The English band Bastille has made their way into Milwaukee, Wis. performing at the Milwaukee Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 18. This was the theater’s first big headlining concert and the band left behind no disappointment as they filled the elegant theater with their upbeat, alternative-rock styled music. Bastille formed in London in 2010, complete with the talented four members Dan Smith, Chris Wood, William Farquarson and Kyle Simmons. Their name comes from Bastille Day – an event celebrated on lead-singer Smith’s birthday, July 14. After gaining a huge wave of attention from fans and media publicity through YouTube, the band went from being featured on soap operas, to sold out shows and platinum singles.

The show started off with another alternative-rock band with an edgy, electric background, Grizfolk. The band was a perfect fit leading up to Bastille and got the audience pumped and up on their feet. All in all, the band’s music is worth another listen following up the concert.

After Grizfolk’s hour long performance, the time had come for Bastille to take the stage. Lights slowly simmered down to darkness, then the huge illuminated triangle screen, the group’s symbol, lit up the theater playing a variation of clips of the band’s journey climaxing to Bastille’s first song “Things We Lost In The Fire.” The band of course played their well known and award winning songs, “Pompeii” and “Flaws.” In addition to playing original songs off of their album “Bad Blood,” the band covered TLC’s “No Scrubs” which was not a disappointing throwback. Not only were  Smith’s dancing and vocals impressive, Bastille as a whole carried a persona of passion and energetic fun that achieved all around entertainment for the crowd.

Bastille went above and beyond any of my expectations and are a “must see” for anyone interested in an unforgettable, entertaining and awesome music experience.