Local Spins on WYCE: Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, plus new music from Phil Denny, The Go Rounds, The Crane Wives, Steve Rivers

The Grand Rapids “black-tie garage rock” duo cranked up the volume in Studio X at WYCE, with sound therapist Geoff Lamden also making a guest appearance during Local Spins on WYCE’s one-year anniversary show. (Podcast, video)

 

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO, PODCAST

After a few years of sweat-drenched, uber-energetic and rollicking performances, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish have finally figured out what to call their raw, rockabilly-inspired music.

“Black-tie garage rock,” suggested drummer Josh Worsham, breaking into a broad grin. “A little bit classy, a little bit trashy.”

And as loud and raucous as it gets.

The Grand Rapids duo will celebrate release of a new album, “Dead Man Walking,” next Friday (Sept. 4) at the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, with Hannah Rose & The GravesTones and Tom Hymn opening the show.

And judging by the intense and ultra-devoted fan base that follows this distinctive duo, it’s liable to be a jam-packed, wild and woolly affair.

The new album is the follow-up to the band’s Jammie Award-winning “Gravedigger” album but the boys say it really represents a monumental leap forward in terms of style, substance and quality. Whereas the tracks on “Gravedigger” were recorded in a single day, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish spent seven months honing the sound of “Dead Man Walking” at Cold War Studios in Grand Rapids.

What emerged is a more blues-fired, garage-styled rock assault, something the duo demonstrated in fiery fashion on Friday in Studio X during Local Spins on WYCE, performing the title track and “Don’t Call Don’t Write” on the air. Listen to the podcast here, and check out the video of “Dead Man Walking” below. Get more details and tickets for the Sept. 4 CD-release show online here.

PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE with Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish and Geoff Lamden

The special one-year anniversary show also featured an interview with Grand Rapids sound therapist Geoff Lamden, of alternative and holistic health’s Continuum Healing and the Grand Rapids Wellness Collective, who also performed with a didgeridoo, tuning forks and other unusual instruments during the program.

The show also featured new tracks from Kalamazoo’s The Go Rounds (who celebrated their Grand Rapids CD-release show earlier in the week and play Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo on Saturday), Grand Rapids’ The Crane Wives (featured in a Local Spins Live at River City Studios session this week and who host their Grand Rapids album-release show at Founders Brewing on Saturday, with Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish and Steve Leaf & The Ex-Pats opening the show), Lansing saxophonist Phil Denny, Grand Rapids country singer Steve Rivers (who plays the Ionia Country Jam on Saturday) and The Sailor Kicks. Lady Ace Boogie and May Erlewine (who plays with the Moonlighters at Wealthy Theatre on Friday night) were also featured as part of Episode No. 52 of Local Spins on WYCE.

Thanks to all WYCE listeners for an absolutely fabulous first year, with a special shout-out to Rockford Brewing for its generous support. And Year 2 will even be better.

VIDEO: Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, “Dead Man Walking”
Video by David Specht

Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC