Kansas City based The Greeting Committee primed the crowd for Bombay Bicycle Club with. They gave more energy than I’ve seen out of any opening act, and that energy was certainly reciprocated from the rapidly filling crowd. The live performance among the young musicians on stage was tight technically and theatrically.
Bombay Bicycle Club (named after a defunct chain of Indian restaurants in North London) reunited with devoted fans at The Mayan Thursday night. In January 2016, the band announced an indefinite hiatus, citing that “after ten years of doing this we thought it was time for all of us to try something else”, with many members going on to record solo material. Exactly a year after announcing the end of that hiatus, Bombay Bicycle Club are set to release their fifth album, Everything Else Has Gone Wrong, on January 17, 2020. They’ve been in LA recording the new tracks for the last couple weeks.
The set appeased a crowd that hadn’t heard their favorite songs live in numerous years. They opened with “Emergency Contraception Blues” off their debut record. Tracks off the esteemed So Long, See You Tomorrow, released in 2014, included “Overdone,” “It’s Alright Now,” “Feel,” “Luna,” and “Home By Now.” 2011’s A Different Kind of Fix also had its time to shine with “Shuffle,” “Your Eyes,” and “How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep.”
Bodies sloshed when the crunchy bass line of their debut single from 2008 “Evening/Morning” dropped, and the tension the musicians built by waiting (and waiting and waiting) to bring the melody back before the outro riled the concert-goers up even more.
The crowd screamed the lyrics of their newest track, the euphorically anthemic “Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You),” back at the obviously joyous musicians.
A handful of other tracks of the upcoming release were also played, including the titular track “Everything Else Has Gone Wrong.” A full blown dance party ensued during “It’s Always Like This” before the encore of “Carry Me.”
Considering the ample time that has passed since their last tour, Bombay Bicycle Club have not missed a beat. And I’d say they agree; they noted on more than one occasion, “this is the greatest show ever.”
Words & Photos by Kirby Gladstein
Photos: Bombay Bicycle Club at The Mayan LA
Photos: The Greeting Committee at The Mayan LA
