This March marked the first time young Welsh rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen played New York City, and boy, did they. The band, currently on tour promoting their debut album, The Balcony (released via Island / Communion Records in September), performed back-to-back sold out shows at Manhattan’s Bowery Ballroom and Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory.
“New York City sold out… That’s fucking crazy. This is the one that’s been most exciting for us.” – Catfish and the Bottlemen frontman Van McCann
The band outperformed both nights, playing full sets from The Balcony that included their radio single “Kathleen” and Atwood Magazine favorite “Homesick.” When it comes to their live act, Catfish and the Bottlemen are loud and tight, as professional as four twenty-three year olds can be. Their songs are catchy as hell, and sound even better live than they do on the album, thanks to the band’s contagious energy. Frontman Van McCann threw his full person – body and mind – into the show, brandishing his overdriven guitar with an excited rage, thrashing about onstage and never missing a beat. A+
Atwood Magazine’s Mitch Mosk was in attendance for both New York performances, tweeting about the shows through the hashtags #CatfishAndTheBowery and #CatfishAndTheFactory. Here’s a quick snippet of his NY Catfish and the Bottlemen experience. Catfish and the Bottlemen return to New York City on June 16 at Webster Hall! More info here.
Catfish and the Bottlemen @ Bowery Ballroom
Congrats @thebottlemen for selling out @boweryballroom – what an amazing and well-deserved achievement #CatfishAndTheBowery @atwoodmagazine
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 10, 2015
#PACIFIER getting the crowd roaring (isn't that oxymoronic?) #CatfishAndTheBowery @thebottlemen @boweryballroom pic.twitter.com/frpLZKOXww
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 10, 2015
#CatfishAndTheBowery @thebottlemen #FALLOUT #NYC Flying V formation? pic.twitter.com/L7W7xR5ZAd
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 10, 2015
#CatfishAndTheBowery @atwoodmagazine @thebottlemen @boweryballroom #FALLOUT the power… pic.twitter.com/9IEoBYj2x3
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 10, 2015
I wanna make it my #business #CatfishAndTheBowery pic.twitter.com/Xa9AOMX4Zl
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 10, 2015
#CatfishAndTheBowery hard to be #HOMESICK with crowds like this #NYC @thebottlemen @boweryballroom pic.twitter.com/1sBmg7kCWA
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 10, 2015
First time playing #NYC with an album out, & the crowd sings a whole verse w/ no accompaniment. Congrats @thebottlemen #CatfishAndTheBowery
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 10, 2015
#cocoon #CatfishAndTheBowery YOWZA @thebottlemen pic.twitter.com/NVQ78vqe1T
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 10, 2015
These boys sure can play #CatfishAndTheBowery @thebottlemen @boweryballroom #nyc pic.twitter.com/hhvdbGGIU4
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 10, 2015
Watch @thebottlemen channel the rock gods of old with this epic ending! #rocknroll #CatfishAndTheBowery #nyc pic.twitter.com/RZ2KJmHbvY
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 10, 2015
The crowd is young and screaming and female. Kudos to @thebottlemen for targeting the most profitable demographic #CatfishAndTheFactory
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 11, 2015
catfishandthebottlemen make their final stand at @knitfactorybk #CatfishAndTheFactory #TYRANTS https://t.co/H3oiCkc7wL
— Mitch “Wear a Mask” Mosk (@MitchMosk) March 11, 2015
for more tweets, go to https://twitter.com/MitchMosk
for more Catfish and the Bottlemen, go to catfishandthebottlemen.com.