The Launch Box featuring Catfish and the Bottlemen
If you like: Johnny Marr, Mystery Jets, The Kooks
Catfish and the Bottlemen are an English indie rock band from North Wales that formed back in 2007. They have released one album that reached number 10 in the UK album chart. They’ve toured in UK, Europe, North America, and Australia and have been featured in a number of festivals like Glastonbury, and Bonnaroo.
You band is called… WHAT?!
The band got its name from McCann’s first childhood musical memory, it was an Australian street busker in Sydney, playing beer bottles strung to a wire, who goes by the name Catfish the Bottleman.
Humble beginnings at the Bed and Breakfast-
Ryan Evan “Van” McCann and Billy Bibby started playing guitar together at Billy’s parents home; a bed & breakfast in Wales. They were joined by Benjamin Blakeway on bass as the third founding member of the band, and shortly after, inducted schoolmate Jon Barr on drums. In the beginning, they promoted themselves by playing in car parks after other artist’s gigs.
Founding lead guitarist Billy Bibby left the band in the summer of 2014, just before starting a new band, and was replaced by Johnny “Bondy” Bond.
The band signed to Communion Records in 2013, and released their first three singles “Homesick”, “Rango” and “Pacifier” the same year.
Check out the video for “Pacifier” below!
In 2014 the band signed to Island Records and on 17 March released their next single “Kathleen”, which was ranked at number one on MTV’s hottest tracks in April 2014.
Watch the video for “Kathleen” below – I’m diggin’ the psychedelic video effects 🙂
Their debut album The Balcony was released on September 15, 2014, charted at No. 10 in the UK Albums Chart, and was certified gold in the UK on January 9, 2015.
Catfish and the Bottlemen also spent part of 2015 in Los Angeles working on their follow-up album. They were nominated for a BRIT Award early this year, that coincided with the release of their newest single “Soundcheck.”
Watch the video for “Soundcheck” below!
Last month, the band announced via Twitter and Instagram announced the title of their second studio album ‘The Ride’. It releases Friday, May 27th in the UK, and is currently available for pre-order.