S.Lo on August 14th, 2019

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Keane packed the Roxy all the way to the back bar and second-tier VIP booths on their special comeback show on Monday night, their first L.A. appearance since early 2013.

One of only two intimate U.S. appearances (the other at New York’s Bowery Ballroom) marking their return, the rural and learned East Sussex band — who helped define the sound of the early- to mid-Aughts with their poetic lyrics, wideswept melodies and lead keyboard instead of guitar — was elated at the full hands-up energy of the crowd. “So this is the end of a lovely little road trip across the United States of America, and this the first time we’ve connected with you guys in seven years and it’s very heartwarming to know you’ve not gone anywhere,” singer Tom Chaplin said.

The patience and anticipation of fans who were able to make it to the show were rewarded with a set that leaned heavily into songs off their debut album, 2004’s “Hopes and Fears,” the ignition of the night’s sweaty romp turning with “Bend and Break.” Delighted at the audience’s enthusiastic reception, Chaplin and the band — Tim Rice-Oxley, Richard Hughes and Jesse Quin — were well-chuffed, “That’s some energy, yeah,” Chaplin said. “You know what? Just carry on like that the rest of the night. That’ll be just fine.” All jubilantly complied, and a broad selection from the band’s catalog followed, including four songs off both 2006’s chart-topping sophomore album “Under the Iron Sea” and their fourth album, 2012’s “Strangeland.” 

After soaring through the latter’s “Silenced By the Night,” Chaplin took a moment to converse with one devotee at the front: “You flew 3,000 miles? Where did you come from, the moon?” After the fan answered Pennsylvania, he incredulously asked, “Why didn’t you come to New York? It was sold out? Well, this song is for you,” leading into the bouncy, optimistic “On the Road.”

Heartstrings were tugged later when they circled back to the first album’s “We Might As Well Be Strangers” before treating the crowd to “The Way I Feel,” the first of three tunes previewed off their upcoming album, “Cause and Effect” (produced by Dave Kosten and the band, out Sept. 20 via Island Records). Thirsty for new songs, longtime fans already knew all the words as they clapped and sang along.

Ecstasy was peaked for some after hearing the second album’s sweeping “Nothing In My Way,” and Keane had more in store as they hit the zenith again a couple songs later with that album’s seminal second track, “Is It Any Wonder?” accompanied by a darkened stage, flashing colorful lights, and massive dancing by both band and audience.  

As Quin and Hughes stepped off the stage for a rest, Chaplin continued in a duet with Rice-Oxley for the tranquil “Try Again,” reams of sweat dripping off both of them. Thanking the crowd for sustaining them, Chaplin said, “You’re so close I can hear you singing, it’s beautiful. I’ve got air in my lungs but you guys really helped.”

All bobbed heads and clapped overhead when the full band returned and rocked the upcoming album’s second single, “Love Too Much.” The quartet then wound the main set down on a high note with a rousing rendition of their debut single from 15 years ago, “Somewhere Only We Know.”

Upon returning for the encore, Chaplin thanked the fervent audience for making “ridiculous noise” singing along, cheering and, at some points, belting the songs back at the band as he held the mic stand out to them. “Chase the Night Away,” a brand new song, was then revealed and all reverently listened before the band reverently listened back to the massive applause that ensued. 

After stunning all yet again with their early single “Crystal Ball”– with the titular lyric “I lost my heart / I buried it too deep / Under the Iron Sea / Oh crystal ball, crystal ball / Save us all / Tell me life is beautiful / Mirror mirror on the wall” — Chaplin quipped, “Definitely we are coming back, in 7 years time… No, at some point early next year, maybe even before that. We’ve also discussed living in L.A. To be close to the beach, restaurants…. Tim said, ‘You’ve described a holiday.’”

They closed the night with the irresistibly danceable “Sovereign Light Café,” looking forward to returning home and preparing for a fall tour throughout the U.K. and Ireland.

Setlist: Bend and Break, Silenced by the Night, On the Road, We Might As Well Be Strangers, The Way I Feel, Spiralling, Bedshaped, Nothing in My Way, You Are Young, My Shadow, This Is the Last Time, Is It Any Wonder?, Try Again, Love Too Much, Everybody’s Changing, Somewhere Only We Know / Encore: Chase the Night Away, Crystal Ball, Sovereign Light Café