Blues Legend Popa Chubby Releases New Album “The Catfish”

Popa Chubby Is The Catfish. Popa Chubby sits alone at the river's edge, guitar in hand he serenades the waters knowing if the song is sweet and the wind is right The Catfish will bite. Music is the bait, music is the water of life and Popa Chubby swims deeply in the swelling tides. Popa Chubby Is The Catfish.

But Who Is The Catfish? The road is long and goes on forever, the minnows and guppies must bow to the big fish. His guitar strings are the line that reaches to the deepest part of the soul. Many rivers to cross, the Catfish knows he is the boss. The king! Le Roi! The Mac Daddy! Fat, elusive, badass, too smart for the nets of those who would try to label him. The songs, stronger then ever, paint pictures , tell stories, of love, of life, of women and of the world. The music soaring to new heights. Fearless, brave, loud.

Says Popa Chubby, “This recording is dedicated to you. You inspire me every day. You make me want to play better, write better, sing better. I love you all, you are all diverse and beautiful and you lead my back to who I truly am. Listen loud, long and often. I remain your humble servant hopefully older, wiser, louder, stronger. I thank the almighty force of creativity, light and love in the universe. Jah Jah vibration always. Stay true, stay strong, stay resolute.”

“On his newest release The Catfish, Popa Chubby offers up 12 tunes that embody the badass attitude that defines the self-proclaimed 'King Of The New York City Blues'. The Catfish is aptly titled as it delivers punch after punch of musical inspiration drawing on 25 plus years of street smarts and road worthy musicianship. The Catfish embodies the concepts that make Popa Chubby who he is. Regal and Delicious, the recording shines with multiple flavor and worldliness.” -  Blues Magazine NL

Tracks
1. Going Downtown See My Old Gal Sue (T.Horowitz) 5:42
2. Good Thing (T. Horowitz) 3:20
3. Bye Bye Love (Felice & Bodleaux Bryant, Arrangement T. Horowitz) 3:32
4. Cry Till It's A Dull Ache (T. Horowitz) 5:10
5. Wes Is More (T. Horowitz) 7:04
6. Motörhead Saved My Life (T. Horowitz) 2:41
7. Blues For Charlie (T. Horowitz) 5:58
8. Dirty Diesel (T. Horowitz) 3 :42
9. Slow Down Sugar (T. Horowitz)  6 :34
10. Put a Grown Man to Shame (T. Horowitz) 5:16
11. The Catfish (T. Horowitz) 4:01
12. C'mon In My Kitchen (Robert Johnson) 4:04

Produced by Ted Horowitz at Chubbyland Studio, Hudson Valley, New York
Mastered by Alan Douches at Westside Sound

Featuring:
Popa Chubby: Guitars and vocals all tracks; Drums and bass on 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11; Percussion on all tracks; Keyboards on 9
Dave Keyes: Piano and Organ on all tracks; Vocals on track 12
Dave Moore: Drums on tracks 2, 5, 7, 8,10
Matt Lapham: Bass on tracks 4, 7, 8, 10
Tipitina Horowitz: Trumpet on tracks 3, 9
Rich Monica: Drums on track 1

To purchase Popa Chubby's “The Catfish”: https://www.amazon.com/Catfish-Popa-Chubby/dp/B01KPDLDDE

Popa Chubby upcoming 2017 US tour dates:

January
6 - Washington, DC - The Hamilton
7 - Richmond, VA - Capital Ale House
12 - Teaneck, NJ - Mexicali Blues
13-14 - Auburn Hills, MI - Callahan’s

February
17 - Schenectady, NY - Van Dyke
18 - Fairfield, CT - Stage One
19 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall
24 - Mifflinburg, PA - Rusty Rail Live
25 - Jim Thorpe, PA - Mauch Chunk Opera House
26 - Lancaster, PA - Lancaster Roots & Blues

Popa Chubby Endorses Stetson Hats exclusively!
Popa Chubby plays Fender Guitars through Fender Amplifiers.

Popa Chubby is booked exclusively by Intrepid Artists International staff@intrepidartists.com

Official website: www.popachubby.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Blues Ace Popa Chubby Celebrates 25 Years On The Road With A Brand New Album I’m Feelin’ Lucky And A West Coast Tour!

Los Angeles, CA - Larger than life blues figure Popa Chubby has a lot of reasons to feel lucky this year. 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of his emergence as a powerful force in the venerable New York blues scene with his very own band, and his own unique brand of hard hitting, face melting, blues rock n’ funky soul. And he’ll celebrate this major milestone the only way he knows how, with the release of a smokin’ hot studio album I’m Feelin’ Lucky - coming October 14 on Cleopatra Records - and a series of shows on the West Coast!

“It’s been 25 years and I’m still standing,” declares Popa Chubby, and considering the long and rugged road he’s had to travel, that in itself is a miracle. From his beginning in the late ‘70s as a “bad kid with an afro and a brand new Gibson Midnight Special guitar” to his stint as a punk rock sideman for Screaming Mad George and Richard Hell, among others, to signing a deal with Sony and releasing one of the top selling blues albums of 1994 (the phenomenal Booty And The Beast), Popa Chubby has seen it all and lived to tell about it on well over a dozen studio albums!

