BLOG PARTY.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Kele: Dolan's Warehouse, Limerick, Ireland, 14.05.10
Kele played his first gig without the other Bloc Party boys last night in Limerick, performing mostly tracks from his forthcoming album, 'The Boxer', as well as a few Bloc Party oldies. Read NME's report below, followed by a video of 'Walk Tall'!
[Setlist]
Kele played his first gig without the other Bloc Party boys last night in Limerick, performing mostly tracks from his forthcoming album, 'The Boxer', as well as a few Bloc Party oldies. Read NME's report below, followed by a video of 'Walk Tall'!
"Bloc Party singer Kele Okereke played his first ever solo show in Ireland last night (May 14). Mixing new songs from his forthcoming debut 'The Boxer' with a handful of remixed tracks from Bloc Party's back catalogue, the show in Limerick marked the unveiling of his new, dance-orientated musical direction.
Prior to his arrival on stage, everyone in the crowd at Dolan's Warehouse was encouraged to pick up a free shot of Jagermeister in order to share a toast with Kele, who announced. "It’s a special occasion, so I thought I’d buy everyone a drink!" when he arrived shortly after 10.30pm.
With many of the crowd unsure what to expect from the show, during proto-dubstep opener 'Walk Tall' the audience remained relatively still until Kele followed it up with 'On The Lam'. After a handful of new tracks - including 'The Other Side', which was momentarily interrupted after Kele feared a crowd member had stolen his maracas – he indulged his fans with a medley of remixed Bloc Party songs, culminating in a rapturously received 'One More Chance'.
The biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for Kele's debut solo single 'Tenderoni' though, which saw the singer mount a high speaker stack before nearly losing his footing. Only once during the show did the singer perform on guitar, for new song 'Unholy Thoughts', before he played new song 'Rise' and returned for the encore which culminated in Bloc Party's hit single 'Flux', which he referred to as "a song by a band I used to be in""
[Setlist]
Walk Tall / On The Lam / Meet Me In The Middle / The Other Side / Everything You Wanted / Blue Light / The Prayer / One More Chance / Tenderoni / Unholy Thoughts / Rise / All The Things I Could Never Say / Flux
'Walk Tall' in Limerick: Screaming fans, cornrows and grimey beats
Labels: Gig_reviews, Kele, Setlists, Solo_projects
¶ 10:27 PM 3 comments links to this post
Monday, August 31, 2009
Leeds and Reading Festivals, 29.08.09 & 30.08.09
[Leeds Setlist]
[Reading Setlist]
[Leeds Setlist]
One Month Off / Hunting For Witches / Positive Tension / Signs / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / One More Chance / Mercury / So Here We Are / The Prayer / Flux / Helicopter
[Reading Setlist]
So Here We Are / Hunting For Witches / Positive Tension / Talons / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / Two More Years / One More Chance / Mercury / This Modern Love / The Prayer / Flux / Helicopter
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 7:12 AM 5 comments links to this post
Sunday, March 29, 2009
New York City, NY - Terminal 5, 25.03.09
[Setlist]
[Setlist]
Trojan Horse / Halo / Hunting For Witches / Positive Tension / Biko / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / Blue Light / Uniform / The Marshals Are Dead (!) / Mercury / This Modern Love / The Prayer
Sunday / Price Of Gasoline / Flux / Helicopter
Sunday / Price Of Gasoline / Flux / Helicopter
Ares / Like Eating Glass
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 6:56 PM 1 comments links to this post
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
New York City, NY - Terminal 5, 24.03.09
[Setlist]
[Setlist]
One Month Off / Trojan Horse / Hunting For Witches / Positive Tension / Signs / Waiting For The 7.18 / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / Where Is Home? / Ion Square / Mercury / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass
Halo / The Prayer / Flux / Helicopter
Ares / This Modern Love
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 6:51 PM 5 comments links to this post
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Ottawa, ONT - Bronson Centre, 17.03.09
[Setlist]
[Review]
I am still speechless. Ottawa crowds have a tendency to be pretty unenthusiastic, a lot of people were sitting in the balcony for the first half of the set. It wasn't until 'Mercury' when Kele made his way through the crowd that everyone really started to get into it and show some enthusiasm. After 'This Modern Love', Matt called Kele over to his set and pointed in the direction of me and my friend, who had been dancing like fools in the front row the entire time. Then they start 'The Prayer', by which point Matt comes down from his set and the next thing I know he has grabbed my arms and heaved me on to the stage. Kele pulls up my friend. A bunch of other people took it as an invitation to jump up on the stage, which was cool and we had a dance party on the stage during 'The Prayer'. After that, the crowd was insane, unlike anything I had seen at that venue before. Tonight was possibly one of the most thrilling shows I have ever attended and I hope they come back soon...
