Bombay Bicycle Club

Kieran Raza 12 February 2024

The beloved powerhouse indie band Bombay Bicycle Club seem to have quite a committed love affair with Norwich. Almost 20 years into their career, this is their 5th appearance in the city in support of their 2023 album “My Big Day”. And the packed-out Friday night crowd makes it easy to see what keeps them coming back time and time again. It felt like quite the nostalgia trip for me, having seen them in the very same venue as an 18-year-old in the final years of my A Levels.

The stage was set like an early 2000s The Strokes music video, crowded with huge balloons and delightful rainbow streamers at the back. The scene was set like the greatest birthday party ever, akin to the album title “My Big Day”.

The up-and-coming Lime Garden wooed the early comers as support. They perfectly combined bountiful instrumentals, tantalisingly gruffly vocals and light synths akin to some of the headline act’s earlier work. They plugged their debut album out in a few weeks, and I won’t be surprised if they follow the path of Wet Leg and The Last Dinner Party to be all over the music scene this year.

Like a wonderful family of misfits, Bombay Bicycle Club’s members took to the stage filling every piece of space they could. Whilst there are four core members, they wouldn’t be able to create the magical flurry of enigmatic brass and high-octane drums without an enormous live band. They almost resemble a travelling musical circus family, that welcomes the audience to join them with open arms.

They wasted no time getting into the classics with the euphoric Bollywood esq vibrancy of “Feel” easing the crowd out of their shell. It took a while for everyone to warm up, but in no time everyone in the room succumbed to their irresistible hip shaking melodies. An innovative cover of Selena Gomez’s “Lose You to Love Me” was a welcome early surprise to the setlist, showcasing impressive innovation transforming the somber ballad into an enigmatic anthem.

They didn’t leave much time to rest barrelling from one song to the next, covering their vast discography. They humorously apologised for their eerily apt “Everything Else Has Gone Wrong” that came out just before the pandemic (which thankfully hasn’t tarnished its joyously chaotic spectacle live). A stripped performance of “Flaws” allowed for a sentimental interlude, showing off the group’s phenomenal sonic range.

The finale of “Always Like This” perfectly encapsulated everything that makes Bombay Bicycle Club one of the greatest live bands in the British music industry right now. They encapsulate human emotions into an intoxicating concoction of wondrous instrumentals, and easily sing-alongeable lyrics that speak to the soul. It feels a great privilege to witness their craft, and for a few hours it felt like everyone in that room was brought together. Long may the band continue to return to Norwich sharing their legacy and inspiring hearts.