
Accolades
*Ksp was a finalist for the 2025 MILWAUKEE BATTLE OF THE BANDS (soundcheck Entertainment)
*KSp’s Good Life Was a finalist for WAMI ROCK SONG OF THE YEAR 2025
*KSP was AT SUMMERFEST FOR the 5th consecutive year (link below)
*KSP was on the cover of tosa living Magazine (June 2025) click on media page and scroll down
*KSP visited with WTMJ Radio’s Sandy Maxx on June 30 (link below)
The Band
Kitty Soft Paw (KSP) is a 5 (sometimes 6) piece rock band from metro Milwaukee. They add a creative and accessible punk-like twist to soulful originals and covers.
From captivating, melodic ballads to high-energy, full-throttle rockers the band presents a well-paced performance that is engaging and always entertaining. KSP is unexpected rock.
— Band Members —
Billy O’Neill - Lead Vocals, Percussion
David Weis - Guitar
Brad Smith - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Larry Hanlon - Bass, Backing Vocals
Rick Hagopian- Percussions
Jon Waite (Associate Paw)- Saxophone
FOLLOW THE BAND!!
INSTAGRAM: kittysoftpawband
FACEBOOK: Kitty Soft Paw
TikTok: kitty.soft.paw.ba #kittysoftpawband
MERCH: KSP T-shirts are available in many sizes for only $20!! Email thekspexperience@gmail.com to receive ordering info!

Upcoming Shows
August 17, 2025- Zoo a la Carte- MKE County Zoo- Zoofari Stage; Noon-3:30 (3rd year at Zoo a la Carte!!)
September 27, 2025- Ope Brewery, West Allis
October 31, 2025- Club Garibaldi, Bayview, MKE. (Opening for Truck)
November 22, 2025- Kitten Fest (Local bands with feline themed names), Ope Brewery, West Allis
December 13, 2025- Paulie’s, West Allis
May 16, 2026- Waukesha Music Festival
PAST SHOWS AT:
Anodyne Coffee, MKE. Bad Moon Saloon, MKE. Baaree, Thiensville. Bastille Days, MKE. Best Buddies Walk, Hamilton HS, Sussex. Best Place at Pabst, MKE: opener for Badfinger (Fundraiser- Guitars For Vets). Club Garibaldi, Bayview. Da Bar, West Allis. Drunken Cobra, Tosa. Fairways of Woodside, Sussex (Fundraiser- pancreatic cancer research). Falcon Bowl, Riverwest. Five O’Clock Steakhouse (Classic Car Show), MKE. J&B’s Blue Ribbon Tap Room, MKE. Linneman’s, Riverwest. Maddy’s, Waukesha. Nashville North, MKE. Natty Oaks, West Allis. Ope Brewery, West Allis. Paulie’s, West Allis. Pocket Park, Tosa (Fundraiser- Tosa Food Pantry). Public Table/ Kegel’s, West Allis. RallyPoint, Oconomowoc (Battle of Bands- Finals). Summerfest: BMO Pavilion, Miller Lite Oasis, Uline Stage, Johnson Controls Stage, WAMI/Guitars for Vets Stage. Veterans’ Park, Saukville. WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry)- Holiday Party Headliner . WMSE 88.9FM Studio. WTMJ 620AM Studio. Zoo a la Carte, MKE.
Originals on spotify/ apple
Beautiful ghost, Daydream, Good life, I wanna hear from you, La de da, Once and for all, Powerball, Rise up, Shimmer, So simple
MORE WAYS TO SEE/ HEAR KSP
Summerfest 2025- Video by Talon Nightshade
https://youtu.be/YSeykoC8N1E?si=ZbsSomMJZb8jn6nT
WTMJ Radio- Host Sandy Maxx: Band interview starts at 1:02 https://www.youtube.com/live/SowDOIQMaXs?si=BWP6MdS5vyADqvkA
KITTY SOFT PAW YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
https://www.youtube.com/@KittySoftPaw-KSP
414 Podcast: April 2025- Brad talks KSP songwriting and aspects of playing original music.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18buTjBFMk/?mibextid=wwXIfr
WMSE Interview- Feb 2025- Starts at 1:23
https://wmsearchive.blob.core.windows.net/2025/02/02-20-2025-18-00.mp3
KSP Interview on Metal Chick Podcast (December 2024)- Band interview begins 22:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKE2engVGps
WMSE Live show- Aug 2023: https://wmsearchive.blob.core.windows.net/2023/08/08-15-2023-18-00.mp3
“Good Life” Music Video (Oct 2022; Video Producer Dave McCoy)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7lrmIWeQTc
COVER SONGS
KSP puts its own stamp on various classic hits, which in the past have included-
American band (Grand Funk Railroad)
Chasing cars (Snow Patrol)
Fortunate Son (CCR)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Jean Genie (David Bowie)
Jump Into the fire (Harry Nillsson)
Let’s work together (Canned Heat)
Only you (Yazoo)
Rockin’ in the free world (Neil Young)
She’s so cold (Rolling Stones)
Something in the air (Thunderclap Newman; Tom Petty)
Space age lovesong (Flock of Seagulls)
Summertime blues (Eddie Cochrane)
Surrender (Cheap Trick)
Try (Pink)
What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding (Elvis Costello)
KSP even has its own version of “Scooby Doo” (performed by Larry Marks (for you trivia hounds))
What’s up
with the NAME
“Kitty soft paw”?
…is a question that is asked frequently. There is a rumor that it began with a band-naming contest by the bandmembers’ then grade-school age kids, who were swayed by the popularity of a movie cartoon character… Interesting story but that is not how it happened. The reality is as follows: At an outdoor practice sometime during 2019, a stray kitten jumped from behind a tree. The cat then pounced upon one of the guitars and began silkily strumming it, quite well actually, although the tune was unrecognizable. After several melodious moments, the mystifying cat had enough and leaped away. The spellbound musicians decided to honor the invading feline by naming their new band: “Kitty Soft Paw.”