Alyssa Stals
[Setlist]
One Month Off / Trojan Horse / Hunting For Witches / Positive Tension / Signs / Waiting For The 7.18 / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / Where Is Home? / Ion Square / Mercury / This Modern Love / The Prayer
Halo / Price Of Gasoline / Flux / Helicopter
Ares / Like Eating Glass
[Review]
I am still speechless. Ottawa crowds have a tendency to be pretty unenthusiastic, a lot of people were sitting in the balcony for the first half of the set. It wasn't until 'Mercury' when Kele made his way through the crowd that everyone really started to get into it and show some enthusiasm. After 'This Modern Love', Matt called Kele over to his set and pointed in the direction of me and my friend, who had been dancing like fools in the front row the entire time. Then they start 'The Prayer', by which point Matt comes down from his set and the next thing I know he has grabbed my arms and heaved me on to the stage. Kele pulls up my friend. A bunch of other people took it as an invitation to jump up on the stage, which was cool and we had a dance party on the stage during 'The Prayer'. After that, the crowd was insane, unlike anything I had seen at that venue before. Tonight was possibly one of the most thrilling shows I have ever attended and I hope they come back soon...
Alyssa Stals
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 7:40 PM 7 comments links to this post
Monday, November 03, 2008
Personal Fest, Buenos Aires, 01.11.08
[Setlist]
Bloc Party's first ever visit to Argentina...check out a review (in Spanish!) here.
[Setlist]
Trojan Horse / Halo / Hunting For Witches / Positive Tension / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / Signs / Better Than Heaven / Mercury / This Modern Love / The Prayer / Like Eating Glass / Flux / Helicopter
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 11:16 PM 1 comments links to this post
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Berlin - Tempelhof International Airport, 23.10.08
[Setlist]
Gig report from NME.com...
Bloc Party played a one-off gig inside Berlin's historic Tempelhof International Airport last night (October 23rd). Taking to the stage in Tempelhof's dining lounge shortly after 10pm, Bloc Party played an hour-long set in full view of the airport's runway.
The band, who release new album 'Intimacy' physically next Monday (October 27th), were in jubilant mood throughout the gig. During 'Mercury', singer Kele Okereke burst through security staff into the crowd to sing. Despite being mobbed by fans, Okereke managed to make his way to the sound desk, which he proceeded to stand upon until the end of the song.
Drummer Matt Tong also used the gig to practise his German. Tong, who lives in Berlin, jokingly ordered a latte from the stage before admitting that he hadn't had time to learn the language properly. Shortly after the gig, Bloc Party bassist Gordon Moakes told NME.COM that the band were impressed by the gig venue, saying it was "surreal" to play in such a strange setting. "It was quite exciting when we first walked in and saw the runway right next to us," he said. "Weirdly, it actually reminds me of the Academy 3 in Birmingham a bit! In terms of the stage size, anyway. But the building itself is a lot better than that. It reeks of old Germany."
Despite the success of the gig, it is almost certain that the event will be a one-off, as Tempelhof is set to close for good next week (October 30), and will be replaced by the new Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport.
[Setlist]
One Month Off / Hunting For Witches / Positive Tension / Blue Light / Halo / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / Signs / Better Than Heaven / Talons / This Modern Love / The Prayer
Mercury / Price Of Gasoline / Flux / Helicopter
Edit: Concert Online recorded the entire set...click here to buy it (audio or video). Here's a preview of the video:
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 9:36 PM 6 comments links to this post
Monday, August 25, 2008
Leeds Festival, 24.08.08
[Setlist]
Bloc Party revealed their ambition to headline Reading And Leeds Festival during their set on the Main Stage at Leeds Festival tonight. "This is the last time you'll see us for a while. Hopefully next time you see us at this festival we'll be headlining," singer Kele Okereke told the crowd before final song 'Helicopter'. Okereke also bemoaned the subdued crowd, complaining: "I know it's a Sunday night, but you must have it in you to go crazy. Let's not draw on the negatives, though, eh?"
The singer's mood lightened when he later admitted: "We don't normally enjoy Leeds as much as this, thanks for making us enjoy it tonight." The band played a similar set to their appearance at Reading Festival last night, including two tracks - 'One Month Off' and 'Mercury' - from new album 'Intimacy'.
Daniel Lindegren once again stood in on bass for Gordon Moakes, who is on extended paternity leave from the band. Before 'One Month Off' Okereke encouraged the crowd to get loved up, saying: "If you've met someone at the festival, and they're stood next to you now, give them a squeeze,". Fan favourites 'So Here We Are', 'Flux' and 'Banquet' were also aired in the set, which concluded with 'Helicopter'.
