Caterwaul was an American band, formed in 1987 in Phoenix, Arizona, featuring Betsy Martin on vocals and mandolin, Mark Schafer on guitar, Fred Cross on bass and Kevin Pinnt on the drums.

The LA Times compared their "tense, vibrant sound" to other bands with frontwomen such as Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Cocteau Twins.

Singer Betsy Martin said that their influences were wide, citing "her own fondness for American “hillbilly” folk" and drummer Kevin Pinnt’s interest for industrial noise music.

When reviewing Pin and Web, Trouser press linked them to early R.E.M., writing that it was "clear, carefully crafted music".

Fred Cross left the band after the Portent Hue tour, and they recruited Kelly Castro as their new bassist.