CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN | LIVE REVIEW
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Sun 5 May
It’s that time of the year again when Catfish And The Bottlemen fans get raucous and ready to party, this time at a sell-out Motorpoint Arena. There’s queues for the bars that stretch halfway across the venue as fans grab their two-pinters and get settled in. But not before a strong set from the already established Twin Atlantic, rounded off with heavier rocker I Get No Sleep and their highest charting single – one which truly reveals their Glaswegian heritage in Sam McTrusty’s vocals – Heart And Soul.
Though it’s clear there are fans present, Catfish And The Bottlemen could’ve given the opportunity to an up-and-coming local band for their frequent tour dates. Not forgetting the band’s quick rise to fame: having played Cardiff’s erstwhile Gwdihw early on, six years later they are three records down with their most recent studio album The Balance and selling out this arena.
The band open their set with Longshot, lead single from their most recent release, and the stage is donned with neon lights beaming The Balance’s album art, a pelican drinking from a can with a straw. Though the stage setup is simple, the music speaks for itself. The crowd are treated to the well-loved likes of Kathleen, Soundcheck and Pacifier early on, and Motorpoint Arena gets sweaty within an instant. By halfway through, frontman Van McCann is dripping too, his passion evident.
Songs like Business are dragged out with guitar and drum instrumentals, giving the audience a breather, while Catfish further prove their versatility with McCann’s acoustic guitar solo on Homesick. Closing lyrics ring through the venue with a fade to black: “I wanna carry all of your children and I wanna call them stupid shit.”
New single Fluctuate sets the encore, bringing Cardiff back to life ready for their big finish of fan-favourite Tyrants, as always. So good, but maybe one day they’ll switch it up. Catfish And The Bottlemen have conquered probably every venue in the city, and with an impressive show last summer at Cardiff Castle, the band have become a household name in UK rock. But what’s next? A stadium show is not a long shot away.
words and photos AMY FARRER
