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
Friday, October 26, 2007
She's Hearing (Many) Voices...tomorrow!
Don't forget...Bloc Party play their extra-special "choral" gig at Camden's Roundhouse tomorrow for this year's BBC Electric Proms. (More details here if you've been hibernating for the past few weeks!) You can catch the highlights on BBC2 at 11:50pm tomorrow night (Saturday 27th) and the whole gig will be available to watch on the Electric Proms website the following day.
Don't forget...Bloc Party play their extra-special "choral" gig at Camden's Roundhouse tomorrow for this year's BBC Electric Proms. (More details here if you've been hibernating for the past few weeks!) You can catch the highlights on BBC2 at 11:50pm tomorrow night (Saturday 27th) and the whole gig will be available to watch on the Electric Proms website the following day.
Labels: Tour
¶ 9:03 PM 2 comments links to this post
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
'Flux' video...behind the scenes photos
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View more photos here! For those who still haven't seen the 'Flux' video...here's some YouTube action:
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
'Flux'...the tracklisting
Check out the full 'Flux' tracklisting below! Pre-order CD2 and the two vinyls for £4 from here (CD1 will come free with the 14.11.07 issue of NME, as previously revealed).
Check out the full 'Flux' tracklisting below! Pre-order CD2 and the two vinyls for £4 from here (CD1 will come free with the 14.11.07 issue of NME, as previously revealed).
CD1 (free with NME, out 14.11.07)
1. Flux (JFK Remix)
2. Flux (Punx Soundcheck 'Tenebrae' Remix)
3. Flux (Metal On Metal Remix)
4. Flux (GoodBooks Magnetism Mix)
CD2 (12.11.07)
1. Flux (single version)
2. Flux (Live at Madison Square Garden)
3. Emma Kate's Accident
Clear 7" vinyl (12.11.07)
1. Flux (single version)
2. The Once And Future King
Clear 12" vinyl (12.11.07)
A. Flux (extended version)
B1. Flux (12" instrumental version)
B2. Where Is Home? (Burial Mix)
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
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavik, 20.10.07
[Setlist]
[Setlist]
Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Positive Tension / Hunting For Witches / Waiting For The 7.18 / Banquet / The Prayer / Flux / This Modern Love / She's Hearing Voices / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass / Blue Light / Helicopter
Read a review on NME.com!
Read a review on NME.com!
Labels: Setlists
¶ 1:47 PM 0 comments links to this post
Friday, October 19, 2007
Bloc Party @ BBC Electric Proms...update
Preparations are well underway for Bloc Party's special BBC Electric Proms show in just over a week's time. Tickets for the gig have now sold out but, in the spirit of the Classical Proms, 100 £5 tickets for the event will be made available close to the event. Register here by Monday 22nd October for the chance to buy tickets!
"What we expected to be some fairly low-key backing vocals proved to be much more than that when James, our music director, saw lead singer Kele Okereke's notes of his ideas for the choral arrangements. Kele had highly-detailed choral ideas for most of the numbers in the set, including one completely "a cappella" number! Luckily we were able to introduce to Kele our old friend, gifted composer/arranger Avshalom Caspi, who has been working around the clock to bring Kele's ideas to life.
You will see us on stage some of the time but we will be behind a gauze that enables the lighting designer to make us visible or invisible at the throw of a switch so we won't get in the way of the action when we aren't involved."
Preparations are well underway for Bloc Party's special BBC Electric Proms show in just over a week's time. Tickets for the gig have now sold out but, in the spirit of the Classical Proms, 100 £5 tickets for the event will be made available close to the event. Register here by Monday 22nd October for the chance to buy tickets!
