catfishkeith.com- String-Twanging Home of Catfish Keith

Catfish Journal
Issue #13, April 10, 2009

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Howdy.  I hope life is great.  Penny and I have just returned home from an extended trip down to one of our favorite spots on earth: Puerto Escondido, Mexico.  It's in the state of Oaxaca, on the Pacific coast and is wonderful place.  We stayed much of the time about a block from the beach, between Zicatela and La Punta.  It is a rare gem in this world. Puerto Escondido means "hidden port."  

Everything you can imagine in a tropical dream is down there.  Palm trees, bright tropical flowers, ocean breezes...every single day was sunny and warm and beautiful.  Surfing waves, weird and colorful wildlife with caballeros, fishing boats, chickens, dogs, goats, iguanas and geckos. Pelicans, terns, seagulls, egrets all flying low and diving in the water.  Dolphins, whales, turtles, rays, tunas, snappers, jellyfish and all manners of sea creatures filled the waters. The local people are friendly and kind and people come from all over the world to relax and live and cool out.

One thing I got to do this time was surf.  Surfing has always been a dream of mine, and sure enough, almost before I knew it, I was riding the waves.  It was a tremendous rush, the wave pushing me along like being launched on a rocketship.  Woah!  A truly great experience, not bad for an old(ish) guy, either.  

We started out thinking we'd spend a month but extended our trip twice.  We had gone down there in January and finally got home April 2nd.  My nightly dreams continue in the tropical world.  Out in the day, here in Southeastern Iowa, the garden here teems with springtime flowers; crocuses, daffodils, tulips. Little sprouts are popping out of the ground and in a couple of weeks they will be exploding

It's a great life, and our dog Lily seemed very happy to see us and is having fun in her backyard playground.  She gallops around the yard with her rubbery frisbee, squeeky pig toy, giant fake hamburger, monster peapod and other dog delights.

This spring and summer plans include gigs near home and all around the USA; looking forward to going to western Colorado for the Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival in June.  Gigs are coming in every day, and the big UK tour is shaping up nicely for October and November.  Workshops and lessons are part of the mix as well as the concerts.  It's been a blast so far!

I also plan to make a new album or two this summer...a friend had recorded a London show that we hope will be good for a live album and I've also been working up new pieces for a new studio album.  

Thanks as always for tuning in.  Please do email or call us anytime.



Here's more of the latest news:

CATFISH IS INDUCTED IN THE IOWA BLUES HALL OF FAME!

I was very surprised and honored to find out that I've been chosen to be an inductee for the 2008 Iowa Blues Hall of Fame.  The good folks of the Central Iowa Blues Society, with cooperation from all the Iowa blues societies, honor veteran blues musicians once a year.

To be considered for this, you have to have what I call "grizzled veteran" status; that is, to have been based in Iowa and gigging for 30 years or more.  I still feel like a kid at 46 years old, but blues music has been my passion and living since I was a teenager.  Man, that went quick.  Here's to the next 30 years...

The ceremony and celebration for the 2008 Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Awards was in September at Blues on Grand in Des Moines, Iowa.  Some other inductees include the super-talented hipster guitar wizard Dennis "Daddy-O" McMurrin, KCCK-FM blues DJ Bob DeForrest and more.  A big thanks goes to T-Bone and the gang at the Central Iowa Blues Society.  I am tickled!

Read full article from the Washington Evening Journal 10-1-08


NEW GUITAR FROM DAVID FLAMMANG

My favorite luthier and Iowa homey David Flammang has made me a new fabulous guitar.  This one is a Parlor guitar, and is beautiful!  It's got mahogany back and sides, a spruce top and a stunning sunburst finish with a fine rope binding and slotted headstock.  It's small size belies it's big, barking and deep, rich sound.  Look for it on tour.  Thanks again to David for another true handbuilt beauty!


THE WORLD TOUR NEVER ENDS...

Spring and Summer 2009 takes us to concerts and festivals around the USA, this time including a trip to Western Colorado for the Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival. Then next fall we'll return again to the United Kingdom for another giant tour in October and November. There are many plans and possibilities yet to come, check out my Tour Dates page for full details.


BUY YOUR CATFISH DOWNLOADS

Music from all of my albums is available to purchase for downloading on all of the major download sites, including ITunes, Napster, and over 40 other companies.  Of course, we encourage you to buy CDs the "old fashioned" way direct from me and Penny right here at this website, or from CD Baby or Amazon.  You can now also download MP3's of entire albums through CD Baby.





CATFISH IS AN OFFICIAL NATIONAL RESO-PHONIC GUITAR DEALER

I've always championed the mighty National guitar. Loved the sound since Day One. I've been helping players for years to purchase these great guitars, and now I've been honored with Official Dealer status. Thanks to National founders Don Young and McGregor Gaines for everything over these many years.  As always, I'm happy to help if you want to buy a new National, just email or call 319-338-3614 anytime. We have their amazing 2-CD-and-trading-cards Catalogues available. I'm still doing  lessons and workshops too, please do get in touch for more info. Look at my Why I Love National Guitars page to see what I have in stock and you can order any model and make custom orders too.

Hope to see you at the shows.  Please come say Howdy. Feel free to email or call, it’s always great to hear from you.

yours truly, Catfish Keith

• Fish Tail Newsletter #1, September 1998
• Fish Tail Newsletter #2, April 1999
• Fish Tail Newsletter #3, August 1999
• Fish Tail Newsletter #4, December 1999
• Fish Tail Newsletter #5, February 2000
• Fish Tail Newsletter #6, August 2001
• Fish Tail Newsletter #7, January 2003