Bombay Bicycle Club are behind the main stage, them perching precariously on a platform and us hovering. There are offers of sitting down but having no upper body arm strength I decline the suggestion of jumping up and making a tit of myself. “Remember that party,” jumps in one of the band as I dither into standing position. “The one where we got fucked? Tell her about that…”

Looking up hopefully all I receive is an affirmative and nonchalant “We got fucked.” Moving slightly on to ask them how their set went we were told; “People were fighting, I mean really fighting in two big circles…”

Noting that Bombay Bicycle Club seem to have more of a penchant for jangly, Good Shoes-esque guitars and dry, observational lyrics rather than Slipknot rock this seems a bit silly. “No really, I think people are just waiting for music- any music- and then getting up and fighting. He got a coin thrown at him!”

This is indeed true as a fellow band mate lifts up a floppy fringe to reveal quite a gash. Is this a reaction expected from the band? “Not at all- our music wasn’t written to inspire that.”

Unless the money being thrown was in the form of a £50 note I also nod in assent, no one needs 2p’s being thrown at their heads. Despite this rather violent turn of events though their set went down rather well from where we were standing. Their mix of lo-fi guitar and jittering vocals compacted into tight and catchy songs mean that they are serious contenders for one of the best bands playing the festival. Songs like ’How Are You’ and ’Open House’ show a mature lyrical style for their ages. “I think you need to see the world- go exploring, climb a mountain, visit India… Or at least find a theme. I find once you have a theme it’s easier to construct a song”. Bombay Bicycle Club also embraced the DIY ethic from an early stage releasing their previous singles on their own label Mmm Records.

“We met at school but didn’t want to try and ‘go out there’ as a band so early on- you know what I mean? Now we’ve brought out a single with Young and Lost and we’ve got a tour coming up soon- that’s exciting.” Their new single ’Evening/Morning’ certainly is a twisting melting pot of pop euphoria as those jarring yet wholly engaging vocals begin over the deft guitars and sure drumming. Tender years evidently don’t dent talent (as can be seen in other contemporaries Cajun Dance Party too) and I doubt there will be any whiff of precocious attitudes from them.

Guy Purssell & Jade French

Bombay Bicycle Club Official Site

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