Local Talk: The Rotanas

Features

Aiyush Pachnanda

08 May 2018

Tuesday May 2nd 2018 marked one year since Cardiff-based rock band ‘The Rotanas’ came to fruition.

It seemed apt that their show with This Feeling on May 3rd aligned with this date...

Comprising of singer Harry Watton, guitarist and songwriter James Wilson, bassist Aled Owen and drummer Dave Lewis, The Rotanas have coined themselves as being a ‘grit pop’ band taking influence from 90s Britpop bands such as Supergrass, Suede and Oasis while injecting it with modern influences, adding a grittier, grunge-inspired edge therefore creating ‘Gritpop’. It’s fair to say that this was their biggest gig to date.

Hunter From Fremonte opened the night with their infectious indie-pop sound, with bedford-based ‘The Scruff’ wowing the crowd with their powerful driving rock sound and visceral ballads, leaving the stage empty for The Rotanas themselves. The occasion didn’t seem to intimidate them in the slightest, as they powerfully blasted into opening track ‘Hope and Wonder’.

Despite technical difficulties, they overcame them with apparent ease with Watton’s stage presence and vocal ability shining through in the choruses. The rhythm section provided by Owen and Lewis provided a strong and sturdy backbone for Wilson to decorate with shimmering lead lines, leading into their second song ‘Man For The Job’.

Despite being around for only a year it seemed as though the boys had been playing together for decades. They rose to the occasion superbly and although their confidence could be seen as cockiness, they walk-the-walk well enough to warrant the attitude they possess.

They used the opportunity to test some new material as Watton explained onstage, playing two songs ‘Sugar’ and ‘Tell Me A Lie’ which had never been played live before. Wilson’s songwriting is explorative but familiar and despite the two songs being debuted live there and then, the fond reaction of the audience told me that it wouldn’t be long before these songs would be played and sung many times more on Cardiff’s famous Womanby Street.

The Rotanas have just finished recording their debut EP with Curig Huws and the second to last track, ‘Meet your Maker,’ is one of the tracks that will be on the record. The boys are quoted as saying ‘Britpop music is great to take inspiration from but you need to put a new spin on it to keep it interesting’ in an interview with Intiwn promotion company, and this particular track is an example of Wilson doing just that.

Although the capo-laden guitar work in the chorus could fool you into thinking its an Oasis inspired singalong, the verses say otherwise with a driving bassline Krist Novoselic would be proud of. This warmed up the crowd for the finisher and highlight of the night, ‘Fuel For The Youth’.

Although The Rotanas haven’t released this track to the world yet, it didn’t seem to matter. The song started slow and very subtle with a gently picked guitar line, but when the chorus crashed in the whole room was set alight. The entire front section of the crowd had their arms in the air singing along to every single word, with all band members singing it back to them.

The bond between the audience and the band was very evident as the chorus proved to me and for all, I knew I could have been watching Oasis at Knebworth in 96. It was a fitting end to what was a very successful night for the 4 young lads and they stepped offstage to raucous chants of ‘RO-TA-NAS, RO-TA-NAS’.

 

It seemed to me as though their intention was to write songs for the terrace which they greatly succeeded in. Often bands that write this style of song wear me out without providing much originality, but The Rotanas hand this in bundles. The boys are due to release their first proper single in September with a full EP arriving late December/early January and I fully suggest you take note. The Rotanas are here to stay for a long time.