Meet Craig Anderson | Singer songwriter for Catfish Seminar

We had the good fortune of connecting with Craig Anderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Craig, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
How do I say it haha? The music industry in today’s socioeconomic, oversaturated, short lived longevity of attention to trends, ever changing, and last but not least, the “digital robotic age ” At least that’s what I would call it. I just recently saw an ad on Craigslist calling for voice samples from singers to be paid 35 dollars for a sample of their voice in a recording to be used in AI song creation. Notice I didn’t say “songwriting ”

Folks PLEASE don’t sell your voice to the robots!!! Even though it might be the only 35 bucks you will make in your entire musical career. I wish I was joking.

I guess the number one thing that I feel outsiders are unaware of when it comes to the audience compared to the artist in the music industry, is just how much sacrifice is required to be dedicated enough to create something that can be considered timeless. When I say sacrifice and timeless, I mean there is not enough time and there never is any money aka a livable wage At least for me anyways and the majority of the lot of artists out there. There is this misconception of the “rock n roll” lifestyle that is a gravy train full of fancy cars and unlimited supply of luxury. Granted, some folks out there do have that in the industry, just like our system that seems to be erasing the middle class on a daily basis, there are the extremely wealthy and the extremely poor. I heard a figure that an artist that did a three show run at Nissan Stadium grossed 100 million per night. Close to 1/3 of a billion in revenue in a weekend is quite a haul. But thats not anywhere close to the majority of artists out there
In fact, most if the time I pay to play. That’s why I feel like there aren’t as many solid bands out there these days. Trust me the talent is there. Its just not affordable. The average drummer in Nashville is probably in five different projects along with being a session player in studio recordings. The idea of a band forming as high school buds in a garage like Pearl Jam or let’s say the Beatles how John Lennon formed a skiffle band called the Quarry Men and would cut class and take the train from Liverpool to hope to just to learn a single chord on the guitar from the States and the invention of Rock N roll from Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Elvis all of which came from the Mississippi Delta blues. And as John Lennon once said, “The Blues Is the Chair We Sit On.” The Point is, that was an Era of Analog, meaning there was more of a drive to be dedicated to your craft. It wasn’t as accessible. Studio time was gold. In the photography world on film the photo had to count. In the digital world, who cares? We can take a million selfies or photos that are all blurred and probably are meaningless. Just like we can all hit record on our cell phones and honestly, hell release a record on spotify. Well I guess this would be comparable to when was the last time you ever had to look at an atlas or a physical map to figure out where your going? Or when was the last time you had to stop at a gas station to ask for directions? Now instead we have the luxury of Alexia or a voice that tells us how to get lost in traffic in the form of GPS haha. I once had GPS on my phone that told me to drive straight into a lake outside of Boulder, CO. The point is there is more of a mass production Or a factory approach to creating music today. It seems like artists are more focused on recording singles. Or sync music. Or studio sessions where you make a quick 150 bucks and never speak to the people you worked with again. And in most cases don’t even get to hear the recording if your an auxiliary player or might not care to listen to the mastered version. The point is the reason why music on the radio might be redundant or seem to lack any depth is because we aren’t able to and aren’t choosing to make the ultimate sacrifice to be in a band. The days of being discovered by some record label have now turned into a number game where a robot sees a trend in spotify listens or you tube views. It seems like the actual art of listening to a new band or singer like Garth at the Blubird or David Byrne and the Talking Heads at CBGB are long gone. Maybe I’m wrong and just am terrible at what I do. Haha. I hope that opportunity still exists out there!

I was lucky enough to be scammed by a fake record deal even recently. Literally two hours after the Catfish Seminar played the biggest stage of its life as a band at the Hillberry music festival in front of 5000 people on the main stage, I received an email from Universal Music Group offering Catfish Seminar a five year recording deal. It was to own the masters and all the rights to our music and also have to be exclusive to Universal for five years at the rate of 35,000 per recording. Talk about a painful experience of being let down. Also is it a scam if it were legitimate? A real record deal that is? I read that Willie Nelson sold a song for 150 bucks that has made 20 million since its creation. So ive already been approached by credit card companies and ive also been robbed by pawn shops. So real or not they are all scams. Praying on our desperate situations. But I’m a songwriter!! I am very good at not expecting anything and failing over and over again. Just like fishing it’s only fun because you don’t always catch fish. Makes it special when you get one on the line.