[Setlist] Mercury / Hunting For Witches / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / Two More Years / One Month Off / This Modern Love / The Prayer / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass / Flux / Helicopter
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists, Tour
¶ 3:36 PM 0 comments links to this post
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Reading Festival, 23.08.08
Review from NME.com...
Bloc Party played Reading Festival tonight just days after releasing third album 'Intimacy'. The band released the album as a download on Thursday, making their Main Stage appearance their first gig since it became available. Marking the occasion, frontman Kele Okereke started the show with a short speech saying it had been a few weeks of "new members, new babies and a new record" - referring to bassist Gordon Moakes, who is on extended paternity leave and his stand-in Daniel Lindegren - before adding that "I have one more thing to say", and broke into the opening line of recent single 'Mercury'.
[Setlist]
She's Hearing Voices
Review from NME.com...
Bloc Party played Reading Festival tonight just days after releasing third album 'Intimacy'. The band released the album as a download on Thursday, making their Main Stage appearance their first gig since it became available. Marking the occasion, frontman Kele Okereke started the show with a short speech saying it had been a few weeks of "new members, new babies and a new record" - referring to bassist Gordon Moakes, who is on extended paternity leave and his stand-in Daniel Lindegren - before adding that "I have one more thing to say", and broke into the opening line of recent single 'Mercury'.
They later played 'One Month Off' from the new album, before dedicating 'This Modern Love' to their absent bandmate. "We'd like to dedicate our next song to Gordon our usual bass player," declared Okereke. "I have no doubt he'll be watching online, can we have a big hi to Gordon and his new baby Scarlet." A series of "Gordon" chants followed from the crowd with the singer noting "he'll love that".
However, ahead of 'So Here We Are', Okereke had to rein in his audience, after the big screens picked out a girl on someone's shoulder and the crowd chanted for her to take her top off. "Come on," cautioned the singer, "this is still a Bloc Party gig," before explaining the band were feeling good about tonight's show after "a bird shat" on their stand-in bassist, which "must be a good luck sign".
"I hope you're having as much fun as we are, you can show that we're all friends here," the singer later told the crowd as he kicked off 'Flux', working the opening lines of Prince's 'I Would Die 4 U' into his own song. With green lasers firing across the site, the band then seemingly wrapped up the set with a frantic version of 'Helicopter'.
However, Bloc Party returned for a rare Reading Festival encore. "Thank you so much, it's a little bit cheeky but we thought we have to play the song that started it all off," explained Okereke who sung the vocals for 'She's Hearing Voices' from the barriers at the front of the crowd.
[Setlist]
Mercury / Hunting For Witches / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / Two More Years / One Month Off / This Modern Love / The Prayer / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass / I Would Die 4 U (Prince cover) - Flux / Helicopter
She's Hearing Voices
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists, Tour
¶ 11:14 PM 5 comments links to this post
Saturday, December 15, 2007
London Alexandra Palace, 14.12.07
[Setlist]
Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Positive Tension / Blue Light / Hunting For Witches / Waiting For The 7.18 / Banquet / This Modern Love / The Prayer / The Once And Future King / Uniform / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass
Flux / Sunday / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
The Pioneers
Flux / Sunday / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
The Pioneers
[Review] Drowned In Sound
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 9:50 AM 1 comments links to this post
Sunday, December 09, 2007
London Brixton Academy, 09.12.07
Bloc Party kicked off their brief Xmas UK jaunt tonight by headlining Xfm's Winter Wonderland gig at London's Brixton Academy, supported by Supergrass, Kate Nash, Jack Peñate and One Night Only. Tomorrow night, the boys play their über-intimate gig at Leeds Cockpit. Lucky attendees...please send in your photos/setlists/videos/reviews!
Bloc Party kicked off their brief Xmas UK jaunt tonight by headlining Xfm's Winter Wonderland gig at London's Brixton Academy, supported by Supergrass, Kate Nash, Jack Peñate and One Night Only. Tomorrow night, the boys play their über-intimate gig at Leeds Cockpit. Lucky attendees...please send in your photos/setlists/videos/reviews!
[Reviews] This Is London / The Sun / Xfm
[Setlist]
Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Positive Tension / Hunting For Witches / Waiting For The 7.18 / Banquet / This Modern Love / The Prayer / Two More Years / Uniform / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass
Flux / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
Flux / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 11:02 PM 1 comments links to this post
Sunday, October 28, 2007
London Roundhouse, 27.10.07
[Setlist]
All songs performed with Exmoor Singers of London, except where noted.
Kele defied his doctor's orders last night to lead Bloc Party through a momentous gig for this year's BBC Electric Proms. Despite suffering from acute pharyngitis (a throat inflammation), Kele proceeded to rip up his medical note, down some Lemsip and explain there was no way he could let down his friends, the Exmoor Singers of London.
