Concert Review: Bombay Bicycle Club illuminates The Wiltern

Alejandra Aguilera

The eccentric crowd in The Wiltern created an energized charge as they waited for some of the biggest names in the alternative music scene on Oct. 3.

Luxley, an up and coming band from New Orleans, opened up the four hour long concert. This being their first time in Los Angeles, they gave a great effort to entertain and entertain they did.

As “Mirrors” began, their sound bounced off the walls of The Wiltern and left the audience with a melody that was impossible not to dance to. Not to mention lead singer Ryan Gray’s electrifying dance moves that allowed him to skillfully maneuver the stage in order to weave the crowd towards a 3D performance.

After Luxley’s quick set, and a small intermission, Milo Greene strutted onto the stage. Put simply, the quintet band from Los Angeles was an intimidating force. The talented group has four out of the five members as lead singers, each with a distinct voice. Not only did they present a cinematic aura but they also managed to switch instruments amongst one another during their set.

Once the simple riffs of “White Lies” began, it was impractical to disregard singer Marlana Sheetz’s sensual voice, which in itself, is an understatement. They closed their set with “1957,” sending a folk vibe the crowd couldn’t help but howl to.

Then the theater went dark. The seven circular screens set on the stage lit up, and slowly arose the album cover for “So Long, See You Tomorrow.” Bombay Bicycle Club has finally hit the stage.

The crowd was going crazy for the opening song, “Overdone.” As Jack Steadman’s signature quavering vocals was echoing through the floorboards, special guest Liz Lawrence sang a ghostly backup.

To settle the mood, a spotlight hit Steadman as he softly sang “Eyes Off You.” The crowd clung to the bittersweet melody reciprocating from the piano he was hunched over. As drummer Suren de Saram began to entwine the percussion, a tension arose as the song reached its climax but it quickly wilted away as Steadman was once again the only sound emitting from the speakers.

As if the crowd was still enchanted by the beautiful cadence of Bombay, Steadman asked, “What time is it?” And the stage blazed of reds and yellows.

Steadman began pounding a caribbean beat while a rosy pink cobra suddenly appeared onto the seven screens. It was time to dance to “Feel.” The distinctive Bollywood ambience and the memorable riff guitarist Jamie MacColl created, set forward a wave of applause and shuffling feet.

A majority of Bombay Bicycle Club's set list was from their 2014 album "So Long, See You Tomorrow." Photo by Alejandra Aguilera
A majority of Bombay Bicycle Club’s set list was from their 2014 album “So Long, See You Tomorrow.” Photo by Alejandra Aguilera

The 9-year-old band from Crouch End, London busted out some old gems as well. They played “What If” and “The Giantess” from their 2009 album “I Had the Blues But Shook Them Loose” that sent the crowd down memory lane and led to an array of stomping to the rough beat.

“I hope you guys take me seriously when I say that you’re the best party we’ve had in such a long time,” Steadman exhaustedly said.

And even wilder did it become once Bombay left the stage after singing the sorrowful “So Long, See You Tomorrow.” The crowd wouldn’t accept their downcast departure as they roared for an encore.

Once again Saram hit the stage and created a tribal-like bass, slow and demanding. The crowd matched the beat and Bombay returned with the stimulating “Carry Me” as an animated drawing of a man loomed onto the screens under intense strobe lights.

“I want to thank you all for coming out tonight,” Steadman said. “You guys have been such a great sport.” Bombay Bicycle Club hit center stage and took a final bow.

With Bombay’s closing, the crowd dispersed from under the illuminated, neon sign of The Wiltern. There remained a static buzz ringing under the moon that was so pale and white.