Catatonia

Despite the fact that the Britpop era of the nineties is frequently associated with macho posturing - the behaviour of the Gallagher brothers throughout that decade pretty much guaranteed that - it wasn’t by any means a male-dominated genre, with Catatonia serving as proof of that. In the days before she was a BBC 6 Music DJ, Cerys Matthews fronted the Welsh outfit as they experienced huge success with their breakthrough record International Velvet and its follow-up, Equally Cursed and Blessed. The fact that the former’s title track was largely written in Welsh shows that they were in touch with their roots, but otherwise, they pursued that blend of rock and pop that defined the era they were working in. Matthews’ raspy vocals and commanding stage presence were the band’s hallmark, but her health problems forced their dissolution shortly after the release of their fourth album, Paper Scissors Stone, in 2001. Perhaps she couldn’t keep up with their sheer energy of their live shows any more, with a career highlight being their set opening the Rugby World Cup at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in 1999. They continue to be remembered, though, for high-profile singles like ‘Mulder and Scully’ and ‘Road Rage’, so don’t rule out a reunion just yet.

“It’s all over the front page, you give me road rage!”… A line that you most definitely associate with the late 90’s, especially in a harsh over exaggerated Welsh accent.
Who knew that video was a bit of a take on that old silent movie Metamorphosis (which was also featured in Queen’s “Radio Gaga” video). There is alot of association happening as I get all nostalgic thinking about the 90’s. Did someone just say tamagotchi?
Catatonia, lead by fiery south Wales native, Cerys Matthews, walk out on stage to applause. Who needs entrance music hey?
They open with “You’ve Got a Lot to Answer For”, which wasn’t necessarily their biggest single but of course, everyone in the audience is singing their heart out to this single. “Mulder and Scully” is that moment when the band doodle around some of the chords to the song, gradually building it up eventually to find themselves playing the opening bars accompanied by the largest roar of the crowd. The best moment of the evening was of course when they played their song “Road Rage” which was that moment when the audience sings the song much louder than the singer. It is a memorable moment for all those involved.