Bloc Party played 14 songs in total, all backed by the chamber choir, apart from 'Sunday' (a slightly cheesy performance by Kele and an acoustic guitar-toting Russell) and 'Flux' (the first UK performance of the new single). The other 12 songs were bolstered by various backing vocals, chants, foot-stomps and claps courtesy of the Exmoor Singers.
Whilst the choir took a backseat during some of the more straight-ahead rockers ('Banquet', 'Helicopter'), it's hard to imagine any rock songs more suited for a choral arrangement than 'The Prayer', with its rhythmic tribal backing and 'Uniform', the call-and-response vocals of the middle section giving the song a camp 'Bohemian Rhapsody' feel.
Download the set below at 128 kbps quality. The 'higher quality' tracks are a different bootleg of selected songs, recorded at 192 kbps. 'Kreuzberg' is a slightly muffled 320 kbps audience recording.
03. Where Is Home?
05. Kreuzberg (audience recording)
06. Uniform
07. Price Of Gasoline (higher quality)
08. This Modern Love
09. The Prayer / The Prayer (higher quality)
11. Flux
13. Helicopter / Helicopter (higher quality)
14. The Pioneers[Setlist]
All songs performed with Exmoor Singers of London, except where noted.
Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Waiting For The 7.18 / Where Is Home? / Banquet / Kreuzberg / Uniform / Price Of Gasoline / This Modern Love / The Prayer
Sunday (Kele and Russell acoustic) / Flux (without Exmoor Singers) / SRXT / Helicopter
The Pioneers
Labels: Audio, Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 10:47 AM 21 comments links to this post
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Bloc Party go back to (Icelandic) school
In trying to attract a notable headliner to play a gig at his Sixth Form, Magnússon secured Bloc Party for a show at Flensborgarskóli school in Hafnarfirði in suburban Reykjavik, Friday 19th October. And for the band - who the following night topped the bill at the festival down the road – it was an opportunity to play to hundreds of kids who wouldn’t otherwise be old enough to be allowed in to their gig.
Arriving to school-girl screams, singer/guitarist Kele Okereke made a brave stab at an Icelandic welcome before the band began the ambient opening of 'Song For Clay (Disappear Here)'. The foursome wore excited but bemused smiles throughout a stellar eighty minute set, made all the more enjoyable by the local kids throwing some truly bizarre dance moves.
In all, then, not your average gig; an Icelandic school got its most memorable evening and Bloc Party won over 150 new fans for life.
From Q4Music.com:
The average gig in a school comprises four Year 11 kids with dodgy tuning and borrowed amps. 17-year-old Icelandic student and budding music promoter Sindri Magnússon, however, had more lofty ideas about what can rock the school hall.
In trying to attract a notable headliner to play a gig at his Sixth Form, Magnússon secured Bloc Party for a show at Flensborgarskóli school in Hafnarfirði in suburban Reykjavik, Friday 19th October. And for the band - who the following night topped the bill at the festival down the road – it was an opportunity to play to hundreds of kids who wouldn’t otherwise be old enough to be allowed in to their gig.
Arriving to school-girl screams, singer/guitarist Kele Okereke made a brave stab at an Icelandic welcome before the band began the ambient opening of 'Song For Clay (Disappear Here)'. The foursome wore excited but bemused smiles throughout a stellar eighty minute set, made all the more enjoyable by the local kids throwing some truly bizarre dance moves.
In all, then, not your average gig; an Icelandic school got its most memorable evening and Bloc Party won over 150 new fans for life.
Labels: Gig_reviews, Random
¶ 8:02 PM 4 comments links to this post
Friday, September 14, 2007
Colombus, OH - Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, 13.09.07
[Setlist]
[Fan review]
This was my first time seeing Bloc Party and I believe their first time in OH. I've wanted to see them a couple years now as they're my favorite active band I hadn't seen up to this point. I had made plans for various festivals to catch them, but those didn't seem to work out. The band was totally on top of things and giving it their all tonight and I must say, Matt is one of the most wicked drummers I've ever seen and Kele is a powerful frontman. For some reason, it took a really long time for the crowd to get into them as the majority seemed very lost on their music until they heard the singles 'Banquet' and 'The Prayer'. They were finally into every song once 'Uniform' completely blew every source of life in the venue off their feet. It was definitely the highlight of the evening. 'Like Eating Glass' was pretty intense as well and got the crowd going wild. 'Two More Years' and 'The Once and Future King' got solid responses and it was good to hear them live.