The gig promises to be one of Bloc Party's most unconventional...live choral backing will come from
"What we expected to be some fairly low-key backing vocals proved to be much more than that when James, our music director, saw lead singer Kele Okereke's notes of his ideas for the choral arrangements. Kele had highly-detailed choral ideas for most of the numbers in the set, including one completely "a cappella" number! Luckily we were able to introduce to Kele our old friend, gifted composer/arranger Avshalom Caspi, who has been working around the clock to bring Kele's ideas to life.
You will see us on stage some of the time but we will be behind a gauze that enables the lighting designer to make us visible or invisible at the throw of a switch so we won't get in the way of the action when we aren't involved."
Exmoor Singers of London get in some singing, and hand-clapping, practise
There'll be plenty of chance to watch/listen to the concert after the event, so don't despair if you haven't got hold of a ticket. For those lucky few that have, this looks set to be something to tell the grandchildren about.
Labels: Tour
¶ 4:32 PM 9 comments links to this post
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
'Flux'...the video!
[Watch] 'Flux' (directed by Ace Norton)
¶ 6:35 PM 18 comments
links to this post
Watch the brand new video for 'Flux' on NME.com now! It's a gloriously lo-fi sci-fi romp featuring miniature armies, big rubbery alien lifeforms destroying a cardboard city for no apparent reason, and a blossoming romance between two humanoids. Ace Norton...you are a genius.
The video was filmed over two days in Boston with American performance troupe Kaiju Big Battel. Some of the Kaiju (Japanese for 'strange beast') characters in the video are The Grudyin, Unibouzo, Vegetius, Giii the Space Pirate and Steam-Powered Tentacle Boulder (the newest Kaiju Hero).
[Watch] 'Flux' (directed by Ace Norton)
¶ 6:35 PM 18 comments
links to this post
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
N M freE
Bloc Party will be giving away their new single, 'Flux', free with NME on November 14th! The magazine will come with CD1, whilst CD2 will be released conventionally in shops on November 12th. NME's version of 'Flux' will feature three exclusive remixes and special packaging with space for CD2.
Kele on 'Flux': "We wanted to write a real high-energy euphoric dance tune, something you would hear at Trash or Trade. So instead of writing a huge guitar dance track we thought we'd go the whole way. We're anticipating people will shriek and say "What have Bloc Party done?" and "Where are the guitars?". But I think it's good to challenge your listeners."
Also, Kele is on the cover of the week's NME, along with a bunch of other artists supporting the 'Love Music Hate Racism' campaign. The issue comes with a free CD featuring a previously unreleased Bloc Party remix...'Where Is Home' (Diplo Remix Featuring Skepta) and you can also download a second CD of free tracks on NME.com!
Behind the scenes on the NME photoshoot
¶ 10:20 PM 8 comments links to this post
Camden Barfly, 14.10.07
[Setlist]
[Setlist]
Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Positive Tension / Hunting For Witches / Waiting For The 7.18 / Banquet / This Modern Love / The Prayer / Uniform / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
Little Thoughts
Little Thoughts
Labels: Setlists
¶ 5:15 PM 2 comments links to this post
Monday, October 15, 2007
'Flux' update
The brand new Bloc Party single, 'Flux', out November 12th, was posted today on the band's MySpace page...listen to the full track here. The video, directed by Ace Norton, is coming soon! Here's a photo from the shoot:
¶ 11:32 PM 14 comments
links to this post
The brand new Bloc Party single, 'Flux', out November 12th, was posted today on the band's MySpace page...listen to the full track here. The video, directed by Ace Norton, is coming soon! Here's a photo from the shoot:
¶ 11:32 PM 14 comments
links to this post
Sunday, October 14, 2007
'Skeleton' live in Providence, USA...the evidence!
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Labels: Videos
¶ 12:10 AM 7 comments links to this post
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Camden Barfly, 16.02.05
On Sunday, Bloc Party play London's pint-sized Camden Barfly for the first time in over two and a half years as part of Gonzo's 5th Birthday Tour...the first in a couple of special London gigs this month (the second one will be with this lot). Download Bloc Party's previous Barfly set below, recorded two days after the release of 'Silent Alarm'.