So I would like to share with the audience this one thing. Please buy our records !! Please take time to look at our merchandise after a show. Spotify doesn’t cut it!! My BMI quarterly payment was for $9.25 that’s with two records released, songs placed on podcasts, and having around 10 songs I know of that have been played on the radio. Mailbox money doesn’t exist these days. At least not like back in the day when a single on the charts could afford maybe another chance to record another record or maybe eat.

Just be aware of the service an artist of any sort is providing. If you, as the audience, want them to keep doing what they love and if you also enjoy what they are creating, please show them your support by putting coal in the train so it can still roll on down the tracks.

I love this life!! I love making music!! But it also takes input to get the best output just like every other sector of the business world!! And life in general for that matter.

Now that I am off my soap box haha.
Everything I just said above can be summarized in not only the cover of Guy Clark’s masterpiece album, “Cold Dog Soup” but also in the story of the title track. Give it a listen. That’s what I meant to say. I’m just not as clever as Guy.

Also to all the fans of music out there!!
Be aware of how thankful we are for you!! Without you we would have no purpose. There is no use in a story if there is no one there to tell it to.

Cheers,
Craig Anderson
Of Catfish Seminar

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Holy mollie! What a question! This is one of those where you’ve gotta sit down and reflect over. And that sometimes is tough. Meaning, that past is what defines us and sets us up for the future. Doesn’t mean it’s easy to talk about it. At least the parts that gave you grit along the way. I moved to Nashville right before Thanksgiving around 2017 Era? BC. Meaning before covid. I was living in Fayetteville, Arkansas with one of my best friends at his moms, Mary Kennedy’s house. I had just lived five lifetimes in Colorado and needed a rest. Mary’s house was a place for refuge and safety. It actually looking back saved my life.
I had only been to Nashville briefly, passing through and then kind of getting stuck there. My first experience was busking on the street after being ditched at the airport for the final destination of a terrible break up. I has around 22 dollars in my pocket and it was about 120 degrees out. I remember driving out of the airport in shock but also sweating a mix of tears and actual sweat from the beating heat. Later that night I found myself downtown on 2nd and Broadway playing my guitar on the street. It was a combination of trying to get some gas money but probably more so, pouring out my soul to the oblivion. I made around five dollars and went to this place called Bootleggers Inn. I sat at the bar with my head down and this fella next to me said,”Get this guy a beer and a shot. Hes looking like he could use a round.”We started mulling over the situation at hand and I ended up In an uber ride back to his house which happened to be a make shift recording studio. We then went at it. I must have played about 40 to 50 songs for him. The sun had already rose and it was damn near noon o clock. And he was still attimately pushing me to keep playing. Song after song. It was like being water boarded on American idol. He wanted to see what I was made of. He then went to use the bathroom I remember him saying ” When I come back I want to hear a real song!” I was pissed ! I grabbed a paper Plate off the kitchen counter and wrote “Doggone Shame” in about five minutes. I played it for him and asked “Did you write that?” With his roommate as a witness, ” I said yeah while you were taking a shit.” The rest was history.

I went back Arkansas and heard from my friend Tyler again. He said if you claim to be a songwriter, then pack up and move to Nashville. I did. I drove a Buick that had a shot transmission from Arkansas to Nashville and parked it downtown, where it would be later be towed away from bring dead in its tracks. Tyler convinced me to follow my dream. Even though I didn’t quite know what it was yet.
I just aimed to be a songwriter. I started hanging around dive bars in East Nashville trying to get into the scene and community. It’s cutthroat. Every one is aiming for a dream at the same time. So it makes for a level of perfect and imperfect competition, which can be inspiring or flat out lethal at the same time.
It was then that I discovered the bar Frans Eastside, from a call from my friend and original drummer of Catfish Seminar, Dorian Cornwell. He said man you gotta check this place out! They do karioke and man everyone is amazing!! I walked in the doors there and it was exactly what he said. Amazing! That’s what I’ve been looking for. A bunch of misfits like myself amongst some really talented other misfits.

