Catfish and the Bottlemen Review

​Written by Sriya Reddy ; Photographed by Mica Kendall and Sriya Reddy

10/02/16 - Catfish and the Bottlemen - House of Blues, Dallas, TX. 

"The love for music created an unbreakable sense of unity and positive recognition." - Sriya Reddy

   Adrenaline rushes and a minimalistic black and white aesthetic. That is what the English indie rock band Catfish and the Bottlemen is made up of.
   The Ride Tour began April 4, 2016 in Glasgow, United Kingdom as the second concert tour for Catfish and the Bottlemen. The tour, and sophomore album, has so far racked up positive reviews. The band presented themselves in Dallas at the House of Blues on October 2, 2016.
     The Worn Flints, a three man psychedelic rock band from Columbus, Ohio, opened the show with an immense amount of energy that could have been felt to the bone of every person in the audience. With their skinny jeans and messy hair, these artists really knew how to get a crowd excited. The lead singer moved across the stage interacting with every part of the audience while presenting a unique and unforgettable atmosphere. Their EP, The Second Sun, was released in June 2015.     
    The lead singer, Ryan Evan “Van” McCann is nothing short of a legend on stage. Masked in a stream of red and green colored lights, his stage presence left the audience in a state of awe. Opening with their song “Homesick,” from their first album “The Balcony”,  the band created a spark with ease. The lyrics “I got mislead, mistook, discard / anything that I said” were heard from the voices of every member of the crowd. The silhouettes of all four members reinforced the feeling of ecstasy as the sudden onset of red colored lights synchronized with the beat of the chorus.
    One of the most heartwarming parts of the show was every time Van stopped singing and smiled as the crowd carried on his lyrics. After every song, the band did not fail to give a quick thank you to the crowd, reminding us how humble these artists truly are. The countless number of times Van nearly tripped over or dropped the mic stand as he moved his body displayed an undeniable connection between himself and his performance. He is everything in the definition of a crowd pleaser.
    Their live rendition of the ninth track of their second album “Red” inspired a new appreciation of the song. The drummer, Bob Hall attacked the drums with a sort of confidence that really drove the song to its intensity. Another favorite was definitely the performance of “Fallout”. The iconic lyric, “You see I, I was a test tube baby / That’s why nobody gets me”, was screamed among every crowd member, marking an obvious connection between the artists and the audience.
    Catfish and the Bottlemen really surprised us when Van came out on stage alone with an acoustic guitar. Silence built up among the audience as he began his acoustic performance of “Hourglass”, which was ultimately a crowd favorite. The appreciation Van has for his fans was truly apparent here as he stepped away from the mic to let the crowd lead the song.  
    The Ride Tour was one of the most incredible shows I have ever attended. The love for music created an unbreakable sense of unity and positive recognition. Catfish and the Bottlemen and their distinct sound left people leaving the show with a day to remember.
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