Toward the end of their main set, I went out on a limb and did something I sort of hate to hear other people do, but I knew I had an off-chance in hell for them to play it. No one had bothered them with requests so far, so I took it upon myself to be that guy. I yelled out "Pioneers!" because my friend and I really wanted to hear it as it's one of our faves from 'Silent Alarm', but no luck during the main set...nor the *first* encore. Suddenly, they came back out and I completely expected them to play 'I Still Remember' as that's been a huge single for them in Columbus and I imagined most of the audience who did know some of their songs wanted to hear it. What we got was...'PIONEERS'!! So glad we didn't jet. They said they hadn't played it in a long time, but it completed our night as only chanting "We will not be the last!" could do. Cool
Danny Perkins
[Setlist]
Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Positive Tension / Hunting For Witches / Waiting For The 7.18 / Banquet / This Modern Love / The Prayer / Two More Years / The Once And Future King / Uniform / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass
SRXT / Price Of Gasoline / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
The Pioneers
SRXT / Price Of Gasoline / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
The Pioneers
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 10:40 AM 4 comments links to this post
Friday, August 31, 2007
Something for the Weekend
Just a few news snippets to tide you over...
Just a few news snippets to tide you over...
- Bloc Party will play at London Barfly on Sunday 14th October as part of Gonzo on Tour 2007, recorded for MTV2. Support comes from Does It Offend You, Yeah? and Operator Please and tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 14th September from here!
- The boys will also be DJing in various US record stores during their forthcoming tour...more info here.
- Listen to an interview with Kele and Matt on Xfm (scroll down to the 16:15 entry). Matt: "We're gonna put out a single in between albums for no reason other than that we can." Woop!
And finally, don't forget that BlocParty.net is up for 'Best Unofficial Music Site' in the same awards. You know what to do!
Labels: Awards, Gig_reviews, Interviews
¶ 10:14 PM 4 comments links to this post
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Brighton Concorde 2, 23.08.07
[Setlist]
Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Positive Tension / Hunting For Witches / Waiting For The 7.18 / Banquet / Where Is Home? / This Modern Love / The Prayer / Two More Years / Uniform / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass
Price of Gasoline / The Once And Future King / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
[Videos]
Q: What do you get if you cross an internationally renowned rock band, 500 excitable fans, a balmy Brighton evening and a venue the size of a shoebox?
A: A very joyous occasion, and a LOT of sweat.
Bloc Party brought their well-oiled machine to Brighton last Thursday to perform a one-off intimate gig for lucky members of the 'Marshals' fanclub. They were ably supported by Lo-Fi Culture Scene, a group of 13-year-olds who looked like The Strokes after being zapped by that crazy laser gun in 'Honey, I Shrunk The Kids'. Those expecting some kind of kindergarten-indie were soon proved wrong though - the band's youthful blend of powerpop and wonky US indie-rock was crammed with more energy and hooks than many bands twice their age can manage. LFCS are already being nurtured by Bloc Party's manager, so their future looks brighter than the illuminations on nearby Brighton Pier.
The warmed-up crowd greeted Bloc Party like homecoming heroes. Bloc's performance was near-flawless...the songs having been honed to perfection after a year of constant touring. They played with fire in their bellies, enjoying the rare opportunity to view every single person in the room (thanks in no small part to the new anti-smoking legislation which eliminates the traditional smoky haze). 'Waiting For The 7.18' was one of the set highlights, with the soaring "Let's drive to Brighton on the weekend" outro taking on a special significance in the eponymous seaside resort. This song was segued into a euphoric 'Banquet' before a chilling 'Where Is Home?' was introduced by Kele from underneath his towel.
Created from photos taken by jesusthepixie
However, despite the excellent performance, a handful of fans left the gig feeling disappointed by the lack of rare tracks and b-sides. Apart from the stunning first UK airing of 'The Once and Future King' and the welcome resurrection of 'Price of Gasoline', the setlist was edging towards the mundane...no old tracks such as 'The Marshals Are Dead' or 'Little Thoughts' and no classic b-sides either (fans constantly bawled "Skeleton!!" but to no avail). No-one could accuse the band of playing below their best, but any hardcore Blocheads expecting a once-in-a-lifetime rarity-fest were left a touch disenchanted. Still, most fans went home happy and, judging by Kele's perma-grin, the band enjoyed going back to their "toilet circuit" roots before they step up to the UK arenas in December.
[Setlist]
Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Positive Tension / Hunting For Witches / Waiting For The 7.18 / Banquet / Where Is Home? / This Modern Love / The Prayer / Two More Years / Uniform / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass
Price of Gasoline / The Once And Future King / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
[Videos]
Bloc Party indulge in some 'Skeleton' teasing before launching into a mind-blowing rendition of 'TOAFK'
Kele goes shirtless for 'Price of Gasoline'
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 9:21 PM 2 comments links to this post
Monday, June 04, 2007
Fan review...The Tabernacle, Atlanta, 31.05.07
I have been in a state of distraction since Thursday. My first-ever show was on the last day of May, and I have one question: how do you concert veterans do it??? I mean, how do you get over the fact that these people who make such amazing music are in the same room with you, pumping their radical songs into your ears from a couple feet away, looking devastatingly attractive and, ooh shivers, possibly looking at you in your particular place in the crowd? How on EARTH do you stay sane after a night full of THAT?!