Then Catfish Seminar was born. We played our first show as a jam on a Sunday afternoon at that dive bar. It was a combination of a joke and a free for all. But it was magic. I knew we had something special.

We went on to play shows and man 100s of them at this point. We recorded an album in Muscle Shoals. We hit the local radio. We became known around Nashville as a band that was something a bit more then just a joke. It was a whole entity within itself. Something that was new and different but was no different then the likes of what the Grateful Dead or the Band had already done. We were just polishing up the wheel that had already been spinning. We wanted to keep it rolling along shiny and strong. And we did, we got on a heater. We started playing all over Nashville, teaming up with other bands to share the bill with and started cranking out new songs on the daily. And began creating and crafting the sound of the Catfish Seminar.
What is that sound? When people ask me what style or genre of music we play. I usually respond with “we aim to play songs for the people agas 0 to 99 and if your over 100 years old and still can dance at one of our shows, it’s for you too God bless you!” I also explain that we have been slotted as Jazz, Country, Folk, and even Blugrass. We even went on a run of competeting in three bluegrass competitions the summer before last. We placed 2nd at the John Hartford memorial fest, 3rd at Pickin on the Picnic, and then came the super bowl victory, where we tool 1st place at the Hillberry music festival in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. This led us to a slot at this past year’s fest in October!! A true dream come true. We got the taste of blood when we had the honor to play the main stage on Saturday to share our story for an 1 hour and a half set to open for the big dogs. MOE, leftover Salmon, Elephant Revival, The Wood Brothers, and the best and the hosts Railroad Earth!! That’s just to name a few. It was a stacked festival bill like no other. I’ll never forget it!! And I’ll never forget what it took to get there.
It wasn’t just winning the competition. It was me going there for the first time probably almost 10 years ago and I told my friend that was standing next to me, ” I’m going to play that stage one day.” Ha laughed at me then. But I laughed back at him when he texted me, “You did it you crazy lunatic I’m proud of you” I guess that kind-of sums up what sets apart from others in some way. I don’t have a give up bone in my body. When I set my mind to accomplishing a goal, I aim high and dream big and dream lucky. The drive and dedication of chasing a dream and not giving up sets you apart from a lot of others that throw in the towel.
And trust me there have been some major set backs when it come to the Catfish Seminar’s winding, barely treading water, almost drowning, story.
I also tell people that we are a revolving door of musicians. This means this band is kind of like a carnival ride at times. People ride the ride sometimes for a few years and sometimes only once then they jump ship. I guess you really have to be a special kind of crazy to join a band these days, especially this one.
I’ve been down to only me as the acting member at least two to three times over the course of the last couple of years. People quit, people went on with better opportunities, people got tremendously sick etc… all of the Tornados happened including the real big one in East Nashville right before covid. It was a mess. All of our venues and shows were canceled due to the venue closing its doors due to covid or because they didn’t even have a door left to walk through. We still pressed on! We went to Colorado for a run of whatever shows we could play even Applebee’s a few times. Haha. We had to keep going.
I even became so fed up with not having anyone left in the band and no shows to play that I started hammering In old reclaimed boards I got from a storage unit from Ricki Page along with other boards washed up from the Cumberland River and built the “Ricki Page Stage” she is a legend in Nashville that has sang with Bob Dylan and is approached 93 years old. This stage then evolved into a hangout speakeasy type venue in my back yard called the “Sawdust Saloon.” This is a whole novel of a story in itself of what went on there. We will get to that perhaps another time. Hahaha. I really would have to sit down to tell that story.
I also went on to play the Ozark Mountain winter blugrass fest last winter solo when they expected a band. It was risky. But if I hadn’t have done that gig, all the rumors that were being spread around that Catfish Seminar was done would have been a reality. I refused to allow this to happen.
The dream is very much alive and strong now! We were fortunate enough to get a live record produced and magically board recorded by Peer Munck. He came to our show back in March with two grammys in his pocket and laughed at me with a grin and a Cigar in his mouth. He said “We got It!”

