Bombay Bicycle Club’s debut appearance at the York Barbican was furnished not unlike the set of a Skins season finale, with a light-spangled backdrop of stars, shadows and glowing glass baubles to compliment a crowd of manic teenagers. However, as the act begun, in shadows behind an elusive blue gauze, it was impossible not to feel your anticipation rising in time with their pulsing drum beats, which climaxed in a crash and burst of gold light, unveiling the presence of the four young musicians, crowned kings of fairytale fey.
Bombay Bicycle Club have truly captured the transience of youth, flitting erratically and courageously between their energetic indie-pop debut, a short hiatus in the form of Mumfordian follow-up album Flaws, and finally, fully-fledged now, the soft yet sprightly sounds of indie summers to come, A Different Kind of Fix radiating a soulful mix of euphoric piano samples and bittersweet lyrics.
These diverse styles came across in their York performance as the audience erupted into (quite a civilised) mosh-pit in response to the upbeat and tireless performance given by Jack Steadman on guitar and resolutely waved their LED phone screens in rapture to the celestial chords of Steadman and singer/songwriter Lucy Rose on piano, performing their collaborated work from the album Flaws.
Other highlights included supporting act Leanne La Havas, definitely one to watch, who gave a sensational introduction to the night ahead, captivating the audience with her slow and sultry voice and deeply introspective lyrics.