Catfish Keith – Catfish Crawl
Fish Tail Records – Out Now
Catfish Keith is the quintessential acoustic blues pioneer and par excellence. He’s the real deal. No argument. Here he is, after 30 years of touring and recording, touting his 18th album. But to some extent, his name is (unfathomably) still the province of cognoscenti. So for the as-yet uninitiated, here’s some biog.
Catfish was born in East Chicago, Indiana in 1962; since age 6, he’s been settled in Davenport, Iowa, so it follows that “the mighty Mississippi, with all of its ghosts and legends, is at the heart of his life and musical heritage, with wellsprings of powerful, timeless music…”. That means a full-blown immersion in that seemingly bottomless pit of blues and roots music, allied to an acute compositional talent that enables him to pen the most authentic of original songs and tunes, many in direct homage to his musical heroes. And he’s got the instrumental and vocal chops to deliver all of these (and how!).
That’s how he can come up with fresh stuff every single album, taking in both time-honoured and undeservedly obscure repertoire classics that run the stylistic gamut of deep Delta blues, gospel, old-time country, early jazz, ragtime and even down-island pieces. A typical Catfish collection, then: one that he describes as “a mix of original songs, favourite classic pieces, some freshly worked up and a few that I’ve known by heart for decades”. Many were originally the sole province of scratchy old records by the likes of (on this album alone) Big Bill Broonzy, Blind Blake, Furry Lewis, Bo Carter, Johnny Shines, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers, the Carter Family, Jim & Bob (The Genial Hawaiians) and the Nassau String Band; each and every Catfish album displays a comparably eclectic parade of source material, so the excitement of the Catfish trawl is always both inevitable and inexhaustible.
All items are expertly arranged for solo acoustic guitar, vocals and feet, with that special Catfish trademark of the magic you get when all the parts are coming from one guitar! And invariably, it’s all given added spice and interest by a constantly varying roster of instruments: here Catfish uses nine different guitars, including his two customised Santa Cruz Catfish Specials. Each instrument has its own distinct personality and unique resonance, and each one is carefully chosen for the song; there’s a choice between six- and 12-string and resonator models too, so Catfish can move between techniques (fingerpick or bottleneck slide) and playing styles with consummate ease.
The new album’s presentation and package adheres to the recognisable Fish Tail house style, with definitive Robert Armstrong artwork and Catfish’s own helpful liner notes. And once again, Catfish is impeccably recorded by producer Luke Tweedy, with every strand of his resolutely solo artistry cleanly registered with plenty of foot-stompin’, string-twangin’ presence in true Catfish tradition. There’s just one departure from this process, in a perfectly forgivable (and truly delicious) minor indulgence when Catfish duets with himself on the Carter Family number Dixie Darlin’. That’s just one of the standout tracks; I also loved those where he plays bottleneck-style on a Baritone Tricone (What’s The Matter Now?, the nifty instrumental By The Waters Of The Minnetonka and his take on Johnny Shines’ Ramblin’ Blues), also the Hemphill heartbreaker Go Back To Your Used To Be; Don’t You Call Me Crazy, played on the deep-throat Stella-style 12-string, and the cool and wonderfully delicate Bahamian number Bella Mina. The slow-drag original Memphis Morning Train is a great homage to the spirit of Arthur Crudup; Little Pal Of Mine was much inspired by the Rev. Robert Wilkins from Memphis; and even the relatively well-trodden Furry Lewis number Turn Your Money Green gets unforgettably reinvented by Catfish.
It can’t escape even the most casual of listeners that Catfish is so totally “into-it”: intense and committed, soulful, exciting and playful, with an energy level that’s quite literally unstoppable, so that after close on 57 minutes you still feel this album could go on for all time; I sure want it to! (All I’m missin’ is a slice of that pin-drop heart-stoppin’ sanctified that Catfish always does so well and reduces the house to total silence… maybe next time then?) Yeah, that ol’ Catfish done got me on his hook all over again!
Catfish Keith is on tour in the UK now. Visit his website for full details:
Photo Credit: Jeff Fasano Photography