When The Bees took flight in 2002, we were introduced to a grizzly bunch - all beards and bobble hats cramped into a crumbling shed made up their debut video. There was something unique, obtuse and homemade amongst a flurry of trumpets, Hammond and recorders that shot the retro breeze. The Bees were a definitively hazy two fingers to the man, and were content in bumbling along at their own leisurely pace.

Two years on and they presumably burnt the shed and took a cab to Abbey Road to fully realise the wider picture, injecting a broader, colourful energy into their tunes. ‘Free The Bees’ became the soundtrack to the summer with a definite nod to the influence of The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson – here were a plethora of catchy, sixties inspired songs that filled out on previous half-baked ideas and brought The Bees out of their shell. This evening is a celebration of how far the band have drifted from confined spaces. The Ritz is near bursting, and without a memorable hit single to their name, that’s some accomplishment.

Opening on ‘Punchbag’, The Bees have grown up, emitting an almost cocksure belief in themselves, and it’s contagious. From a demeanour of retiring hermits, the plaudits have shaken forth a confidence to own the stage, and the venue is buzzing. The suitably nonchalant, and fantastic sixties pop of ‘One Glass of Water’ is subtly slowed, but bursts with an infectious hook and melody that verges on the dizzy. The ludicrous funk of ’Chicken Payback’ sends the notoriously shaky Ritz staff to grab whatever they can in case the place combusts. These moments however, are all too often interspersed by monotonous jazzy freeform. There is no doubting The Bees’ ability to elongate and elaborate, but there is definitely hushed glancing at watches as the sixth minute of trumpet parping kicks in.

Crucially though, The Bees are about heading where they wish, regardless of the response. Equal parts Beach Boys as they are drowsy chill-out lynchpins Zero 7, The Bees are building on their expansive following by being as reliable as they are unpredictable. It sure beats the hell out of Athlete.