She plays electric guitar and she sings and her jeans have frays and holes earned through time and not bought to be fancy. She speaks clearly, sings beautifully, and she does it over and over again because she and her bandmates are THAT popular here in the Upper Ohio Valley.
But her lust for music wasn’t born from an exposure to stars like Debbie Harry or John Lennon or Joni Mitchell or even Freddie Mercury. No, Cathy Flanagan’s love affair with music sprouted thanks to a grade school soloist and the innocence of a FA-LA-LA-LA holiday, and then it blossomed during rock-n’-roll’s best decades – the 1970s-80s – here in the Upper Ohio Valley.
Ever since, Flanagan has been on a stage and singing somewhere, and for more than a decade she’s joined the men of The Muddle while gigging on both sides of the Ohio River. The set lists are eclectic, the narration brief, and crowds are quiet with attention. Maybe the best parts are that you can name that tune, sing those songs, and transport back to the show or party where you heard the melody that very first time.
The Muddle performs a solid show for sure, and it’s Flanagan who humbly fills the role as band leader. She schedules shows, promotes on social media, does the radio interviews, and it’s Cathy who thanks the crowd for their shows of appreciation for each little ditty.
Not bad for someone once anxious when standing up front, huh?
Why The Muddle? Where did the name come from?
Working as a duo being myself with Kevin Schlick or London Stadler – and, at times, a trio with Matt Uhlly – promotion was difficult. We needed a name.
I was at the lobby bar at Nemacolin when the bartender served up a beautiful purple martini to the guy next to me, When I commented on it, he said the secret is to “muddle” the fruit. Muddle! We became “The Muddle,” because in the dictionary it also means “confusion.”
This was perfect because it was really not clear who would be showing up to be it. Would it be a duo, a trio? We didn’t know, and eventually we’d even be a four-piece band for some performances.
What performer or band led you to music?
I don’t think there was any one band or person that influenced me to want to play music. I loved music. I liked music class as long as we were singing. I didn`t care for learning music signatures or anything related to it.
I took flutophone with hopes of making a band and failed the written test part. I was learning by ear. in 7th grade a classmate sang a solo in the Christmas program and I was mesmerized. I picked up a few instruments along the way. I played clawhammer banjo somewhat years ago with a trio. I struggled with stage fright.
What female vocalist do you consider the greatest of all time? Why?
I cannot say I consider any single one female or male vocalist to be the greatest, there are way too many fish in that sea. I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out.
What is the best job you’ve ever had?
I’ve worked many jobs. Pondering the best makes me realize how many. I can honestly say I liked them all.
Maybe the Riviera Bowling Lanes stands out. I worked in the Downstairs Lounge. I loved working in a rock club. We had top-notch bands come through there. I got to be friends with great musicians. I still have charts that Rick from the BE Taylor Band made for me.
This was before the internet – at least for me. I got to be friends with The Toys, Dino and John. They knew I strummed some guitar and suggested I pick up bass. They said bass players were scarce. So, I did.
What happened to rock n’ roll? Where’d it go?
Well, I think rock n roll might still be around. Maybe just harder to find?
