Catfish Haven, a new band on the Secretly Canadian label have teamed up with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin for a tour of the states early this year. Both bands are quite good, ive just begun to listen to Catfish and am already a fan of SSLYBY. Below a few quick notes on the bands, links to their myspace pages and two exclusive songs released for you, the music blog reader only. Enjoy.

CATFISH HAVEN
Named after a trailer park in southern Missouri where singer George Hunter spent his youth, CATFISH HAVEN are a Chicago trio that play Motown-inspired rock and blues purposely free of the usual hipster irony. Their quest is to make music that echoes both the simplicity and beauty of that “old time rock and roll” but with all the raw and sweaty energy they can muster. George Hunter’s voice is a soulful howl that has drawn comparisons to legends like Otis Redding and John Fogerty, and it’s complemented nicely by the tight rhythm section of Ryan Farnham’s pounding drumbeats and Miguel Castillo’s smooth bass lines. All three members of CATFISH HAVEN have played music together in one form or another since their early teens before forming in 2001. The bond they share is evident in the precision at which they attack each note. In the past few years CATFISH HAVEN has shared the stage with bands like My Morning Jacket, The Hold Steady, and Okkervil River, winning over audiences with their powerful live set. Their newly released CDEP, Please Come Back, has already received praise from CMJ, Magnet and Spin.

Catfish Haven on MySpace

Catfish Haven- You Can Have Me

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin:
Hailing from Springfield, MO, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin play wonderful pop in the vein of the Shins or Weezer but with heartfelt emotion and an inventive spirit. Although currently unsigned they caused quite a stir in 2005 with their self-released CD, Broom, which ended up on more than a few blogger best of the year lists for those lucky enough to have heard it. They even made it so far as to land themselves in pages of Spin which is quite a feat for a band with no label. While they are not yet as high profile as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah they are of a new breed of bands who have been able to bypass the old pre-internet music world. The old world left many great acts ignored but this has all changed dramatically and talents like SSLYBY are now able to reach the broader audience they deserve. With their solid songwriting and lovable persona SSLYBY are definitely a band to watch in 2006

SSLYBY on MySpace

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin- Accident

And, the tourdates…..

02/08/06 Lansing, MI – Mac’s Bar (18+)
02/09/06 Detroit, MI – Lager House
02/10/06 New York, NY – Knitting Factory Tap Bar w/ A Northern Chorus
02/11/06 Brooklyn, NY – Southpaw w/ The Drones
02/12/06 New Haven, CT – Bar Nightclub
02/13/06 Allston, MA – Great Scott (18+)
02/14/06 Philadelphia, PA – Space 1026 w/ Be Your Own Pet
02/16/06 Washington, DC – Wonderland Ballroom 1101 Kenyon St. w/These United States
02/17/06 Louisville, KY – Headliners w/ Your Black Star + Cabin
02/18/06 Mufreesboro, TN – Grand Palace Records (18+)
02/21/06 St. Louis, MO – High Pointe
02/22/06 Springfield, MO – The Outland
02/23/06 Columbia, MO – Mojo’s
02/24/06 Iowa City, IA – Gabe’s Oasis
(EARLY SHOW ALL AGES)
02/25/06 Lawrence, KS – Jackpot

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