Bombay Bicycle Club Takes on Beanfield Theatre: Leaves Us Wanting ‘Just A Little More Time.’

Shot and written by Eva Lynch

March 16th, 2024

Montreal, QC @ Beanfield Theatre

I made it to Beanfield towards the end of the Florida-based rock band Mustard Service’s set and managed to catch the end of their opening show, which was full of great energy, blending together funky jazz and beach rock vibes as they shredded their way through the last couple songs. The self-described band is made up of five boys who just want a good time, and they absolutely deliver. They cite Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mild High Club, and Mac Demarco as big influences which is more than evident in their playful and complex guitar riffs that flow between each song. Further, all five members have Latin heritage and speak some amount of Spanish, so the band frequently uses elements of Latin music, particularly bossa nova, in their songs which makes for memorable and incredibly danceable hits. They ended their performance with a cover of “Can't Take My Eyes Off You”, which has the crowd going wild and chanting for an encore
as they leave the stage in anticipation of Bombay Bicycle Club.

Almost two decades since their formation, Bombay Bicycle Club still have their finger on the pulse of Indie music. The crowd at Beanfield Theatre came alive on Friday, for their first tour in almost a decade, following the indie-rock quartet’s creative hiatus. In 2019, the band released a statement on Twitter (X) sharing that: "Since late [2018] we've been getting back into the swing of playing music together. More than anything it just felt great to be in the same room playing again. It made us realize what a good thing we have and has given us renewed energy and enthusiasm for the future." The band had been playing together since they were 15 years old, when they named themselves after a restaurant in North London and never looked back, until their recent hiatus which offered all its members a chance to think about what drives them and step away to test out some solo material and careers, citing the desire to break away from the ‘conveyor belt’ Bombay Bicycle Club found themselves in and reorient their passion and music. But it’s easy to say they are back and better than ever.

The night is alive and well, as Bombay Bicycle Club began the evening with a bang, breaking into their song “Just A Little More Time”. The band comments on the way that people in North America are less self-conscious than London, as people dance and flail in the pit from the very first note. On stage, frontman Jack Steadman, otherwise known as Mr. Jukes, and guitarist Jamie MacColl are dancing around each other in circles as they riff back and forth, alternating leads in a well rehearsed dance which helps bring an electric energy to the stage. Everyone is so in sync, it comes as an extra surprise when the band reveals that their usual drummer had a family emergency the day before so at the drop of a hat, their drum tech learned all the lyrics and filled in as their drummer so the show could continue.

A highlight of the evening was Bombay Bicycle Club’s performance of “Tekken 2,” a song about no longer worrying about what people think of you and wanting to have a good time. It typically features Chaka Khan, however a member of their touring band, Olive Jones, stepped up and smashed it, taking her moment in the spotlight to come to center stage and belt, as Steadman got a disco-hand jive started through the crowd.

Their sound and energy feels built for bigger crowds and venues and getting to
see them own the stage at Beanfield is a real pleasure. Everything about Bombay Bicycle Club's show was fun, lively and joyful, even during their quiet or slower, more introspective moments, they channeled their energy in a way that managed to remain energized and entertaining and leave the crowd feeling good. While it’s been years since their last Canadian tour and it feels and sounds like they haven’t aged a day, and by the end of the night has us all wanting ‘just a little more time’ or for the show to never end.