PRESS AND REVIEWS

Catfish & the Crawlers is one of Colorado’s top musical attractions. With a decade long history of providing the finest of blues and rhythm and blues music to hundreds of thousands of Coloradans, we’d love to do the same for you.

 Here are some statements from our recent clients:

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“We LOVED having Catfish and the Crawlers at our event.  Not only were they completely professional, they were a whole lot of fun.”

Jo Tomlinson, Village Homes, Broomfield

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 “The community enjoyed both their performance and their upbeat nature. All of the performers were courteous and professional in their dealings, and people enjoyed dancing to their music.

MJ and Catfish kept the crowd engaged throughout the event, and made everyone feel

welcome. The children also enjoyed dancing on-stage with the band and it was great to see the performers so welcoming of fans of all ages! We hope to work with them again when we host future family events in the Green.”

Kim Merkel, Wild Iris Productions, re the Stapleton 4^th of July festival

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“The strain of a long, hectic week evaporated during their jumpin’ opening instrumental.”

“The girl  [MJ Harrold] can capture a crowd with seemingly little effort and truly knows how to move.”

“Johnsen takes a song to the deep places, evoking long misplaced memories of past gigs and loves. “

“He  [the Catfish] possesses an immense charisma both on and off the stage, bringing an exuberant theatricality to the band. “

Honey Sepeda in the November 8, 2007 Blues News of the Boulder Outlook Hotel

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“Fit for the proverbial Colorado Blues Society Hall of Fame”

John Davis in the Colorado Blues Society newsletter, “The Holler”

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“Listening to Catfish & the Crawlers play at Jazz@Jacks’s was like being transported though time and space to the legendary Stax/Volt Blues revues in Memphis.  “

JR Wolfster, from a review in the May 2007, Colorado Music Buzz Magazine

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 We at the Highlands Ranch Community Association are happy to recommend Catfish & the Crawlers to anyone looking for a good show!

 We worked with Catfish & the Crawlers this past summer, as a part of our 2007 Summer Concert Series. The group entertained nearly 1,000 audience members, with many up on their feet, dancing and tapping to the beats. Kids and adults alike enjoyed the engaging band with upbeat songs to move to.

 We absolutely enjoyed working with Catfish & the Crawlers – the band members were all professional, yet fun and had a very energetic spirit! The interactive show that involved the audience was fun and very entertaining.

 We were extremely pleased with Catfish & the Crawlers and look forward to working with them again in the future.”

Jennifer Marquis, Highlands Ranch Community Association

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Second Date   Customarily, first dates are about investigating whether or not one wants a second.  November opened on my second date with Catfish and the Crawlers, and I do believe we’re en route to true love.  The strain of a long, hectic week evaporated during their jumpin’ opening instrumental (starting with the horns), and all was right with the world again.  With the six talented musicians that comprise this band, one would be hard-pressed to determine which has the heaviest case of the blues.  They all adhere to the tradition we so love while contributing their own soulful considerations to some ass-kicking classics.      Let’s start with the gorgeous chick (no bias here…).  MJ’s got some serious pipes (and knows her way around the keyboards), and you haven’t heard Buddy Guy’s “Five Long Years” until you hear her tear it up on being fed up.  The girl can capture a crowd with seemingly little effort and truly knows how to move.  No offense to the boys, but sometimes it takes a woman to get it done.   And sometimes it takes a man.  Like when bassist Clarence Johnsen elects to cover some Robert Johnson.  With a voice that is bigger than he is, Johnsen takes a song to the deep places, evoking long misplaced memories of past gigs and loves.  Then the drummer gets involved.  Blind Willie Garcia has the groove and the voice, and man can he rock Bobby Rush’s “Hoochie Man.”  So damn much fun!  And it was his birthday.  Happy birthday, again, Willie!  Thanks for giving us the gift of you.   The gentlemen (I assume) on horns bring some considerable cool points to the stage.  Of course, they scored the coolest points when they left the stage, with Joe Lilly (sax) sitting at the bar, and Greg Sage (trumpet) at a table.  Moving the sound around the room as they did made for a very haunting, affecting atmosphere.  They are very good and riveting to watch.    Then there’s Catfish.  What can I tell you about Catfish?  Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret plan of mine; came to me last night in the first set trying to capture the essence that is Catfish.  I’m thinking maybe a screenplay based on a bluesman who has the powers of Cassandra (read up on your Greeks if you don’t what that means), but his prophecies are only imparted through original blues songs he can only perform once.  Ok, clearly my imagination got the best of me, but he is a character, fascinating to watch.  He’s had a guitar in his hands forever as his solos confirm.  Absolutely old school!  He possesses an immense charisma both on and off the stage, bringing an exuberant theatricality to the band.  I dare anyone to disagree with me.  He is an accomplished blues guitarist and a true showman.  He sucks you in.  One of the band’s originals, “Chuckie’s Place”, should be a Colorado anthem.  This number has city pride all over it, and it captures the Spirit of Place (thank you, Mr. Durrell) in the tradition of music and literature (and bonus points for those who know who and where this song is about).  How can one think of Chicago without hearing “Sweet Home” in front of it? I mean with a chorus like this  “Going down to Chuckie’s, where they play the blues all night/Going down to Chuckie’s, that’s where they do it right/Gonna be shaking and jiving till the morning light.” And then there’s this:  “Going down to Union Station, stop at Redfish for a brew/Watch the Amtrak leaving, off to Chicago by 2/Hear Ace play some Muddy, or the Crawlers do what they do/Eat those bright red crawdads and some jambalaya stew.” COME ON!!!  As residents of this state, we should all be petitioning radio stations to give this some serious play.  I mean seriously!  So, it’s fairly evident I’m looking for a third date with Catfish and the Crawlers.  I hope they call soon…

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Colorado Music Buzz – May 2007

Live Blues: Catfish & the Crawlers

By JR Wolfe

 Listening to Catfish & the Crawlers play at Jazz@Jacks’s was like being transported though time and space to the legendary Stax/Volt Blues revues in Memphis.  Their current lineup boasts four distinctive lead vocalists and fine horn section in Greg Sage on trumpet and Joe Lilly on saxophone.  MJ Harrold is the lady keyboardist that sings lead on half the songs.  Here is a voice steeped in Gospel that can belt out the Blues like a red hot roadhouse mamma.  Clarence Johnsen can play bass and sings the deepest Blues on “Texas Flood”.  Charter member “Bland Willie” Garcia provides the backbeat and sings the dance numbers.  Founder and leader “Catfish” Edd Kray plays lead guitar, harmonica, and sings with gutbucket gusto.  Highlights included the three new songs from their forthcoming all original album.  “Stink Bait” is an instrumental composed by Catfish that had the horn section swinging and also boasts a fine guitar solo.  MJ Harrold sang both her co-composition with Catfish, “Chuckie’s Place” and her own “Sittin’ Alone”.  The perfect four-part harmonies in “You Can Leave Your Hat On” merit further exhibition.  The show ended with a rocking “Sweet Home Chicago” that had Catfish jumping off the stage and dancing with the audience, still playing his guitar – a high energy finish to a fine show.