bio
full catholic is an electric/acoustic collective based in the twin cities comprised of Danielle Michaele (vocals/bass/guitar), Lane Miller (backing vocals, guitar, bass), John Caldwell (backing vocals, synth, guitar), and Des Lawrence (drums). The band features hypnotic vocal harmonies, jangly rhythms, frenzied instrumentation, and probing lyricism focused on territories where light and dark, beauty and chaos overlap. Their sound spans freak-folk, psychedelia, to protopunk, and has been described as "lightning in a bottle...raw and vivid...a beautifully messy display of vulnerability" [Glide Magazine] possessing an energy that is "extremely present, even pent up" [American Pancake]. The band’s debut LP 'every dream at once' was released summer 2022.
"This album is composed from our various lives, loves — the good and bad — events planned and unplanned, a diary of rage and terror at what humans are capable of, the proceeding existential quandaries, records of our own resuscitations, and the life-saving awe of unexpected hope and reawakening,” says Michaele.
Each track on 'every dream at once' was recorded live with the band together in a single space, highlighting the urgent and collective nature of the project. The album opens with quiet voices yearning for company from a place of solitude — “come down to the yard (fly on the wall) — “and concludes with rousing invocations —“Who’s ready now?” (sleep on rocks). Several tracks serve as microcosms for the album's general philosophy. 'Traveling song' is an all-encompassing love song, a sweeping portrayal of Americana, and of recovered hope highlighted by introspective declarations and heroic exaltations, rising vocal harmonies, and whirling synthesizers. Following this, 'reckon you' sets a complete shift in tone, commenting on the weighted process of carrying unacknowledged truths through dark probing lyrical content set against a vibrant, danceable, and slow-burn rhythm. Meanwhile, 'hand off sparks' fluctuates between jazzy, fuzzed out, and ethereal as it explores the incongruences and interdependence of beauty and chaos. Finally, in the album's latter half, 'orbits' serves as a battle cry calling for collective human empathy, encouragement, howling "scream loud, be a voice for me."
The recording style was inspired by Deerhunter 'Microcastle’ and Songs: Ohia 'Didn't it Rain,' attempting to encapsulate a moment in time with serendipitous accidents and live energy that could not be manufactured otherwise.
Other Major influences include: The Velvet Underground & Nico, Portishead, TV on the Radio, Animal Collective, Anna Von Hausswolff, The Band, YMA SUMAC, Talking Heads, of montreal, King Crimson, Joanna Newsom, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wilco, Jason Molina, PJ HARVEY, Yo La Tengo, Etta James, Low, Gillian Welch, Pixies, Deerhunter, Phosphorescent, Built to SpilL + Endless more.
“raw and vivid...a beautifully messy display of vulnerability, chutzpah, and rock & roll. The tight harmonies drip with an authenticity like those of The Band and Jagger/Richards...full catholic may have captured lightning in a bottle.”
“the trippy synth sound that screams 60's Theremin and Farfisa 'fast three' had a baby...the nimble guitar work, Danielle Michaele's effervescent / passionate vocal aesthetic and bass interplay, and dynamic drumming. The energy...feels extremely present, even pent up. ”