Bombay Bicycle Club performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on April 30, 2024. Jane Hu/STAFF

SAN FRANCISCO — The return of Bombay Bicycle Club to the stage, in support of its sixth album, 2023’s My Big Day, felt both natural and electrifying at the band’s sold-out show at the Fillmore on Tuesday.

Lead singer Jack Steadman quickly established a rapport with the audience, announcing that this was the first stop on the tour, which will see the band wind its way around the western U.S. and Mexico before heading back to Europe, where it’s based.

The band took the stage with “Just A Little More Time.” While the raw energy of its earlier days might have been slightly tempered, its signature blend of catchy melodies, clear vocals and intricate instrumentation remained firmly in place.

Bombay Bicycle Club performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on April 30, 2024.

By the time Bombay Bicycle Club launched into the funk-infused “Tekken 2,” the crowd of longtime fans and curious newcomers was ready for the upbeat clap-along. “How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep” was another highlight, with clear soaring guitar lines and introspective repetition. “Evening/Morning” was both sweet and catchy, eliciting cheers, before the band let loose in a fierce drumming outro.

The band indulged in fan favorites like “Driving” and “Everything Else Has Gone Wrong,” the latter an infectious song that built into a loud danceable release. “Flaws,” on the other hand, was a beautiful stripped-down acoustic duet pulled from the band’s second album back in 2010, and attendees responded with quiet respect.

The setl offered a satisfying journey through the band’s discography. As Steadman explained, since he and his bandmates so rarely passed through San Francisco, they wanted to play at least one song off of every album. There was a sense of nostalgic rediscovery, as both Bombay Bicycle Club and the fans celebrated with the music that had brought them together over the years.

Gengahr performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on April 30, 2024.

It was easy to be roused by the joyous energy, especially during the singalong chorus of songs like “Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You).” In fact, it’s this relentless positivity that set this show apart; in a sea of brooding acts, Bombay Bicycle Club just looked like they were having fun. With giant gold balloons spelling “My Big Day” strung up over the stage, the entire evening felt like a birthday celebration.

Opener Gengahr, in its San Francisco debut, provided a fitting introduction with swirling soundscapes, rhythmic drumming and vocal range, creating a catchy atmosphere that seamlessly transitioned into Bombay Bicycle Club’s upbeat performance. Charming lead singer Felix Bushe certainly led the British rock quartet to gain some new fans as the applause grew in volume after every tune.

Follow photographer Jane Hu at Instagram.com/plainjane.