The members of Catfish Flats are:
George Eberlein: Electric and Slide Guitar, Vocals;
Rick Long: Bass, Vocals;
Brian McDonaldy: Drums, Drums, Drums!
Influences
Guitarists:Duane Allman, George Harrison, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Billy Gibbons, Keith Richards, Ry Cooder and David Lindley.
And Derek Trucks sounds better every time I hear him. Amazing!
Songwriters: The Fab Four, Jagger/Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Steve Earle, Warren Zevon, John Prine, Tom Petty, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Rosanne Cash and Rickie Lee Jones.
George Eberlein - Electric, Acoustic and Slide Guitar/Vocalist/Songwriter.........
George Eberlein grew up on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay and began playing guitar at the age of 8. After seeing the Beatles' debut on the Ed Sullivan show George (and 15 million other guitarists) threw himself headfirst into the study of the guitar and the pursuit of the rock-n-roll dream.
From 1974 until 1997 George traveled all over the US playing and recording with The Alabama Dirt Band, Frontrunner, Mister X, The Penetrators, The Blues Injectors and the Andy Smith Band. George also began a 12 year partnership playing with Pleasure Island legend, singer/songwriter Greg Memphis.
In 1997 George decided to take a break from live performance and the rigors of the road and concentrate on recording, both as a producer and session guitarist. George co-produced and played guitar on two albums with singer/songwriter Brent Burns. Both projects received substantial national airplay which translated into impressive sales for an independently released project.
In 2003 George was the winner of an online blues guitar competition sponsored by the Les Paul Forum www.lespaulforum.com. George was voted the winner from a blues track he recorded in his home studio. His track was chosen over submissions from dozens of guitarists from all parts of the world.
George and drummer Henry Jolley formed Catfish Flats in November of 2004. Their debut recording 'Down At The Flats' was released in October, 2006. George produced the project, wrote 9 of the 11 songs and did all the guitar and lead vocals.
George uses guitars by Gibson, Fender, Martin, National, Eastwood, Supro and Takamine, Mesa Boogie and vintage Fender amps, speakers by Weber VST, hardware from Pigtail Music, effects by John Landgraff, PedalworX and HBE and Peterson strobe tuners.
George uses single coil pickups from Jason Lollar, Lindy Fralin, Seymour Duncan and Fender and exclusively uses humbucking pickups by Tim White.
Ricky B. Long: Bass and vocals:
Grew up in Mobile with older siblings listening to Little Richard, Fats Domino, Elvis, Jerry Lee,and later British invasion, Lovin' Spoonful, Dylan. Psyche reset by "REVOLVER". Picked up guitar in the seventh grade playing along with records after school with the aid of a study hall classmate's "Crib Notes for Sockhop Standards". Started playing Electric Bass after hearing Phil Lesh, Jack Casady and seeing Berry Oakley with "The Allmans". Played in Southern Psychedelic Folk-Rock Garage bands, in coffee houses, Skating rinks, college parties, lounges,and roadhouses. Prefers blues with a rustic flavor. Plays Fender Precision and Lakeland basses through 10" speakers.
Brian McDonald: Drums and Percussion
Brian has been playing drums on and off for close to thirty years. He moved to Mobile as a result of Coast Guard orders as he is a retired military member (US.Air Force and USCG). He lived in Alexandria Va. before going in the military. Over here, while still in the service and thereafter, he started "jamming" with locals and played and joined with bands such as : Gary Dean and the Brewes Band, The Blues Cruise, Elmo and The Bluesmen, Johnny Barbato and the Lucky Doggs,The HOODOO Band (Ft.Walton Bch Fl.)The Black Sheep, The Fat Kitty Band, Junior Thomas and the Automatics, The Blues Injectors, Harmonica Mike and The Delta Heat,The Bud Zepper Band, Southern Style Band,The Smokin Toasters and Jack Jaw Jimmy. His love of music is with jazz, fusion,and blues with the usual 70's era music of rock, blues, British invasion stuff, and funk etc. Drumming influences and favorites are: Gene Krupa, The Bebop era drummers-Haynes,Roach,Jimmy Cobb etc. In rock- Mitch Mitchell, Ringo,Bonham, Allman Duos, Barriemore Barlow of early Tull fame. He loves a good shuffle -Fred Below, Dobie Strange of The Nightcats,Chris Layton of Double Trouble- good mardi gras beats-Johnny Vidacovich of NOLA , and Mike Clark in funk drummers. "My MAJOR blues influence here in Mobile was none other than Mike Connel aka "Rat". We swapped drum chairs in Blues Cruise for a short time back in early 90's."
Brian plays Taye Studio Maple drums in "fusion" sizes and a Premier Genista Birch kit in standard "rock" sizes. He plays mainly Zildjian Cymbals with some Sabian, uses Vic Firth sticks and a mix of Tama and Pearl hardware
Hey Honey!! Went by The HandleBar to see you Saturday... did not know the date had been changed. Ended up seeing Buzzin Cuzzin...I will be back this Saturday... Love you guys!!
I was talking to a friend of mine, Mike Coley, and he mentioned he ran into you at MMI the other day.. and the old Armadillo Club out Airport Blvd was talked about...The Alabama Dirt Band days.. What fun we had jammin' for hours out there .....miss those days.
Listened to Catfish Flats cd today... enjoyed very much..
George, Man, I had a great time jamming with you at the Blues Tavern. Your a great player, and a good friend. I hope we can do it again really soon! Peace, Joe Pitts
Jr. Greene from Mississippi will play the blues for yall! I'm currently in the top 100 unsigned blues musicians for the state of Mississippi. I love you all and appreciate all the support. Send more fans my way. I'm at "The Shed" in Ocean Springs, MS, phone 228-875-9590
for directions and more details. I love ya'll. Jr. Greene.
Hello George and thank you so very much for adding me to your list of friends on MySpace. I enjoyed your wonderful music and admire your great guitar talent. I love my D-28 and know how you must enjoy your awesome HD-28. Nothing sounds like a Martin!
Wishing you and yours every possible happiness and great success.
George Eberlein
Hey! I'm back from the tour, and i made a little video of some of the highlights of 2006....complete with an encounter i had with a Japanese toilet!! If you get a chance....you can see it on youtube....click here to watch it. Anyway, take care and i hope to see you somewhere on the road....i hit