That record was our saving grace. I also went for it last September and hosted the first annual “Dancing on the Duck” festival on the Duck River at the Howling Hill campground in Lewisburg, TN. We had around 21 bands and artists that came to play the three day festival that was created out-of thin air a mere weeks before the event took place. You want to talk about a learning experience, I learned that I will never do that again. Haha. This time around I have people already booking bands and putting together the lineup for the next Duck festival in Sept 2024. Keep your eyes peeled for that one. We have already booked a tremendous headliner. It is in the works to be a better success then the last one. I guess that could sum up the strategy of dealing with struggle and road blocks along the way. Always be ready to adapt to the unknown storms that come your way. Weather them, sail strong, mistakes will be made, learn from them, do it better next time, then repeat. Easier said then done at times but it has all been worth it!!
We have a lot under our belt and are still a brand new baby as a band with a bright future ahead. We’ve done local live radio interviews, played community events, been on the local news for our tornado relief show, have been spun on three different local radio stations, recorded a live album along with a studio record in Muscle Shoals and are not going anywhere soon!! So let’s just say the fishing report for Catfish Seminar remains strong!

Thank you to all the fans out there that follow us on the social media platforms and come to our shows. Your support is what keeps us going with out a doubt. Please purchase our records and maybe even Buy a t shirt. They glow in the dark!!! Find them at Catfishseminar.com

We love all of guys very much and it has been a pleasure to share part of our journey with you!!

Best Fishes!
Craig Anderson
Singer songwriter for Catfish Seminar

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve actually have done this a few times in Nashville already when I’ve had friends and family come to visit. So I’ll tell you kind of what we actually did!

I guess the first thing to do in Nashville is kind-of like when you travel to Florida from a landlocked area like where I’m from, is you go take a peak at the ocean. Only in Nashville, the ocean is the sea of neon lights and a never ending parade of the thousands of travelers on a daily basis from all over the world mottled together with a collision of music coming from every direction from all angles. Some places somehow manage to have three bands playing at once on three different levels of the building. It is definitely an experience and definitely something you have to at least check out in the music city, even if it’s a matter of walking up and down Broadway once then getting the hell out of Dodge! Haha but sometimes that can take awhile. There’s a lot going on here all at once nearly every day.
The other point of interest that was one of main reasons why I came to Nashville and that is the magical presence of the church of all church’s, the one and only Ryman Auditorium. Its a sacred place like no other. If you are lucky and have the chance to get a ticket go to a show there. I don’t care who it is playing there that night, I promise it will be amazing kind of like Red Rocks in Colorado, can’t go wrong just go to a show. Or pay it a visit. I took my parents on a tour of the Ryman during the day. I highly recommend that as well. They even let you get on the stage!!! I have a picture of my mom and I on the stage while I’m playing a right handed Martin guitar. It’s a prop hahaha. But I played it! I’m also left handed so it wasn’t the performance, but I guess I could say I got to play on the stage of the Ryman. Even if it was for 30 seconds. Hahaha

The next stop downtown was a visit to the Country Hall of Fame and museum. This requires an entire day if you are a music nerd like me. Wow!! Just go see for yourself. All I’m going to say is it it’s the large building that has a roof awning resembling a piano. Enough said. There will be something there that interests anyone. Music lover or not.

Then if it’s time for lunch, head over to Robert’s Western World. That have a fried bologna sandwich which comes with a cold cheap beer, a bag of chips, and a moonpie for desert. Best deal on Broadway and some of the most talented players you will hear. Some actual real Two steppin’ country. With peddle steel and fiddle players that will blow your mind. Also on the same side of the block, you can find Laylas and Nudies, also legendary places with amazing music. Then if you exit out the back door into the alley way just like Hank Sr used to do to go play the Opry, you will be at the side doors of the Ryman. That’s Broadway in a nutshell.

I personally live in East Nashville. This is an area where the writers hide out. Kind of like Greenwich Village back in the days of Dylan and Von Ronk or Poets row in Denver where the Beats like Keroauc used to cause their creative trouble. Or even Haight and Ashbury in San Fran with Jerry and all the dancing beared hippies. Granted Im comparing the incomparable. But the modern East Nashville has a slight taste of that culture if you catch my drift. Also there is five points, where you can have a choice of various bars, restaurants, and live music as well. Plus you might be able to even find a parking spot unlike Broadway. Enough said.