Bloc Party played a venue called The Tabernacle, which is now probably my favourite place after my bedroom and my best friends' houses. They took forever to come onstage. Their opening acts were a band whose name I couldn't hear (they were supposed to be The Maccabees, but The Maccabees cancelled -- work permit issues) and whose music I rather enjoyed, and The Noisettes, who were a bedazzling sight to see. Both were well-received, but you could tell everyone was waiting for Bloc.
After what seemed like 20 minutes after The Noisettes stopped playing, Bloc Party finally strode onstage, and I utterly lost it. As did everyone else. Even the people who didn't immediately stand up were cheering like mad, cheering things at the edges of their seats. I stood up, of course, and didn't sit down until the boys took a break, after which I stood up and lost it again. I can't remember the setlist exactly, but they opened the show with 'Song For Clay (Disappear Here)' and then broke into 'Blue Light'. I went crazy dancing to 'She's Hearing Voices', 'The Prayer', 'Helicopter', and 'Uniform'.
While singing along to 'I Still Remember' and 'Sunday', I did a lot of pointing at Kele and, er, I may have put my hands over my heart a few times. Ooer. Along with two girls who sat beside my mother and I (yes, my mom took me to the show), I yelled Russell's name about 14 times in an attempt to get him to raise his head toward the balcony where I was. I can only conclude that he was too shy to look at us. I mean, there's only a 4% chance that he didn't hear us at all. And, OHMG, I saw the Lissack strap!!!! That would be Russell's hellamazing guitar strap with all the pretty buttons. I saw it. In real life. I could have touched it, had I been one of the two audacious fans to attempt to jump onstage, only to be hilariously suppressed by the stocky security people.
After their encore (they came out again after saying their first goodbyes to do 'The Pioneers'), I could hardly accept that the show was over. All I want is to see them again. And again and again and again. I don't know what could make me happier. Marriage, maybe? To Kele? Or Matt? Or Russell? It would help if they weren't all at least ten years older than me. And if Gordy wasn't already married. And if, y'know, we had more than a 10% chance of even meeting face to face. Anyway, I can dream. I can dream like I've been dreaming of Thursday night for the past two days, as I undoubtedly will again tonight. Bloc Party owns my musical soul. It's inexorable.
Iffie Awachie
I have been in a state of distraction since Thursday. My first-ever show was on the last day of May, and I have one question: how do you concert veterans do it??? I mean, how do you get over the fact that these people who make such amazing music are in the same room with you, pumping their radical songs into your ears from a couple feet away, looking devastatingly attractive and, ooh shivers, possibly looking at you in your particular place in the crowd? How on EARTH do you stay sane after a night full of THAT?!
Bloc Party played a venue called The Tabernacle, which is now probably my favourite place after my bedroom and my best friends' houses. They took forever to come onstage. Their opening acts were a band whose name I couldn't hear (they were supposed to be The Maccabees, but The Maccabees cancelled -- work permit issues) and whose music I rather enjoyed, and The Noisettes, who were a bedazzling sight to see. Both were well-received, but you could tell everyone was waiting for Bloc.
After what seemed like 20 minutes after The Noisettes stopped playing, Bloc Party finally strode onstage, and I utterly lost it. As did everyone else. Even the people who didn't immediately stand up were cheering like mad, cheering things at the edges of their seats. I stood up, of course, and didn't sit down until the boys took a break, after which I stood up and lost it again. I can't remember the setlist exactly, but they opened the show with 'Song For Clay (Disappear Here)' and then broke into 'Blue Light'. I went crazy dancing to 'She's Hearing Voices', 'The Prayer', 'Helicopter', and 'Uniform'.
While singing along to 'I Still Remember' and 'Sunday', I did a lot of pointing at Kele and, er, I may have put my hands over my heart a few times. Ooer. Along with two girls who sat beside my mother and I (yes, my mom took me to the show), I yelled Russell's name about 14 times in an attempt to get him to raise his head toward the balcony where I was. I can only conclude that he was too shy to look at us. I mean, there's only a 4% chance that he didn't hear us at all. And, OHMG, I saw the Lissack strap!!!! That would be Russell's hellamazing guitar strap with all the pretty buttons. I saw it. In real life. I could have touched it, had I been one of the two audacious fans to attempt to jump onstage, only to be hilariously suppressed by the stocky security people.
