A gross of feline fancy feasts derailed Firewater's album release party earlier this month, pushing the debut of The Ponzi Scheme back from March 31 to May 5. |

The tin can manufacturer enlisted to pound out the band's metallic CD cases delayed production when a national cat food company placed a last minute order for 15 million cans of kitty chow. The New York hard-edged rock band took a backseat to the puddy tats.

"We don't have a long-term working relationship with tin can companies," said Jetset records representative Sam Brumbaugh. "Their important clients are dog and cat food companies."

The heavy metal CD packaging of The Ponzi Scheme was inspired by a Patsy Cline retrospective that Firewater singer and photographic designer Tod A. admired several years ago. The expensive "cigar tin" packaging will run in a limited edition and will require no flip-and-pull opening, Brumbaugh said.

An amalgamation of bands, Firewater was formed in the mid-1990s by Tod A. of the now defunct Cop Shoot Cop, Yuval Gabay, the drummer for Soul Coughing and Jesus Lizard's Duane Dension. The group plans to headline North American clubs this summer with Jesus Lizard and Girls Against Boys.

"Unless this manufacturing company gets a huge order for Vienna hot dogs or something, the album should be out May 5," Brumbaugh said. (Anni Layne)