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
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Fan review...V Festival, Staffordshire, 20.08.06
Gig: 20.08.06 - V Festival, Staffordshire
Photos and review: Larry McCloskey (a.k.a. Harry Potter)
Angry faces. Hundreds of angered and disgruntled faces were created as we weaved our way through the crowd for a prime position for the Bloc. Of course, I’d never promote such pushing through the audience for any other band, but this is Bloc Party, an exception. After ten minutes of talking to a group of guys enjoying the drunken revelry that a festival offers, I was formally introduced to the crowd as Harry Potter by one of the group. Luckily however, Kele and the band were quick to arrive to save any further embarrassment and take centre stage.
With not so much as a “hello”, the glockenspiel-driven opening (yeah that’s right, a glockenspiel driving a song) and almost whispered vocals of 'Waiting For The 7:18' kicked off the show. It clicked with the audience almost immediately and the crowd became lost in an ecstatic state as the wall of sound produced by the build-up to the chorus jerked in. The anticipation and excitement for the new album had just tripled after this.
Once the band broke into the classics, the set seemed to pass in a euphoric blur as the crowd became lodged deeper and deeper in the music, only emerging to shout out the obscenity at the climax of 'Positive Tension' in unison. Soon the infamous 'Banquet' intro beat kicked in and the crowd almost eclipsed the many amps with their rapturous greeting to the first line. As Kele mentioned, 'So Here We Are' seemed like the perfect anthem for the moment, as the clouds opened and coated the audience in light drizzle (save yourself!).
The highlight of the set for me must have been 'Like Eating Glass', a truly legendary live anthem (well to my mind, at least). However, this time was different; this time I was 6ft further from the muddy floor. The man who decided I was Harry Potter decided it was time for me to fly. And who was I to turn down the opportunity to witness 'Like Eating Glass' from upon high? I challenge anyone to find a better line than “An aversion to light/got a fear of the oooccccceeeaaannnnnnn”. In return, you can get a pat on the back.
The crowd were truly alive at this point, only to be disappointed as Kele announced that this would be Bloc Party's last performance in the UK this year. And what better way to go than 'Helicopter'. The feedback levels rose to unheard of amounts. The fans were on edge near the front waiting for it and then...BANG...it all went off royally as Russell flew into the riff and mad jumping ensued, as well as a small mosh pit.
But all good things must come to an end. The band went off, Kele telling the crowd to hit the two men in parrots suits if they saw them and Matt talking of his hate for satsumas (except at Christmas). Drum sticks and water bottles were thrown into the crowd and I left with a sense of satisfaction and the knowledge of witnessing something truly awesome.
Gig: 20.08.06 - V Festival, Staffordshire
Photos and review: Larry McCloskey (a.k.a. Harry Potter)
Angry faces. Hundreds of angered and disgruntled faces were created as we weaved our way through the crowd for a prime position for the Bloc. Of course, I’d never promote such pushing through the audience for any other band, but this is Bloc Party, an exception. After ten minutes of talking to a group of guys enjoying the drunken revelry that a festival offers, I was formally introduced to the crowd as Harry Potter by one of the group. Luckily however, Kele and the band were quick to arrive to save any further embarrassment and take centre stage.With not so much as a “hello”, the glockenspiel-driven opening (yeah that’s right, a glockenspiel driving a song) and almost whispered vocals of 'Waiting For The 7:18' kicked off the show. It clicked with the audience almost immediately and the crowd became lost in an ecstatic state as the wall of sound produced by the build-up to the chorus jerked in. The anticipation and excitement for the new album had just tripled after this.
Once the band broke into the classics, the set seemed to pass in a euphoric blur as the crowd became lodged deeper and deeper in the music, only emerging to shout out the obscenity at the climax of 'Positive Tension' in unison. Soon the infamous 'Banquet' intro beat kicked in and the crowd almost eclipsed the many amps with their rapturous greeting to the first line. As Kele mentioned, 'So Here We Are' seemed like the perfect anthem for the moment, as the clouds opened and coated the audience in light drizzle (save yourself!).
The highlight of the set for me must have been 'Like Eating Glass', a truly legendary live anthem (well to my mind, at least). However, this time was different; this time I was 6ft further from the muddy floor. The man who decided I was Harry Potter decided it was time for me to fly. And who was I to turn down the opportunity to witness 'Like Eating Glass' from upon high? I challenge anyone to find a better line than “An aversion to light/got a fear of the oooccccceeeaaannnnnnn”. In return, you can get a pat on the back.
