I hope it does not sound like I am tooting my own horn, but I am proud of what my band has accomplished in a short time and I have many friends on here that I hope will enjoy reading this interview I did with a regional magazine. I have worked very hard the past few years and still maintained a 40+ hour per week job and my wife still loves me(I think).
CATFISH FRYE BAND "Blues from the Gut"
VIPSEEN: First off, I have to ask about the name. Why Catfish Frye?
CATFISH: Well, my last name is Frye and when Jason Lloyd of Ivy Road nicknamed me Catfish, it kind of stuck. It does have a bluesy sound and people seem to like it.
VIPSEEN: I've noticed all of the bands flyers carry the phrase "Blues From the Gut"?
CATFISH: That is the way we play it. With most music you have the words, notes, instruments, etc, but with blues, the element of emotion is the biggest part. We don't try to sound like anyone but ourselves and we play how we feel. We let the blues "take hold" and it just comes out.
VIPSEEN: I have to ask....how does a harmonica player that does not sing, end up fronting a band?
CATFISH: I played in a couple of bands that were great, but I wasn't able to play the blues the way I want to..from the gut of course. Life is too short to worry about sounding like someone else or like the original record. I set out to put a great band around me that "gets" what the blues is about. I had to find some great singers too. Catfish can't sing.
VIPSEEN: Tell me about your band.
CATFISH: The mojo was with me when I found these guys. They all sing and are superb instrumenalists. Most importantly, they all love and FEEL the blues. My guitarist Adam Graybeal grew up in music. The Graybeal family has several fine musicians and Adam's dad Jim founded the Nomadz Band. It was in his blood from day one. Adam got his seasoning playing on cruise ships all over the Carribbean under the guidance of Ted Murdock who was bandleader for Ray Charles Orchestra.
VIPSEEN: Great resume. Who else?
CATFISH: I've got Will Dowell on bass. He just graduated from Atlanta Institute of Music with a degree in bass. He sings a lot of our old school blues and does an outstanding job. He is a fine young man that will no doubt front his own band someday.
VIPSEEN: Who is the guy beating the skins?
CATFISH: That is Aaron Faust on drums. He is one of the most sought after musicians in the region. He sits in with several bands, but I am proud to say he considers Catfish Frye Band his main band. Not just any drummer can play the blues. Aaron gets it. He is gaining notoriety for his singing as well.
VIPSEEN: Quite the line-up.
CATFISH: Oh yes, the guys are great friends and my brothers in the blues.
VIPSEEN: and they all sing?
CATFISH: Yep! and they all add something unique and special. No egos with these guys. They just come with the blues.
VIPSEEN: I've noticed you like to bring up special guests.
CATFISH: I do at times. I'm lucky to have friends who enjoy singing the blues on occasion. Kat Rush has been fantastic. Brother Randy Broyles is always a crowd pleaser. Alan Newton, Tyler Zimmerman, and Beth Snapp have also sang with CFB.
VIPSEEN: Tell me about Catfish.
CATFISH: I'm just a guy that loves blues music, playing the harmonica, and being part of a good time.
VIPSEEN: What's on your resume?
CATFISH: Well, I just started playing about 6 years ago and went crazy. You can say I am a student of youtube. I learned a lot on the net, but I also made a few trips down to the delta to get some mojo and learn from the best bluesmen in the world. I've been lucky enough to play at Rooster's Blues House in Oxford, Red's Juke, and Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale. All in Mississippi.
VIPSEEN: Wow, that had to be a thrill. Any local musicians help you along your road to the blues and having your own band?
CATFISH: I'm glad you asked. Four fantastic bands in the area always invited me up on stage if I was in the audience. You might say they helped me get my feet wet. I will never be able to repay the kindness shown to me by Benny Wilson Band, Ivy Road, The Nomadz, and Driving Miss Crazy.
VIPSEEN: Wow, lucky you. Have you played with any full-time touring blues musicians.
CATFISH: I have been so fortunate to be a guest player several times. I've played with Charlotte blues guy Matt Walsh, Nashville best guitarist and blues award winner Bart Walker, and most recently Mac Arnold and Plate Full O' Blues.
