Bombay Bicycle Club: Rock and Soul

A little taste of the unexpected at Bombay Bicycle Club

The vibe: A rock and roll bar with all the ‘tude and none of the brawls. Bombay knows exactly the kind of bar it is. It sends a subliminal “Piss off!” to conformity and those that embody it. The black walls, graffiti-inspired art and name of this joint will have you believe this music-driven escape from mainstream Des Moines is a hard core rock and roll bar. And you’d be half-right. Bikers, skinheads, and tattoo artists have been known to make themselves at home, but vanilla locals who do stumble upon it elicit hard-drinking alter-egos that revel in the novelty of the space. But you can also be a hipster, yuppie or a prima donna for all BBC cares, just show some respect and don’t order a Sex on the Beach. Musical integrity reigns here with an iron fist. The BBC knows eclecticism and undeniable taste when it hears it and opens the stage to everything from alternative to acoustic country to ska/electronica, solidifying Bombay as the go-to music venue in DM’s suburban parts.

Call it dark. Call it quirky. Just don’t call it typical or uninspired. The world’s fattest twins riding hogs grace the back wall of the stage area, complete with a small dance floor for high energy acts. Imported damask wallpaper covers the opposite corner around the pool tables (something they threw in for the ladies), ultra-mod light fixtures dazzle above the bar top and deconstructed bikes lend a retro rawness to the place and—is that a 19^th century sette next to the jukebox? What to say? A little Victorian-junkyard-retro motif does a bar good.

The service: Down to earth. While they take their mission as a gateway to musical influence in DM seriously, you won’t see any high noses here. Plopping beers expectantly at an empty seat once a regular darkens the door is usual business. BBC thrives on its reputation for being unlike any other bar in Des Moines. The open-minded or dare we say, slightly off-kilter, customer adds just as much to the place as the décor. Which is why they’ll treat you well here. Case in point: Vinyl Mondays make a call for patrons to bring in their records to serve as the night’s background music. Game days see patrons create an impromptu, free potluck that’s open to the house, whether you chipped in or not. Even the struggling musician finds a respite here: if you show what you’re made of at the Best Band Contest, your act could win a year-long standing gig at Bombay, recording session, photo shoot, and more. Then again, play Top 40 rap on the jukebox and they’ll skip the song. It’s for your own good. You know that friend you had growing up with the cool parents that let you get away with most stuff so long as you weren’t an idiot? That’s Bombay Bicycle Club.

The libation: Nothing fruity. Not in a cocktail, not in a shot, not even vodka on the rocks that happens to be grape-flavored. Even Long Islands are frowned upon. Yes, they do have wine. No, there’s no telling the last time they uncorked one. Here, 40’s are served in traditional brown paper bags. Thirty beers are on tap and they just as proudly draw PBR as they do Leinenhugel’s Fireside Nut Spice—a rare treat of a winter seasonal, by the way. Plus, they’re adding more craft brews by the month. Meet Market Thursdays are the time to get your drink on, though. Now, sit down for this one: twenty-five cent draws, $1 vodka/red bulls, and $2 everything else. Now if only they still served those Cap’n Crunch coated chicken fingers…

If you’re sick of the usual bar scene, this is the place you’ve been looking for to “mix it up”.

Location: 8410 Hickman Rd. Clive, IA. 50324.

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 4 p.m. – 2 a.m.; Friday – Sunday, 3 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Phone: 515-270-6274

Website: http://www.bombaydsm.com