Jim Pennell
Singer-Songwriter/
Multi-Instrumentalist
Jim Pennell
Singer-Songwriter/
Multi-Instrumentalist
Dr. Jim has played rock 'n' roll, country, blues, and folk in bands, duos, and as a solo act across the Midwest, Northeast, and South. Although his primary solo instruments are 6 and 12-string guitars and harmonica, Jim plays mandolin, bottleneck dobro, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, and woodwind instruments.
A native of Indianapolis, Jim was part of the Talbott Village scene of the early '70s, and played both locally and on the road with a number of bands. He was a regular entertainer at Christopher's, on Cape Cod, during the '80s, and at the Red Wolfe Inn, in Belvidere, NJ, during the '90s. Jim's guitar still carries dents from bouncing off seats while entertaining passengers on the Cape Cod and Hyannis Railroad. In the last two decades, he has performed at venues in Central Indiana and coastal Alabama. He also formed and performed with a number of bands: Horizon, Pyramid, and Crossover, in Indianapolis, and the Time Travelers in New Jersey.
Jim began writing songs when he was 10 years old. Early influences included the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, James Taylor, and Johnny Cash. Jim has expanded his repertoire over the years to include songs by Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, and Gillian Welch, and dips into the classics of Hank Williams and Muddy Waters as well as audience-tested originals. His self-produced 1993 album Subversive Country, recorded in Norristown, PA, and Indianapolis studios with some of his talented friends, mixed musical genres with tongue-in-cheek lyrics. One of his big thrills was meeting singer-songwriter and banjo/fiddle player John Hartford at Godfrey Daniels folk club in Bethlehem, PA, in 1996.
In addition to performing solo, Jim is a member of the contemporary folk group ACOUSTIC CATFISH. In 2003, he and former 'FISH-mate Rob Gobetz released Time to Fish or Get Off the Pot, an album of originals and covers featuring a blend of folk, blues, and pop. The CD was the first release on Jim’s Rambling Roots Records label. The CD is available at performances and by emailing Jim (see Contact page).
Jim is also a retired emeritus professor from the Sociology Dept. at the University of Indianapolis, where he combined his musical and scholarly interests by teaching a course on Social Movements Through Song as well as performing and lecturing on classic and original protest songs at universities and special events. In 2003, he and Corey Dolgon, an East Coast sociologist and musician, released a benefit CD of classic protest songs on Rambling Roots Records, Songs of Solidarity and Struggle, to fund scholarships for the professional development of sociology students. In 2010, Jim and Corey were joined by fellow sociologist Mary Chayko on flute and vocals for the release of Songs of Peace and Justice. Jim continues to compose, record, and perform solo in addition to performing with the ‘Fish.
A native of Indianapolis, Jim was part of the Talbott Village scene of the early '70s, and played both locally and on the road with a number of bands. He was a regular entertainer at Christopher's, on Cape Cod, during the '80s, and at the Red Wolfe Inn, in Belvidere, NJ, during the '90s. Jim's guitar still carries dents from bouncing off seats while entertaining passengers on the Cape Cod and Hyannis Railroad. In the last two decades, he has performed at venues in Central Indiana and coastal Alabama. He also formed and performed with a number of bands: Horizon, Pyramid, and Crossover, in Indianapolis, and the Time Travelers in New Jersey.
Jim began writing songs when he was 10 years old. Early influences included the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, James Taylor, and Johnny Cash. Jim has expanded his repertoire over the years to include songs by Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, and Gillian Welch, and dips into the classics of Hank Williams and Muddy Waters as well as audience-tested originals. His self-produced 1993 album Subversive Country, recorded in Norristown, PA, and Indianapolis studios with some of his talented friends, mixed musical genres with tongue-in-cheek lyrics. One of his big thrills was meeting singer-songwriter and banjo/fiddle player John Hartford at Godfrey Daniels folk club in Bethlehem, PA, in 1996.
In addition to performing solo, Jim is a member of the contemporary folk group ACOUSTIC CATFISH. In 2003, he and former 'FISH-mate Rob Gobetz released Time to Fish or Get Off the Pot, an album of originals and covers featuring a blend of folk, blues, and pop. The CD was the first release on Jim’s Rambling Roots Records label. The CD is available at performances and by emailing Jim (see Contact page).
Jim is also a retired emeritus professor from the Sociology Dept. at the University of Indianapolis, where he combined his musical and scholarly interests by teaching a course on Social Movements Through Song as well as performing and lecturing on classic and original protest songs at universities and special events. In 2003, he and Corey Dolgon, an East Coast sociologist and musician, released a benefit CD of classic protest songs on Rambling Roots Records, Songs of Solidarity and Struggle, to fund scholarships for the professional development of sociology students. In 2010, Jim and Corey were joined by fellow sociologist Mary Chayko on flute and vocals for the release of Songs of Peace and Justice. Jim continues to compose, record, and perform solo in addition to performing with the ‘Fish.
Monika Mueller, MME
Bass and Vocals
Bass and Vocals
Monika grew up playing the piano, and became interested in classical guitar in high school. While studying music at St. Mary of the Woods College, she was drafted into playing bass guitar for the show choir during her junior year and joined her first band shortly thereafter. Monika spent about 15 years playing in various bands in the Terre Haute, IN, area, playing a wide variety of styles of music. Highlights include opening for Randy Travis and George Strait. She also regularly performed with pit orchestras for various musicals at St. Mary of the Woods College and Indiana State University.
After teaching piano, guitar, and Kindermusik to students ages preschool to adult for ten years, Monika completed a Master of Music Education degree at Indiana State University. She then moved to the Indianapolis area where she took a break from performing in order to teach music in local public schools.
Monika shifted gears and began a career as a Real Estate Broker in 2001. She retired from working with buyers and sellers in 2020, but still maintains her license to manage several rentals and the occasional investment project. Turning back to performing during that time, Monika spent five years playing with Acoustic Catfish during the mid-aughts, and has returned to the ‘Fish beginning in the 2024 season.
After teaching piano, guitar, and Kindermusik to students ages preschool to adult for ten years, Monika completed a Master of Music Education degree at Indiana State University. She then moved to the Indianapolis area where she took a break from performing in order to teach music in local public schools.
Monika shifted gears and began a career as a Real Estate Broker in 2001. She retired from working with buyers and sellers in 2020, but still maintains her license to manage several rentals and the occasional investment project. Turning back to performing during that time, Monika spent five years playing with Acoustic Catfish during the mid-aughts, and has returned to the ‘Fish beginning in the 2024 season.
Rob Gobetz
6 & 12 String Guitars and Vocals
6 & 12 String Guitars and Vocals
Rob has an abundance of enthusiasm for playing guitars for Acoustic Catfish. Rob has been in three bands: in the early 1980's in Kansas, he performed with Palomino, whose set lists were an amalgam of “The Urban Cowboy” soundtrack, southern-rock, and rock & roll standards; in the late 1990's he performed with DeLay (now known as Black Orchyd) alongside bass player Jim Pennell; and from the early 2000's through 2021 Rob performed with Acoustic Catfish (sometimes also known as Electric Catfish). Now he's back with the 'Fish, and happy for it!