“It was an out of body experience…I feel enlightened!” The description I gave people who asked me how I liked the Catfish and the Bottlemen concert I went to last week. On the drive downtown, I was excited, but I had absolutely no clue what was in store for the night.

Expectations:

Honestly, I don’t know why, but I was expecting a very impersonal concert. I think this is because even though I love the band, they’re still a bit of a mystery to me. All I knew about them was the way they sounded on their albums. I’d never watched any interviews they’d been featured in and I’d only glance at their social media. I was expecting a grumpy lead singer surrounded by a seemingly indifferent band, who sang the songs they were required to and quickly hopped off stage. Kind of like something you’d see in a movie.

Reality:

Catfish and the Bottlemen took the stage full force and brought everything they had in them to their performance. The entire band was having the time of their lives and by the looks on their faces, they were impressed with the level of the crowd’s energy. I can’t remember the last time I danced that hard at a concert, but it’s honestly an amazing feeling. Everyone moved in sync with the rhythm of each song and screamed the lyrics at the top of their lungs. With a perfect mix of songs from each of their albums they totally rocked. To top it off, I realized that they are everything I aspire to be as a musician. Edgy yet vulnerable. Inspired and inspiring! I loved their performance so much that I’m planning a trip to see them in a different city when they come back the US.

Meeting Van McCann after the show was a huge bonus!!

If you have the chance to see Catfish and the Bottlemen live, I highly recommend it! They definitely know how to put on a show, and how to put a crowd in a trance!

-Swaggie Maggie