Greetings. We're finally back home here in
Iowa after our giant UK tour. The tour was fantastic! We
did more dates than ever, had loads of packed and sold out venues, and
got to see so many of our British fans and pals. It's become a
major part of our lives and this one was more fun than ever. I
had 39 appearances, playing venues throughout England, Scotland and
Wales, and this time I did six guitar workshops, three different school
gigs, and recorded a radio show with Dave
Raven on his houseboat in London, as well as play dozens of Arts
Centres, Theatres, and music venues and returned to the great International Guitar Festival in
Birkenhead. When we got to our final UK gig, in Ripley, Yorkshire, Penny and I realized we could just continue the tour indefinately...we weren't "knackered" at all (English for "tired" but sounds so much better). When we do so many good shows, I just get all that good energy back, and I'm sure we could have just kept on going. Thanks so much to all of the promotors and venues for having us, and especially the fans for coming and enjoying the music with us.
My wife Penny did a wonderful job, simultaneously running sound, selling CDs, managing the business, and keeping me from flying off the roundabouts. I feel very lucky and blessed that we have worked together all these years and can have our family on the road, as well as at home. She is the Greatest!
We were gone from home for a mighty long time, but our dog, Lily, seemed happy to see us, and we had our first snowfall the day after we returned. The town is all lit up with holiday lights, and it's doggone cold out there.
We'll be returning to the UK again in October and November of 2006, and perhaps this spring and summer for some festivals. Please do email us directly if you'd like to have me perform, do guitar workshops or school gigs.
More exciting news: it looks like we'll be making our first tour of Italy this May, and hopefully other beautiful and exotic European locales.
My new CD, Sweet Pea has been very well received. I'm really pleased and very proud with how it turned out. I used seven different guitars on the album, and had Marty Christensen come in to play stand-up bass on half the cuts. It gives the album a nice "big bottom" feel that would make Willie Dixon proud. It was recorded by the great Patrick Brickel in Iowa City at PZM Studios, and given a lively, deep sounding mix by Justin Kennedy that really added a new dimension to the sound.
Here's the very first review of Sweet Pea, and it comes from CD Baby:
"This album is best described with a series of facial expressions; something like that squinting, head-shaking bliss experienced after a bite of the best meal of your life. Catfish Keith appeals straight to the senses, especially going for those little tendons and ligaments which connect your spine to the rest of your body. It's certainly not every day that a blues album of this quality comes through our doors and even less common that after the end of the day, the album gets played again and again for deeper listening. But Catfish Keith isn't your usual dude. His 13-track gem, "Sweet Pea," indulges the juiciest blues licks, giving in fully to the ache, the grind, that sensation which feels so good, it hurts. Heads up to the blues fans."
A huge thanks goes out to Marie & McGregor Gaines and Don Young at National Reso-Phonic Guitars for
helping sponsor my guitar workshops. I've been working with them
for many years, they are fantastic folks and make the best resophonic
guitars in the world. I'm proud to be associated with them, and
continue to marvel at the amazing sounds that these instruments
produce. As always, I am happy to help if you want to buy a new National, just email or call 319-338-3614 anytime. Ask about custom features for your dream guitar!
Thanks. Have a great Holiday Season!
yours truly, Catfish Keith
Catfish Journal #1
Catfish Journal #2
Catfish Journal #3
Catfish Journal #4