TIKRIT, Iraq – Catchpenny, a Minnesota-based rock band, performed in Iraq for approximately 15 days to entertain deployed troops, as part of a one-year contract with the Department of Defense Program directors.
Catchpenny, on their 2009 Operation Iraqi Freedom Tour, played a show at Special Operations Task Force – North, March 31, where they held an evening concert for Special Forces Soldiers and supporting Airmen and Sailors.
"We are here in Iraq to entertain the troops and personally thank them for their sacrifice," said Mark Kelly, lead guitarist for Catchpenny. "I never get tired of saying thanks for your service."
Following 50 minutes of music, the band members stepped down from the stage for some inter-personal time with the service members. After filling their plates with cookout favorites, band members and troops exchanged stories and shared photo opportunities.
"My brother came to Iraq early on in the war as a member of the Army National Guard," said Chris Schauf, lead singer for Catchpenny. "I always wished I would have sacrificed like him, so coming to sing to the troops is my way of giving back."
"It was a really sweet concert," said a Catchpenny first-time listener who was deployed to Iraq as an Army information operations officer. "They played some original hits, but then they played covers by Led Zeppelin, The Cars and John Mellencamp."
The band wrapped up the evening ensuring each member had a free compact disc of their album, "From where you are."
A few of the stops included on the band's tour through Iraq included Forward Operating Base Caldwell, FOB Apache and Joint Base Balad. In all, the band will perform more than 150 shows during their 2009 OIF tour.