01. Banquet
02. Positive Tension
03. This Modern Love
04. She's Hearing Voices
05. Helicopter
06. Like Eating Glass
07. Plans
08. Little Thoughts
09. So Here We Are
10. Price of Gasoline
11. The Answer
On Sunday, Bloc Party play London's pint-sized Camden Barfly for the first time in over two and a half years as part of Gonzo's 5th Birthday Tour...the first in a couple of special London gigs this month (the second one will be with this lot). Download Bloc Party's previous Barfly set below, recorded two days after the release of 'Silent Alarm'.
01. Banquet
02. Positive Tension
03. This Modern Love
04. She's Hearing Voices
05. Helicopter
06. Like Eating Glass
07. Plans
08. Little Thoughts
09. So Here We Are
10. Price of Gasoline
11. The Answer
Labels: Audio
¶ 11:02 PM 5 comments links to this post
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
You rock...
BlocParty.net was voted 12th in the 'Best Unofficial Music Site Top 200' list at this year's BT Digital Music Awards. Thanks to everyone who voted! View the full list here. Dutch Barry Manilow fans...you've come to the wrong place.
In other BT DMA news, Bloc Party took away the award for 'Best Video Podcast' and BlocParty.com came 35th in the 'Official Music Site' category.
BlocParty.net was voted 12th in the 'Best Unofficial Music Site Top 200' list at this year's BT Digital Music Awards. Thanks to everyone who voted! View the full list here. Dutch Barry Manilow fans...you've come to the wrong place.
In other BT DMA news, Bloc Party took away the award for 'Best Video Podcast' and BlocParty.com came 35th in the 'Official Music Site' category.
Labels: Awards, BlocParty.net
¶ 7:20 PM 1 comments links to this post
Monday, October 08, 2007
'Pretty In Pink'
Russell's project with Milena Mepris, Pin Me Down, have a brand new song up on their Myspace...'Pretty In Pink'. Also, read BLOG PARTY's exclusive interview with the band here!
[Stream] Pin Me Down - 'Pretty In Pink'
Labels: Collaborations, Pin_Me_Down
¶ 7:31 PM 5 comments links to this post
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Los Angeles, CA - LA Weekly Detour Festival, 06.10.07
[Setlist]
[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
Sunday / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
Sunday / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
Labels: Setlists
¶ 1:54 PM 0 comments links to this post
Saturday, October 06, 2007
'Flux'...the TV premiere
Bloc Party performed 'Flux' live on 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' last Thursday. Watch it below...
Bloc Party performed 'Flux' live on 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' last Thursday. Watch it below...
Labels: Flux, Television, Videos
¶ 5:13 PM 5 comments links to this post
Friday, October 05, 2007
'Flux'...the lyrics
If your right hand is causing you pain
Cut it off, cut it off
If your colours have started to run
Let them all run, run away from you
There is lightning in this room
Above our heads, waiting to strike
I'm a thinker not a talker
Put your faith, your faith in God
We were hoping for some romance
All we found was more despair
We must talk about our problems
We are in a state of flux
I'd kill for an adventure
Just you and I, in the ?
Dancing till we knew
So all that we've learnt disappears
When you shouted at me
I saw my father in the second grade
Concerned and kind
Yet unable to reach me
We were hoping for some romance...
(State of flux)
We need to talk
We were hoping for some romance...
Send any corrections/additions here!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
FFFLLLLLUUUUX!
Bloc Party's brand new single, 'Flux', made its radio debut tonight! To listen to it, go here and fast-forward 22 minutes. To say it's a departure for the band would be understatement of the century...'Flux' is a Bloc Party song at heart, but masked by a euphoric, 1990s euro-disco production and vocodered vocals (good example/bad example). It's a brave move, and most of the fan feedback is positive so far (join the debate here). Coming to a club near you very soon...it's going to sound awesome.