I myself like to go out on Sundays or even Monday nights when things are more laid back but also just as exciting.

For example if you find yourself in a situation where you don’t wake up for your flight after a crazy Bachelorette party on Broadway, no worries there is Monday Night Jazz hosted by my bandmate in Catfish Seminar, Fredrick Weathersby. He plays the trumpet and hosts a night on the regular towards the west side of town on 16th and Jefferson that will cure your Nashville hangover layover blues.

Wait one second there is a song in there. Be right back. Gotta jot that down quick.

Alright I’m back. Sorry songs will leave you just as fast as they find you. So stop what your doing and write them down. At least it saves you the trouble of regretting that you didn’t.

Anyways back to the Nashville tour question.
I also like to go to the dive Karioke nights in the East side. There is one that is on Sundays along with Friday and Saturday at this very sacred place called Fran’s Eastside. Being in Nashville, you will hear some amazing talent and the night is more like a concert. Frans is also where the Catfish Seminar was born so it is very special to me. They are like my family in this town.
There might be a picture of the old Frans Eastside above.

Also on Wednesdays now Catfish Seminar is hosting an open Jam at a new dive bar very close to Frans called Ethel’s Tabernacle Tavern. We are about four weeks into the night now and we have had some amazing players come through the door. It’s not your typical open mic or writers round. Hell I was even attempting to play drums along to Hanks “Family Tradition ” the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Hahaha
Everyone is welcome to participate! Head on down!

Hope that gives you an idea of some places to check out in the Music City. Remember sometimes you just gotta keep digging to find the real gold when it comes to exploring a new city.

Have fun!
Cheers,
Craig

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Well it Maybe the most common shout out of all but never can be overthought or under rated at all. That’s to all the mothers out there and then to their mothers leading to the queens of the deck of cards, the Grandmother’s

My Grandma Was my hero. She bought me my first guitar as a youngster farm boy, pretending to be a cowboy. She inspired imagination and gave me the support of making me feel like a super hero. She went to every BMX race I rode in took pictures of every trophy I won created scrapbooks of my journey. Saw my first and only home run in little league baseball. She made me feel big even when I was actually little.

Also my band, The family from my other grandmother’s that have been apart of turning these stories into a musical journey in the form of a true Catfish Seminar!! The acting members are as follows:

Craig Anderson (Singer songwriter,vocals,guitar,harmonica)

Fredrick Weathersby (band director, trumpet, keys, percussionist)

Tau Manigat-Chatman (drum instructor, vocals, drums)
Also a shout out to Tauuuuuu!! For his dedication to our community as a high school drum instructor. His work is invaluable!! Thank you Tau!

Jacob Markus (Saxophone)
Also a shout out to Jacob get better man!! We will see you on the stage soon enough!

James Tillman (lead guitar)

Patrick “Wiley” Russell (Bass, vocals)

Chelsea Lovitt (fiddle, guitar, vocals)

Daniel Dallas (banjo,whistler)

But number one always number one !! My daughter Abbey Louise Anderson. She has been the backbone of the majority of my musical journey and my biggest fan. She even helped me write a few songs, including “Stone Age Man.”
To the point where she is on the record to introduce the song from our Muscle Shoals album.

Last but certainly not least all of the friends family and fans that have put up with a dreamers path and have also kept the dream alive and very much becoming a reality by buying our records and coming to our shows!!

Our success is equal to all of you the sum of all the love added together
Equals The Catfish Seminar!

Thank you
The stone age man

In loving memory of my Aunt Louise who always believed in my dream and inspired me to never give up!

Here is also a shout out to the Nashville Voyager and their staff for the efforts in supporting local businesses and artists in giving them recognition for their work!!

Website: Www.catfishseminar.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/catfishseminarband?utm_source=qr&igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg%3D%3D

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatfishSeminar?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Youtube: https://youtu.be/GjGY4KEJJKE?si=uKoOv6up7OmB6cdL

Other: We are doing the second annual “Dancing on the Duck” festival in mid September so stay tuned to Dancingontheduck.com

Image Credits
Robin Motola George Hamilton V Craig Anderson Hillberry Music Festival