We can’t help but wonder why Catfish and The Bottlemen are so successful.
After all, there’s nothing new about a four-piece indie-rock band. Between the leather-clad dress code and the tumbling fringes, you could almost be forgiven for dismissing them as just another band of no-hopers, destined for little more than an appearance in the bargain bin at your local garage.
Maybe it’s because their debut album The Balcony is one of the best collections of bona-fide indie-rock belters we’ve heard in the last few years. The radio-friendly Kathleen might have brought them to the attention of the masses, but it’s the likes of Cocoon and Pacifier that serve as their calling cards. Gritty guitars merge with pounding drums and stadium-sized choruses to create a sound that’s reminiscent of the Manic Street Preachers’ early work, and we can’t get enough of it.
Maybe it’s just down to clever marketing. Maybe they’ve got a lot of friends in high places. Hell, maybe their parents just spent their life savings on buying thousands of copies of their album.
Or maybe – just maybe – it’s because they’re a genuinely electrifying live band.
Their show at Exeter’s 1800-capacity Great Hall is a masterclass in how to put on a fantastic indie-rock gig. The band’s twelve-song setlist allows them to run through the entirety of their debut album, and the crowd lap it up. There’s barely time to take a breath – from the powerful one-two of opening combo Rango and Pacifier to the crunch-rock of set closer Tyrants, the set is a carefully calculated attack on the senses, and there’s nothing we can do to escape it.
The anthemic Fallout is an early standout, while fan favourite (and set highlight) Kathleen gets each and every member of the capacity crowd bouncing. The inclusion of new song 7 is the only surprise of the night; it’s an energetic gem of a rock song, complete with an explosive chorus and roof-raising guitar solo, and it certainly sets the bar high for the band’s upcoming sophomore album.
So, why are Catfish and The Bottlemen so successful? It’s simple, really. They’re an indie-rock band who know exactly what they’re doing. They’ve already proven that they know how to write a catchy tune, and the success of their ongoing UK tour is serving to cement their status as one of the country’s most sought-after live acts. Get used to Catfish and The Bottlemen – they’re not going anywhere.