VIPSEEN: I"m familiar with Mac. He played with all the greats.
CATFISH: Yes, the man has some stories to tell. He had his gas can guitar at Bristol's Rhythm and Roots recently. He and I ended up playing on the streets to promote his shows. I felt like I was in heaven. Big fun.
VIPSEEN: Can you name the person that had the biggest impact on you musically?
CATFISH: Easy. Stevie Ray Vaughan. I saw a replay of his show on Austin City Limits and went straight and bought the DVD. He closed his eyes and released his soul to the world when he played the blues. He played the same way for 50 or 50,000. I still watch it once in a while and the chill bumps pop up everytime.
VIPSEEN: I would have thought a harmonica player as your biggest influence?
CATFISH: My playing is influenced by Jason Ricci and James Cotton, but Stevie was the first to make me realize what blues music is all about. His feel and passion are unsurpassed. He would truly get lost in the blues.
VIPSEEN: I've been to a couple of your shows and noticed that people seem to be dancing from the first song. I thought blues was more laid back, sad music?
CATFISH: Big misconception about the blues. It comes in all speeds like any genre. Actually, most of what we do is upbeat stuff that people love to dance to. Our slow blues is great for dancing as well. Some people call it "grindin" music..lol
VIPSEEN: I've heard your music described as fun, exciting, energetic, even sexy.
CATFISH: Well, ideally each song will create some type of emotion in everyone that hears it. It is flattering when people tell us our music makes them happy.
VIPSEEN: What artists do you guys cover?
CATFISH: Stevie, James Cotton, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Eric Clapton, The Doors, Santana, CCR, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Georgia Satilites, Delbert McClinton, Robert Cray, and several more.
VIPSEEN: That is a very diverse group. Which one do you sound most like?
CATFISH: None. We don't insult great musicians by trying to sound like they do. We pay tribute by playing their songs based on how they make us feel. We respect the blues legends.
VIPSEEN: You guys seem to use dynamics a lot in your music. Backing off, then building up....creating excitement.
CATFISH: Yes! Tension and release is an important part of blues music. Again, it is about creating an emotional response. You want the audience to "feel" what the band is playing. Not just hear it.
VIPSEEN: There is that word "feel" again. You really want people to take something away from a Catfish Frye Band show.
CATFISH: Yes, I do. If you can't feel the blues, then you need to be somewhere else. Mac Arnold and I discussed this. If you can't feel the blues, then you might be missing a part...lol
VIPSEEN: Thanks Catfish! Best wishes to you and your band and we look forward to the next show. Any info for anyone that might want to experience the blues from Catfish Frye Band?
CATFISH: If you want to get your "feel good" on come check us out. I post flyers on Catfish Frye Band facebook page. We are available for private parties and any event where a good time is in order. Call at 423-502-9754 and e-mail at catfishfrye@gmail.com. Love to hear from you.
So wonderful that this is happening for you just the way you want it to. Another example of someone following their bliss with the kind of results you'd expect. I hope many people - musicians or not - will be inspired by this.
Funny JD! Thank you all so much! Littoral..I just reference the version the band is familiar with.
We are not a touring band by a long-shot but we are something new and fresh to the area of east TN I live in. We almost have enough friends and relatives to fill a lot of venues and we are gaining a few regular fans. I'm sure many of you know that being successful at the local level means having several regulars. We have one guy that has been to the last 5 shows and brought 8 or 9 friends each time. Get 4 or 5 like him, plus regulars, family, friends, and people that just happen to be there and you can do pretty good at the local level. The guys are all 20+ years younger than myself and are happy to have someone to do all the work. They pretty much show up to practice and gigs and that is fine with them. I'm in it for the fun and love of the blues. Not the money for sure..lol I tried learning to sing but I just ain't got it, but I knew I could talk to an audience and have the enthusiasm to front a band. You never know until you try and I'm glad I did. So far so good.
Hey Catfish. Congratulations on the very positive article and on your music. You are one of the good guys and it is nice to see you getting some press. ---------- Tom Halchak www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
