Jambands.com - Need We Say More?

BF: What would you like to see come out of the next year?

BK: Best case? I guess a lot of Gregg Allman gigs, some new type of touring opportunities and musical stretching for the BKB. I’d like to stay really busy on both fronts- those two groups are the closest to my heart. If I can figure it out schedule wise, I’d like to break a lot of new ground musically and commercially with my own band. I know I can connect with a lot more people than I’ve been connecting with on the so-called ‘blues circuit.’ And I do notice that some of those folks have been coming out to my shows more lately- more rock people from the jam world. I think it can be interesting, ‘cause I can get into some of their energy and vice-versa.

BF: Jamband audiences are definitely opening up to you. The video of you and Jimmy Herring doing “Franklin’s Tower” smokes (see above).

BK: Holy shit, that video smokes, doesn’t it!? I am so glad that someone took that and posted it. That was happening.

BF: If you could speak directly to that audience, how would their life be better with a little Bruce Katz in it?

BK: That could be a tough one! [laughs] I just think the music I’m playing has a pretty direct emotional content to it. I think there’s a lot of things I do that are familiar to them. They would find themselves going on a little deeper journey through American music. I think they would enjoy the journey, and it would be a slightly different direction and destination than some of the other bands out there now. You’re stumping me, man!

BF: Does the music speak for itself enough?

BK: I’d like to say it does, but I don’t know. There’s a lot of music out there, and people lead very media-obseesed lives, and it’s hard to get their attention. Once people allow themselves to listen to something, the music is enough, because they’ll find themselves intrigued or moved by it. Sometimes it’s hard to get their attention though, and you have to capitalize. Some of my associations over the last few years, it’s been great. It’d be nice if you didn’t have to do that, but the reality of the commercial world is getting the attention of a listener is not easy. That’s why I’m very happy if anybody stumbles across my music. The radio is non-existent for the most part, so people are not going to get exposed to whole lot on the radio anymore

BF: Before we go, I have to ask. Your daughter’s name is Liz Read-Katz. Did you really?

BK: No! It was purely coincidental, and I didn’t even realize it until a good friend pointed it out to me well after the fact. My wife and I had agreed to hyphenate our last names, and we just thought Elizabeth was a beautiful name. It had nothing to do with the song, maybe unfortunately.

But Liz came to one of the shows last fall, and was waiting at the bus to come aboard and meet everyone. When it was her turn, they asked her name, and she said “Liz Read-Katz” and everyone just kind of stopped and stared. It was probably a little embarrassing.