After their encore (they came out again after saying their first goodbyes to do 'The Pioneers'), I could hardly accept that the show was over. All I want is to see them again. And again and again and again. I don't know what could make me happier. Marriage, maybe? To Kele? Or Matt? Or Russell? It would help if they weren't all at least ten years older than me. And if Gordy wasn't already married. And if, y'know, we had more than a 10% chance of even meeting face to face. Anyway, I can dream. I can dream like I've been dreaming of Thursday night for the past two days, as I undoubtedly will again tonight. Bloc Party owns my musical soul. It's inexorable.
Iffie Awachie
Labels: Gig_reviews
¶ 12:18 PM 9 comments links to this post
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Bits and Pieces
Head over to the AT&T Blue Room now to watch some exclusive live performances from Bloc Party's last whizz through the US!
Also, here's some reviews of Bloc Party's recent short UK tour and a great photo of the band shot in Blackpool by Andrew Kendall...
[Reviews]
London Brixton Academy, 20.04.07 (This Is London)
London Brixton Academy, 19.04.07 (MTV)
London Brixton Academy, 19.04.07 (The Times)
Blackpool Empress Ballroom, 18.04.07 (Manchester Evening News)
Head over to the AT&T Blue Room now to watch some exclusive live performances from Bloc Party's last whizz through the US!
Also, here's some reviews of Bloc Party's recent short UK tour and a great photo of the band shot in Blackpool by Andrew Kendall...
[Reviews]
London Brixton Academy, 20.04.07 (This Is London)
London Brixton Academy, 19.04.07 (MTV)
London Brixton Academy, 19.04.07 (The Times)
Blackpool Empress Ballroom, 18.04.07 (Manchester Evening News)
Labels: Gig_reviews, Videos
¶ 11:42 PM 3 comments links to this post
Thursday, February 01, 2007
London Astoria, 31.01.07
Song For Clay (Disappear Here)
Like Eating Glass
Blue Light
Hunting For Witches
Banquet
Waiting for the 7.18
The Prayer
The Modern Love
Uniform
Little Thoughts
So Here We Are
Helicopter
Positive Tension
Sunday
SRXT (first time played live)
The Pioneers
[Review]
Song For Clay (Disappear Here)
Like Eating Glass
Blue Light
Hunting For Witches
Banquet
Waiting for the 7.18
The Prayer
The Modern Love
Uniform
Little Thoughts
So Here We Are
Helicopter
Positive Tension
Sunday
SRXT (first time played live)
The Pioneers
[Review]
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 2:03 PM 5 comments links to this post
Friday, January 26, 2007
London Mean Fiddler (Xfm Session), 25.01.07
Song For Clay (Disappear Here)
Positive Tension
Banquet
Waiting for the 7:18
The Prayer
This Modern Love
Uniform
Like Eating Glass
So Here We Are
Helicopter
I Still Remember
She's Hearing Voices
Sunday
Two More Years
Despite appearing onstage a good half hour late, Kele Okereke is upbeat and grinning; the music press is shitting itself at the possibility of something more quotable than reticence. It's decidedly uncharacteristic: quips and exchanges from the famed nonchalant who once barked at a journalist, "Why is it important to know what I had for breakfast?". In a nod to stories of 'A Weekend in the City''s leak, Kele asserts himself again: ""As you know, we've got a new record. Who's heard our new album already? And who's going to buy our new album?"
The Party get straight into it with 'Song for Clay', the first track from the follow-up to 2005's #3 charter 'Silent Alarm'. Despite the volte-face from the angled art-rock movement that Bloc Party headed up, everyone here's still going at it like each offering is an anthemic gem. That first set were famously cut and polished by Paul Epworth. However, to appreciate the new quarry of songs, mastered by 'Jacknife' Lee, you have to dig deeper, as the angular jerk is buried beneath swathes of strings and up-tempered rhythm and blues beats, such as forthcoming single 'Uniform' demonstrates.
'Positive Tension' sees things back on familiar territory, summed up best by the perfect drop for everyone to scream the ideal reproach "so fucking useless!" to Kele's angsty "Why d'you have to get so pissed off?"
An early surprise is 'Banquet'. Were Bloc Party a weaker band, that song would have been shored up for later as a second helping to the alcohol feast the crowd is having of its own. But the calibre of this band's catalogue makes set list assault tactics unnecessary.
Only one other band has written such a classic song about shyness and that was The Smiths with 'Ask'. Bloc Party's take on the affliction, 'The Prayer' is otherworldly in its composition. Foreboding yet optimistic, Kele prays "Tonight make me unstoppable, I will charm, I will slice, I will dazzle them with my wit" – this seriously is quite amazing.
'This Modern Love' reminds us that Bloc Party do sensitivity just as well as staccato guitar lines and hyperkinetic drumming. It's the musical expression of their oft-quoted "You can't pigeonhole us" line when they emerged from the New Cross scene by way of a demo famously finding its way into Steve Lamacq's hands at a Franz Ferdinand gig.