The crowd were truly alive at this point, only to be disappointed as Kele announced that this would be Bloc Party's last performance in the UK this year. And what better way to go than 'Helicopter'. The feedback levels rose to unheard of amounts. The fans were on edge near the front waiting for it and then...BANG...it all went off royally as Russell flew into the riff and mad jumping ensued, as well as a small mosh pit.But all good things must come to an end. The band went off, Kele telling the crowd to hit the two men in parrots suits if they saw them and Matt talking of his hate for satsumas (except at Christmas). Drum sticks and water bottles were thrown into the crowd and I left with a sense of satisfaction and the knowledge of witnessing something truly awesome.
Labels: Gig_reviews
¶ 5:55 PM 3 comments links to this post
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Fan review...Berkeley Greek Theatre, 04.08.06
Gig: 04.08.06 - Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
Review: Nathan Tucker
The show began at 6:30pm, and Mew started their set just as my companions and I entered the Greek with plenty of daylight left. They seemed tight, and people reacted well, which was nice to see. The next band, Two Gallants, was also very good. By the time Broken Social Scene took the stage, it was finally getting dark, and they were excellent, as I expected. And then, after the scurry of roadies had died down, Bloc Party came on. They opened with 'Waiting for the 7.18', as I thought they would, and it worked very well, better than on some of the shoddy bootlegs I have.
Tuning his guitar, Kele announced proudly that this was the group's largest ever headlining gig and that to celebrate, we would all do the wave, which is apparently called the “Mexican wave” in England. Kele’s charisma and charm as a frontman is best described by one of the friends with whom I attended the show, walking down the street afterwards arm in arm with his girlfriend: “Kele Okereke? Oh I’d hit that. I’d hit that in a second!”.
The old songs were great, almost drowned out by the audience singing along, and the new songs were excellent, very tight and the crowd loved them. After 'Helicopter', the band went off stage. Knowing an encore was coming, the crowd was as loud as ever, chants of “more, more…” weaving in and out of cheers and murmurs. When Bloc Party finally came back on, they started with a new song, which, according to the slightly ripped setlist that my friend was handed by Kele after the show, is called 'Blue Moon'. During 'So Here We Are', Broken Social Scene singer and guitarist Kevin Drew came on with his wine glass raised, as if in toast to Bloc Party, to join Kele in singing “I figured it out”.
Gig: 04.08.06 - Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
Review: Nathan Tucker
The show began at 6:30pm, and Mew started their set just as my companions and I entered the Greek with plenty of daylight left. They seemed tight, and people reacted well, which was nice to see. The next band, Two Gallants, was also very good. By the time Broken Social Scene took the stage, it was finally getting dark, and they were excellent, as I expected. And then, after the scurry of roadies had died down, Bloc Party came on. They opened with 'Waiting for the 7.18', as I thought they would, and it worked very well, better than on some of the shoddy bootlegs I have.
Tuning his guitar, Kele announced proudly that this was the group's largest ever headlining gig and that to celebrate, we would all do the wave, which is apparently called the “Mexican wave” in England. Kele’s charisma and charm as a frontman is best described by one of the friends with whom I attended the show, walking down the street afterwards arm in arm with his girlfriend: “Kele Okereke? Oh I’d hit that. I’d hit that in a second!”.
The old songs were great, almost drowned out by the audience singing along, and the new songs were excellent, very tight and the crowd loved them. After 'Helicopter', the band went off stage. Knowing an encore was coming, the crowd was as loud as ever, chants of “more, more…” weaving in and out of cheers and murmurs. When Bloc Party finally came back on, they started with a new song, which, according to the slightly ripped setlist that my friend was handed by Kele after the show, is called 'Blue Moon'. During 'So Here We Are', Broken Social Scene singer and guitarist Kevin Drew came on with his wine glass raised, as if in toast to Bloc Party, to join Kele in singing “I figured it out”.During 'Price of Gasoline', Kele meandered around the stage, putting Russell in a headlock and dragging him around for a bit during one of the verses. They closed with 'The Pioneers', and the final repetitions of “we will not be the last” sent the crowd crazy. Drumsticks were thrown, water bottles tossed, and setlists ripped from the stage and handed out to the fans in the very front. It was without doubt the best show I’ve ever been to.