¶ 11:10 PM 38 comments links to this post
Bloc Party's brand new single, 'Flux', made its radio debut tonight! To listen to it, go here and fast-forward 22 minutes. To say it's a departure for the band would be understatement of the century...'Flux' is a Bloc Party song at heart, but masked by a euphoric, 1990s euro-disco production and vocodered vocals (good example/bad example). It's a brave move, and most of the fan feedback is positive so far (join the debate here). Coming to a club near you very soon...it's going to sound awesome.
Watch Bloc Party performing 'Flux' at New York's Madison Square Garden yesterday:
¶ 11:10 PM 38 comments links to this post
New York, NY - WaMu Theater at MSG, 03.10.07
[Setlist]
[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
Labels: Setlists
¶ 7:20 PM 6 comments links to this post
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
'Flux'...out in November!
Somehow, amongst the relentless touring in support of 'A Weekend In The City', Bloc Party have found time to record a brand new single! 'Flux', previewed recently on the current US tour, will be released on November 12th, backed by 'Emma Kate's Accident' on the CD and live favourite 'The Once And Future King' on the 7" vinyl. 'Flux' was recorded by Jacknife Lee, during the band's week in the studio after Reading and Leeds. Listen out for the track on Xfm's Music:Response show after 7pm tomorrow!
Somehow, amongst the relentless touring in support of 'A Weekend In The City', Bloc Party have found time to record a brand new single! 'Flux', previewed recently on the current US tour, will be released on November 12th, backed by 'Emma Kate's Accident' on the CD and live favourite 'The Once And Future King' on the 7" vinyl. 'Flux' was recorded by Jacknife Lee, during the band's week in the studio after Reading and Leeds. Listen out for the track on Xfm's Music:Response show after 7pm tomorrow!
Edit: You can also hear 'Flux' on tonight's (October 4th) Zane Lowe show from 7pm on BBC Radio 1. American fans can also watch the band perform the track live on 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien' tonight.
¶ 11:16 PM 24 comments
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Bloc Party to go choral for the Electric Proms!
As revealed yesterday, Bloc Party are a late addition to the BBC Electric Proms bill. More details of the show emerged today and it looks set to be a very special occasion. The gig, in London's Roundhouse, will feature "choral backing and alternate arrangements of the songs in collaboration with the Exmoor Singers [of the London Chamber Choir]". The band are warning fans to expect something very different from a normal Bloc Party gig...more details to follow!
Labels: Tour
¶ 10:59 PM 3 comments links to this post
Providence, RI - Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, 02.10.07
[Setlist]
[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
Sunday / Skeleton (!!) / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
Sunday / Skeleton (!!) / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
So they finally played it! Did anyone manage to get a recording?
Labels: Setlists
¶ 9:15 AM 14 comments links to this post
Monday, October 01, 2007
Bloc Party to play Electric Proms
Bloc Party are the latest addition to the BBC Electric Proms 2007, playing London's Roundhouse on Saturday 27th October. Tickets go on sale from midday on Wednesday 3rd October for £25. Support will come from Maps and the gig will contain "some surprises guaranteed to make this a unique performance", whatever they may be...
Labels: Tour
¶ 10:49 PM 3 comments links to this post
Ottawa, ONT - Capital Music Hall, 30.09.07
[Setlist]
[Setlist]
Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Positive Tension / Blue Light / Hunting For Witches / Waiting For The 7.18 / Banquet / Where Is Home? / This Modern Love / The Prayer / Uniform / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass
Tulips (!) / Price Of Gasoline / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
Tulips (!) / Price Of Gasoline / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
Labels: Setlists
¶ 3:20 PM 6 comments links to this post
London, ONT - Centennial Hall, 29.09.07
[Setlist]
[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
SRXT / Price Of Gasoline / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
Labels: Setlists
¶ 3:06 PM 1 comments links to this post
