Reading Festival 2012: Bombay Bicycle Club
Liz Crosthwaite • Published 22 Aug 2012 18:00
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FOR a band named after a popular brand of curry restaurants, the rather unassuming quartet Bombay Bicycle Club have come pretty far since forming at the tender age of 15 - clocking up an Ivor Novello nomination, Top 10 albums (2010's Flaws and 2011's A Different Kind Of Fix), as well as playing the Olympic closing ceremony concert in Hyde Park.
The Guide caught up with the guitarist Jamie MacColl during their July US tour to find out how things were going in the Club, and what the band have got in store for us at this August Bank Holiday weekend...
The Guide: You've completed the A Different Kind Of Fix releases with recent single Beg - where to now?
Jamie: "We've already started writing and demoing the next album and there's a few songs that we've started playing live too. I imagine that we'll start recording it in January 2013, touch wood."
You first played Reading Festival in 2007, with a short set on the Carling Stage. Do you have some memories from your sets?
"We first went to Reading when we were 16 as punters for the classic post GCSE trip. I don't really remember seeing that many bands but I do remember seeing Klaxons just before they got huge and my friend doing a poo out of
a tree!
"We played for the first time a year later when we were 17 and it still stands out as one of my favourite gigs; we were on at about 11.45am but despite that we packed the tent and it was the first time I realised how many people liked the band."
How do you go about choosing a festival set? Is it about the crowd-pleasers, or do you like to throw in some B-sides and more obscure album tracks?
"I personally think it's just about playing the hits and the crowd pleasers so that's what we do!"
Your music has a pretty chilled vibe, but you seem to have a knack for whipping up moshpits, why do you think that is?
"We always seem to have moshpits at the most inappropriate moments during some of the quieter songs.
"I think it's mainly from having a young audience that just want to fight/jump around regardless of what is playing.
"It's interesting that it only really seems to be in the UK that this happens and in particular at Reading."
You've been a band since you were in your early teens - what's the secret to staying together?
"I would say financial equality, breaks from touring and a shared interest in the same type of music. Oh, and most importantly being friends."
TOP FESTIVAL TIP
"Have low expectations about hygiene and comfort."
The band play the Main Stage on Friday.
This article appeared in Bracknell News 16 Aug 12
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