Catfish

Catfish were the band that everybody expected would hit the heights in the British Blues scene. Matt Long, the guitarist that everybody wanted to play alongside, Paul Long a career of some thirty years as a musician, radio DJ with Radio 2. Then firstly there was Paul struck down by cancer but gradually recovering. And then Matt, an aggressive bowel cancer that meant he could only play the occasional gig until the announcement of a possible cure but only in the US, and at an exorbitant cost.
The Blues family in the UK has rallied around, playing fundraising gigs, setting up crowdfunders (always oversubscribed) and passing the bucket at gigs.

And now this Mini-Album, with five tracks showing what a great outfit Catfish are/were.
It features three original tracks, a wonderful Tom Waits number that has been a crowd favourite since they started playing it in 2023, and a re-recording of a number that has been a staple of their live show since the first gig in 2014.

‘London’ is the title track, written by Paul Long and tells the story of how the bright lights of the big city quickly shed their glamour when you lose the partner that once made them shine so brightly. It also features sensational backing vocals from Lindsey Bonnick and Chloe Josephine of the great band Brave Rival.
Catfish have been playing Tom Waits ‘Chocolate Jesus’ since 2023 and this strident version has a powerful vocal from Matt.
‘So Many Roads’ is a Marshall Paul song from back in the day and covered by many blues legends including Otis Rush. It was played at the first ever Catfish gig. Matt’s vocals and his opening and closing solos are the epitome of British Blues. Dark and powerful, perfectly played.
‘Days Long Gone’ is a close and intimate piano number, featuring Paul solo. Wistful and nostalgic, it really casts the mind back to childhood days. Beautiful but a real sense of loss pervades it all.
‘Ethereal’ is an instrumental that Matt wrote as a schoolkid. It is a mood piece that ranges from emotive guitar to swashes of cymbals, slowing the heartbeat and settling the mind. It reminds me in many ways of Peter Green.

London is available on all digital outlets and as a CD from here