The rockabilly and raw blues duo performed in-studio for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by Jack Droppers, Zach Vinson, Throwaway, Primer and more.
‘Wanting to Let Loose’: Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish at WYCE. (Photo/Local Spins)
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More than five years in – and after hundreds of gigs and thousands of miles on the road – Jesse Ray hasn’t changed his on-stage attitude.
“Still motivated, totally still crazy for sure,” said the singer, guitarist and dynamic frontman for Grand Rapids’ Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, that two-man, rockabilly-meets-raw-blues, hell-on-wheels outfit that’s pumped up audiences with its fiery, table-jumping live shows.
Live Fervor: Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish performing in Kalamazoo. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
“It’s that punk-rock attitude, wanting to let loose.”
With Brandon “Dingo” Hopp on drums and Jesse Ray Cahue on guitar, harmonica and vocals, this attention-getting duo will strut its stuff for a Grand Rapids audience again on Saturday night, when the boys play Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill at 9 p.m. Saturday in what’s billed as a post-party for the Winter Beer Festival taking place at Fifth Third Ballpark this weekend. Admission is $5; get details online here.
The guys dragged themselves out of bed early Friday to preview that weekend show by performing in-studio for this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE. Listen to the full radio show podcast below and check out the video for “Anchor Bartender” here.
VIDEO: Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, “Anchor Bartender” (Local Spins on WYCE)
The band plans to follow up an action-packed 2018 with a spring Midwest tour and release of a new studio album being recorded at the all-analog Goon Lagoon in Grand Rapids. They’re already playing some of that “new stuff” live, giving fans a taste of what’s to come.
And they remain committed to that two-man approach.
At Meijer Gardens: Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
“It’s just easy, plain and simple,” Jesse Ray said of sticking with the duo format. “It’s nice because when we want to practice, I just have to send one text.”
They’ve also made contacts and struck up friendships with musicians and fans across the country, something that’s helped them build their fan base. That includes places like Indianapolis, Kansas City, Appleton and the West Coast where they were able to “dip into a real rockabilly market and hang out and spend time with our friends.”
Best of all, since they don’t have day jobs and are dedicated to music full-time, “this is it,” Jesse Ray declared somewhat proudly. “We’re just going for it, rockin’ and rollin’.”
Learn more about the band and watch their appearance for HopCat Presents Local Spins Live at River City Studios.
The Feb. 22 edition of Local Spins on WYCE also featured the debut of new tracks by Zach Vinson, Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions, Primer, Throwaway and Deep Greens & Blues, as well as music from Max Lockwood, The Sailor Kicks, Desmond Jones and The Concussions.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE (Feb. 22, 2019)
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