Catfish and the Bottlemen are the cream of alternative music’s crop right now, but they are not as big as they should be.
Even after opening for the punk gods that are Green Day, Catfish and the Bottlemen are far from a household name in the US; they’re just another rock band that doesn’t fit into the auto-tuned, electronic mold of American pop radio. In the United Kingdom, however, the Welsh band has earned a place atop the charts.
Their 2014 debut, The Balcony, reached No. 10 in the U.K. and in 2016, The Ride gave the band its first No. 1 record on the U.K. charts. The group was also awarded Best British Newcomer at the Brit Awards in 2010.
On the U.S. Billboard Hot 200, The Balcony peaked at No. 121 and The Ride peaked at No. 28. The 28th spot is a good sign for the band gaining traction in the states, but true alternative sensations can chart higher-ranking albums on the pop charts.
The band’s polished, well-crafted lyrics and skilled guitar riffs boast more edge, capability and wow factor than anyone on Billboard’s Hot 100 right now, but that’s a given. With the exception of some skilled producers that know how to cater to trends while maintaining depth in their music like The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, rock bands are not going to be ruling the U.S. pop charts.
Catfish and the Bottlemen, however, do have the opportunity to excel in the world of alternative music. Several bands that were doing well in the U.K. have successfully crossed over in recent years, but an overwhelming amount have also failed.
One thing that will help this band along is their drive. Many would have been satisfied with a No. 1 record in the U.K., but Catfish and the Bottlemen needed to reach a broader audience, so they took the leap.
Only time will tell if Catfish and the Bottlemen have what it takes to pull off the hugely successful crossover from U.K. radio to U.S. radio that bands like The National and The 1975 have pulled off, but opening up for Green Day’s Revolution Radio tour, playing 20,000 seat venues like the Cleveland area’s Blossom Music Center isn’t a bad start.
For a sample of what Catfish and the Bottlemen can do, check out “Soundcheck” and “7” off The Ride and “Kathleen,” “Pacifier” and “Cocoon” off The Balcony. “If only for the sake of it I could chill you out/And drive us through the night to your sister's/You can fall asleep with my jacket as a cover/And wake up just to join me to smoke,” sings in “Soundcheck.” “We'll be talking about your background/And how it never left you much/Because you grew up in a small town/You'll appreciate it more/When you're done figuring your life out/And everything's fine.”
Halle Weber is a sophomore studying journalism with a focus in news and information at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. You familiar with this band? Let Halle know by tweeting at her @HalleWeber13.