We're taken back to those early days as Kele says, "This is our first hit single, from January 2005, 'So Here We Are'." His beautifully wounded vocals entice lighters aloft. Clearly no one here's worried about the Price of Gas.
Waiting for Bloc Party to reappear is probably the easiest way of making five minutes seem like an hour. Kele beams, "You may be wondering why we have two drum kits on stage. Cue multi-instrumentalist Gordon!" Cue some tedious scuffling and a couple of nervous twangs from guitarist Russell Lissack more like. His trademark three year-long indie fringe clearly isn't enough to hide his awkwardness. "Sorry, we still haven't perfected our change-overs yet." It doesn't matter really; let's just see Gordon on the drums! And to chants of "Gordon, Gordon!", the bassist hammers the skins alongside Matt Tong in a thrashing delivery of 'Sunday'.
"This is our last song, London, 'Two More Years'". Let's just hope we don't have to wait that long again until the next record. This is a remarkable return to duty.
[Another review] [Photos]
Song For Clay (Disappear Here)
Positive Tension
Banquet
Waiting for the 7:18
The Prayer
This Modern Love
Uniform
Like Eating Glass
So Here We Are
Helicopter
I Still Remember
She's Hearing Voices
Sunday
Two More Years
[Reviewed by Michelle Connolly]
No matter how you introduce one of the country's most successful acts of recent times, it's never going to quite nail the anticipation. That task this evening fell to Iain Baker: "These guys have sold out that place 35 yards to my right three nights next week so to catch them here in such an intimate venue…well, tonight's going to be amazing." Cue even more jostling for position and it's job well done by the Xfm DJ.Despite appearing onstage a good half hour late, Kele Okereke is upbeat and grinning; the music press is shitting itself at the possibility of something more quotable than reticence. It's decidedly uncharacteristic: quips and exchanges from the famed nonchalant who once barked at a journalist, "Why is it important to know what I had for breakfast?". In a nod to stories of 'A Weekend in the City''s leak, Kele asserts himself again: ""As you know, we've got a new record. Who's heard our new album already? And who's going to buy our new album?"
The Party get straight into it with 'Song for Clay', the first track from the follow-up to 2005's #3 charter 'Silent Alarm'. Despite the volte-face from the angled art-rock movement that Bloc Party headed up, everyone here's still going at it like each offering is an anthemic gem. That first set were famously cut and polished by Paul Epworth. However, to appreciate the new quarry of songs, mastered by 'Jacknife' Lee, you have to dig deeper, as the angular jerk is buried beneath swathes of strings and up-tempered rhythm and blues beats, such as forthcoming single 'Uniform' demonstrates.
'Positive Tension' sees things back on familiar territory, summed up best by the perfect drop for everyone to scream the ideal reproach "so fucking useless!" to Kele's angsty "Why d'you have to get so pissed off?"
An early surprise is 'Banquet'. Were Bloc Party a weaker band, that song would have been shored up for later as a second helping to the alcohol feast the crowd is having of its own. But the calibre of this band's catalogue makes set list assault tactics unnecessary.
Only one other band has written such a classic song about shyness and that was The Smiths with 'Ask'. Bloc Party's take on the affliction, 'The Prayer' is otherworldly in its composition. Foreboding yet optimistic, Kele prays "Tonight make me unstoppable, I will charm, I will slice, I will dazzle them with my wit" – this seriously is quite amazing.
'This Modern Love' reminds us that Bloc Party do sensitivity just as well as staccato guitar lines and hyperkinetic drumming. It's the musical expression of their oft-quoted "You can't pigeonhole us" line when they emerged from the New Cross scene by way of a demo famously finding its way into Steve Lamacq's hands at a Franz Ferdinand gig.
We're taken back to those early days as Kele says, "This is our first hit single, from January 2005, 'So Here We Are'." His beautifully wounded vocals entice lighters aloft. Clearly no one here's worried about the Price of Gas.
Waiting for Bloc Party to reappear is probably the easiest way of making five minutes seem like an hour. Kele beams, "You may be wondering why we have two drum kits on stage. Cue multi-instrumentalist Gordon!" Cue some tedious scuffling and a couple of nervous twangs from guitarist Russell Lissack more like. His trademark three year-long indie fringe clearly isn't enough to hide his awkwardness. "Sorry, we still haven't perfected our change-overs yet." It doesn't matter really; let's just see Gordon on the drums! And to chants of "Gordon, Gordon!", the bassist hammers the skins alongside Matt Tong in a thrashing delivery of 'Sunday'.
"This is our last song, London, 'Two More Years'". Let's just hope we don't have to wait that long again until the next record. This is a remarkable return to duty.
[Another review] [Photos]
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists, Tour
¶ 11:00 AM 2 comments links to this post
