What does it feel like to return to the music industry more than 20 years after a hit single? You may or may not have heard of bôa (I’ll confess I hadn’t) but the story is more than intriguing and a very interesting sign of the times. I’ll let their PR explain:
“In 1998, British alt-rock band bôa dropped their breakout single “Duvet”, a sweeping anthem that went on to soundtrack the Japanese cult-classic anime, Serial Experiments Lain. A little more than two decades later… “Duvet” re-emerged anew on TikTok, igniting a feverish renewed interest in the band (today “Duvet” boasts over 450 million streams on Spotify alone, inspiring bôa to return to the studio to record their first new music in almost 20 years).
In between, the members of bôa have simply lived life… Vocalist-guitarist Jasmine Rodgers studied zoology, alongside releasing solo music. Bassist Alex Caird threw himself into art, painting and teaching music. And drummer Lee Sullivan ensconced himself in family life, while writing and producing music. All the while, they kept in touch.
That time apart gave them a heap of life’s experiences for their first full-length album in over twenty years, ‘Whiplash’, which arrived late last year…”
And so here I am about to witness the live gig comeback first hand. Before that however, Luxembourg indie artist Francis of Delirium opens things up.
It feels like a good portion of the crowd are here to see the support too. That crowd, much younger than I’d imagined (but then… er… TikTok…), gather at the front of the stage delighting in a celebration of openness and vulnerability through “homemade rock from our hearts to yours“. Check out the debut album “Lighthouse” which I’ve enjoyed immensely since the gig. Also please note the homemade trousers worn by Jana Bahrich in the photographs below, they were quite rightly a great source of pride.
Then it’s time for bôa. I felt genuinely excited about welcoming this band onto the stage. I can’t really imagine what the return to a crowded house 20 years later feels like, but if the joy and energy from lead vocalist Jasmine is anything to go by, it must feel pretty good.
I’ve included a picture of the set list below for the superfans, and there are many better qualified than me who will write about each track, so I’ll leave that to them. I loved what I heard and I will say pretty much every song was welcomed with squeals of delight from the crowd.
This wasn’t about waiting patiently for the big hit to be played (which you’ll see was kept for last and you can listen to it here). This is a band who have found a new fan base, who love both what they did before and what they’re doing now. It was quite a thing to witness; inspiring and heartening, joyful and very very cool. So fair play TikTok. I’ve avoided you thus far but maybe the kids are right and there’s something in it…
Follow bôa on Instagram | TikTok | Bandcamp
Review and photography by Breige Cobane
Keep up to date with all new content on Joyzine via our
Facebook | Bluesky | Instagram | Threads | Mailing List