When the men from indie-rock band Bombay Bicycle Club stepped on Club Congress’ stage Friday night with guitars in hand, the venue’s sold out, all standing audience members hollered and clapped with excitement. There was a moment directly preceding the headlining act’s appearance on stage that concert enthusiasts might well recognize, when anticipation filled the art-decorated rock club.
The four men, all 24 or under, opened with the upbeat song “It’s Alright Now,” the second track from their most recent album, So Long, See You Tomorrow. Each member wore a simple black button-up shirt, initially appearing as silhouettes against the yellow and red flashing stage lights.
The night did not lack energy, due to the band’s passionate playing. Frontman Jack Steadman took center stage, rocking a red-strapped guitar. To his right, guitarist/vocalist Jamie MacColl danced or jumped about onstage. Bassist Ed Nash’s shoulder-length hair whipped around between the blinking of strobe lights. Drummer Suren de Saram may have been the least visible onstage between the fog and lights, but his tempo was the cause of the audience’s clapping hands.
When the band welcomed to the stage backing vocalist Liz Lawrence, who is touring with Bombay Bicycle Club, the harmonies took on an even deeper emotional quality. After Lawrence’s introduction, the band began with the harmony-rich song “Home By Now.” In one of the most moving moments of the night, Steadman stepped away from the microphone at the song’s end and the audience collectively continued, echoing the lyrics.
Audience members’ heads nodded and swayed just as much to the electric songs from the band’s recent fourth album as to some of its older material. When Steadman repeated lyrics from “Evening/Morning,” a song off Bombay Bicycle Club’s 2009 album, the audience’s appreciation was evident as people clapped and sung along.
As Bombay Bicycle Club seemed to finish its set, cheering turned to chanting for one more song. After a few moments, the band returned to stage with blue lights and drums pounding, Steadman greeting the enthusiasm of the audience by saying, “This is definitely the friendliest city we’ve been to in a while.”
Steadman wrote and produced all the songs on Bombay Bicycle Club’s most recent album. After the show, he took a few minutes from the group with vinyl or T-shirts in hand to be signed, speaking in his British accent about how important it was for the band to enjoy the performance, especially in a city they’ve never before visited.
“I think the audience can tell we’re having a good time on stage,” Steadman said. “Hopefully that’s infectious.”