His newest effort I’m Feelin’ Lucky gave the veteran musician an opportunity to reflect on his extraordinary career and to work on new musical ideas and arrangements in a relaxed, low-pressure setting. Recording at his home studio in the Hudson Valley, Popa called on some of his closest associates to help bring this album to life, including drummer Chris Reddan, keyboardist Dave Keyes, and bassist Francesco Beccaro. In addition, two very special guests brought even more magic to the proceedings, vocalist Dana Fuchs, mostly known for her role in the 2007 Beatles musical Across The Universe, as well as one of the most revered blues players around today, Mike Zito of the Royal Southern Brotherhood.

I’m Feelin’ Lucky is Popa’s debut album for Cleopatra and contains some of his best and most deeply felt writing. “The Way It Is” is an “urban soul ballad,” he explains, “that’s about those times when you just sit there and you realize that you’re all messed up and there ain’t nothing you can do about it...that’s the blues right there.” The title track is a major slice of “badass funk” with heavy wah wah pedal guitar playing from Popa and “great New Orleans style lyrics.” “I’m A Pitbull (Nothin’ But Love)” may be the song closest to his heart: “I’m a big dog lover. I have a little pitbull and I love him dearly. They’re a very misunderstood breed. I work with people at a pitbull rescue who work with these dogs and train them to be service dogs for veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s a beautiful thing. There is not a more loyal, devoted and emotionally intuitive dog.” It’s these very same qualities in Popa Chubby’s own gracious persona that have been drawing fans to his music for over 2 decades.

Fans will also delight in hearing that Popa Chubby’s Universal Breakdown Tour hits the West Coast later this year with a slew of shows starting in Las Vegas at the Big Blues Bender held in the Riviera Hotel & Casino. For complete tour information, visit www.popachubby.com and get lucky with Popa Chubby!

1. Come To Me (with Dana Fuchs)
2. One Leg At A Time
3. Three Little Words
4. Rollin’ N’ Tumblin’
5. Too Much Information
6. Rock On Bluesman (with Mike Zito)
7. I’m Feelin’ Lucky
8. Save Your Own Life
9. I’m A Pitbull (Nothing But Love)
10. The Way It Is

Check out a video teaser for the album here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_VHUjCw3pM

Order the CD on Amazon: http://geni.us/2Ave

Order the digital version on iTunes: http://geni.us/27sk

9/25 - Las Vegas, NV - Big Blues Bender
9/26 - Ventura, CA - Yolie's
9/27 - Arcadia, CA - Arcadia Blues Club
9/28 - Santa Cruz, CA - Jerry's Front Pocket
9/30 - San Francisco, CA - Biscuits & Blues
10/2 - Crystal Bay, NV - Crystal Bay Club Casino
10/3 - Sacramento - Torch Club
10/4 - Point Arena, CA - Arena Theatre
10/7 - Portland, OR - Duff's Garage
10/8 - Birkenfeld, OR - The Birk
10/9 - Vancouver, BC - Electric Owl
10/10 - Mount Vernon, WA - Lincoln Theatre
10/11 - Seattle, WA - Highway 99 Blues Club

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
www.CleopatraRecords.com

Concert Review: The Blues Show at the Colonial Theater

The Blues Show at the Colonial Theater-Pittsfield, MA

February 15, 2014

Saturday, February 15th, the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield MA had its second edition of “The Blues Show.” In the midst of the snowstorm, there were still many in attendance and the bands were on fire. This year, Pittsfield was treated to a diverse group of blues veterans - The George Boone Blues Band, Popa Chubby, and Roomful of Blues.

The George Boone Blues Band brought a very traditional, soulful style of blues to the show. It was simple, yet this simplicity had the power to transport listeners to a smoky blues bar somewhere in the Deep South. What Mr. Boone’s voice lacked in musicality, he made up for with pure soul. Listeners of modern day, highly processed Top 40 radio might cringe when hearing his voice, but it’s that pure, untouched voice that makes his singing so special. While the set was as solid as could be, their original track “Meaning of the Blues” and cover of The Temptations “My Girl” were the standout performances.

Popa Chubby then came to the stage, opening up the set with a fiery rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe.” According to him, there was some “negative energy” in the crowd, which could only be cured by some classic Hendrix. Popa’s blazing fast fretwork was quite a change from George Boone’s slower, more cautious playing. That’s not to say that Popa Chubby can’t tone it down when the moment is right – his renditions of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Hallelujah” were surprising and beautiful additions to the set. As usual, Popa’s unique humor and energy brought the crowd to life in a way that would be difficult to follow up.

Roomful of Blues has had a roster of over 40 members in its lifetime, and Rich Lataille (alto and tenor saxophone) is the only original member remaining. Many of the band members were relatively young, which made it a little strange when they mentioned that 2014 marks their 45^thanniversary. The live band consists of 8 members, and this lent itself to a very full sounding mix. The brass section gave the band an energy that the previous acts lacked, and Phil Pemberton (vocals) brought the music alive with his excellent rock n’ roll voice. Although they couldn’t quite get the crowd going like the charismatic Popa Chubby could, Roomful of Blues still ended ‘The Blues Show’ on a good note. It will be exciting to see who the Colonial Theatre brings to next year’s blues show, but I’ve got a feeling that crowd-favorite Popa Chubby will be back for his third consecutive year.

Austin Hannaleck

2/23/14

Review Provided By Write A Music Review