Bombay Bicycle Club- Leeds O2 Academy 2-3-14 – Author Georgia Leggott
Bombay Bicycle Club are an English indie rock band from Crouch End, London consisting of Jack Steadman Jamie MacColl, Suren de Saram and Ed Nash. The band have a large following through their experimental music consisting of multiple genres, including Folk, Electronica, World Music and Indie Rock. Since 2005 when the band formed it’s fair to say we have seen a lot of progress in their careers so far. The band have bagged a headlining place on the NME stage at Leeds Festival 2014 this summer where no doubt they’ll create a festival experience for everyone to remember.
After a line of success in the music industry and the band’s earlier 2014 release of their debut album and recently revealed new song ‘Carry Me’, their announcement of an early 2014 UK tour was bound to be a sell out, so to see them at such a small venue on the first leg of their tour was an absolute pleasure. ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’ has to surely be one of the best names given to a tour being catchy, poignant and easy to remember. It would seem that before the performance had even begun the gig was already set for success.
As the crowds filtered into the O2 Academy with high anticipations for a good night and an overwhelming performance, the excitement grew. We’ll skip the review of the supports because if I’m brutally honest they will never make a success in the music industry when they’re clearly out shone by one of the greatest bands of the decade. Bombay opened up with an exciting light show to accompany ‘Overdone’ from their 2014 debut album, creating a spectacular feeling of satisfaction to everyone insightful enough to have bought tickets.
Through the course of the night the atmosphere became relaxed and enjoyable as Bombay played a mix of songs from a range of their albums, including latest single ‘Luna’ and ‘Lights Out, Words Gone’. The bouncing that was expected from those few inconsiderate delinquents often present at gigs was non-existent and a more enjoyable swag in time to the beat and flow of the music helped create a pleasant gig experience.
Bombay continued to keep a steady flow and entertain their audience throughout the whole performance, ending with a large applaud. ‘Carry Me’ and ‘What If’ managed to keep the audience in suspense for the encore of the band and were easily just as well performed as any other. The effort placed into the success of the night was beyond belief and the occasional utterances from the stage managed to connect with the audience. Overall, it cannot be denied that Bombay’s stage presence created appeal for everyone present, stirring emotions that will remain memorable for an eternity.
