BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB / RAE MORRIS / FLYTE | LIVE REVIEW
Solus, Cardiff University Students Union, Sun 16 Mar
Bombay Bicycle Club have finally returned with their long awaited fourth album So Long, See You Tomorrow. Bringing with it a subtle shift in their light, cheerful indie-pop to include an almost exotic sound, it has quite rightly won the band their first UK number one, ample reward for evident hard work.
Kicking off the show are a funkily vibrant four-piece indie band called Flyte, boasting impressive vocals and catchy tunes. Of particular note is their performance of debut single We Are The Rain, a showcase for their slick harmonies. I’m sure their music will be blasting from radios everywhere soon. Following Flyte up is the very talented singer and pianist Rae Morris, who captures the crowd’s attention with her wild hair and magnetic presence.
As Bombay Bicycle Club arrived on stage I thought I knew what to expect, but my expectations were swiftly blown out of the water. To say this band know how to please an audience would be an understatement. Individual talent and chemistry as a band shine through in equal measure as the set starts with Overdone. A less expected, and somewhat mesmerising, addition are the moving graphics displayed on the circular backdrop throughout the show: as they launch into Feel, hypnotic snakes and serpents fill the screens, creatively capturing the electric atmosphere. Rae Morris is invited to share the stage with the band for Home By Now, boosting an already astounding performance. The energy they all display is contagious and the audience respond in kind.
Frontman Jack Steadman maintained impressive energy levels throughout the set, suggesting that the band’s success had only spurred him on. Something I love about Bombay Bicycle Club is that they seem so grounded even after such success. They clearly love what they do and it makes their shows all the more enjoyable.