be reached at
mgagnon@praguepost.com