Live Review: Bombay Bicycle Club, Cardiff Student's Union The Great Hall 24/01/2020 - Scientists of Sound

With their new album 'Everything Else Has Gone Wrong' just a week old to the day, Bombay Bicycle Club took to Cardiff's Student Union on Friday in support which proved to be another resounding sold-out success. Having recently been lucky enough to see the band return to the stage at their 10 year anniversary tour in Bath, it was safe to say it was like they'd never been away and their performance in the Welsh Capital evidently backed this up.

Opening with two new tracks from the record, the crowd responded well by singing back each and every word, which has always amazed me to see how quickly fans learn the lyrics. Jack exclaimed his thanks saying it was the loudest reception they'd received thus far before indulging everyone to Overdone and Feel, taken from their fourth album 'So Long, See You Tomorrow'.

The band seemed genuinely happy to be back on stage and playing the music they love which transposed in to the crowd as they jumped and danced amongst the dazzling epilepsy induced lights. This was a set list like none other and one that was well crafted, pitting old against new. The differentiating factors in each release came together and flowed seamlessly as the band switched between the soft croons of Good Day to the energising Luna and crowd pleasing Shuffle. The intricacies of their instrumentation are another well thought out concept, with piano keys and large scale percussion adding further layers of shimmer to their progressive sound, not to mention a trio of brass players to show just how far they've come from 4 guitar swinging indie poster boys from London.

As the night rolled in to its final stages they weren't about to let fans go home empty handed as they rattled through some of their debut album's best hits including Lamplight and a raucous performance of Cancel On Me which saw Suren's most ferocious playing take the limelight as everyone lost themselves amongst his crashing cathartic finale.

Despite the album's newness, it would seem fan favourites were already developing as they returned for a two track encore with the album's title track receiving great applause before turning the already carnival atmosphere inside up to 10 as the energetic live rendition of Always Like This bounced around hall.

Bombay Bicycle Club's return couldn't have come at a darker time for the UK, yet despite this, their message has been the wake up call we've all very much needed. Yes, the world might be crumbling around you, but there's always a bright side to be had somewhere. It's safe to say Jack, Ed, Jamie and Suren are back in a bigger way than ever before. Let's just hope they don't leave it another 6 years before returning to the city.

Bombay Bicycle Club continue their tour at the following dates:

Jan 29 Wed Glasgow, Scotland · Barrowland Ballroom
Feb 1 Sat Brighton, England · The Brighton Centre
Feb 3 Mon Stretford, England · O2 Victoria Warehouse
Feb 4 Tue Sheffield, GB · O2 Academy Sheffield
Feb 7 Fri London, England · Alexandra Palace
Feb 8 Sat London, England · Alexandra Palace
Feb 11 Tue Dublin, County Dublin · Vicar Street
Feb 12 Wed Belfast, Northern Ireland · Ulster Hall