Setlist: Waiting For The 7:18 / Positive Tension / Banquet / Blue Light / She's Hearing Voices / Hunting for Witches / This Modern Love / Like Eating Glass / Little Thoughts / Helicopter [encore] Blue Moon (England) / Price of Gasoline / So Here We Are / The Pioneers
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 11:17 PM 6 comments links to this post
Fan review...The Grove of Anaheim, 01.08.06
Gig: 01.08.06 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove of Anaheim
Photo and review: Nathan Hawelu
The show itself started slowly with Mew making their 45-minute set seem to last forever. I felt bad for them considering a lot of people were shouting “Bloc Party!”. Mew finished and their roadies disbanded their gear. After the guitar techs finished up, Bloc Party promptly made their way to the stage.
It seems they have started all this tour with 'Waiting For The 7:18' and so they started. Kele bumped the mic with his lip, thus making him bleed while he sang 'Positive Tension'. The band played every song so perfectly and in such harmony I wondered if this was real. Kele’s antics on stage are becoming more and more hilarious. He jumped around and did a prance-type walk that reminded me of the late David Lee Roth. Russell did not look up much from his cropped hairline. Matt took off his shirt after a couple of songs and Gordon sipped his beer from a plastic cup. Though I can’t remember what song it was, Gordon played Matt’s cymbals, then dragged his bass across the stage floor. Countless fans shouted "Skeleton" and Kele said, "What...what's this 'Skeleton' you're speaking of?" They continued their set with the crowd singing every song word for word. There were some crowd surfers that made themselves a nuisance, but did not make the show anything less than spectacular.
The band finished their set and left. The crowd was quite confused, for we did not know if they would play an encore. The lighting did not come back on so no-one moved out of the venue. Slowly the band started to come back out. Just as that happened I threw onto the stage a letter that I wrote personally to Kele. I went in a group of about 14 people and we were all near each other up against the rail blocking the stage, shouting to him to look on the stage monitor. He looked very puzzled and bent over to check the space between the stage and the rail, came back up and shrugged his shoulders. He got somewhat frustrated, came over to the edge of the stage to put the mic into one of my companion's hands and she told him where it was. Kele found the letter, said he loved presents and put the letter to his heart then into his back pocket. He asked my name and some stupid jock kid near me tried to take credit for throwing it up there. Luckily I was with so many people who knew what my mission was that they all shouted “NATHAN” and Kele said “Thank you, Nathan”. He played the whole encore with my letter in his back pocket and held the hands of a couple of crowd surfers during the final chorus of 'The Pioneers'...ending the show beautifully.
Setlist: Waiting For The 7:18 / Positive Tension / Banquet / Blue Light / She's Hearing Voices / Hunting for Witches / This Modern Love / Like Eating Glass / So Here We Are / Helicopter [encore] Price of Gasoline / Little Thoughts / England / The Pioneers
Gig: 01.08.06 - Anaheim, CA - The Grove of Anaheim
Photo and review: Nathan Hawelu
The show itself started slowly with Mew making their 45-minute set seem to last forever. I felt bad for them considering a lot of people were shouting “Bloc Party!”. Mew finished and their roadies disbanded their gear. After the guitar techs finished up, Bloc Party promptly made their way to the stage.
It seems they have started all this tour with 'Waiting For The 7:18' and so they started. Kele bumped the mic with his lip, thus making him bleed while he sang 'Positive Tension'. The band played every song so perfectly and in such harmony I wondered if this was real. Kele’s antics on stage are becoming more and more hilarious. He jumped around and did a prance-type walk that reminded me of the late David Lee Roth. Russell did not look up much from his cropped hairline. Matt took off his shirt after a couple of songs and Gordon sipped his beer from a plastic cup. Though I can’t remember what song it was, Gordon played Matt’s cymbals, then dragged his bass across the stage floor. Countless fans shouted "Skeleton" and Kele said, "What...what's this 'Skeleton' you're speaking of?" They continued their set with the crowd singing every song word for word. There were some crowd surfers that made themselves a nuisance, but did not make the show anything less than spectacular.
The band finished their set and left. The crowd was quite confused, for we did not know if they would play an encore. The lighting did not come back on so no-one moved out of the venue. Slowly the band started to come back out. Just as that happened I threw onto the stage a letter that I wrote personally to Kele. I went in a group of about 14 people and we were all near each other up against the rail blocking the stage, shouting to him to look on the stage monitor. He looked very puzzled and bent over to check the space between the stage and the rail, came back up and shrugged his shoulders. He got somewhat frustrated, came over to the edge of the stage to put the mic into one of my companion's hands and she told him where it was. Kele found the letter, said he loved presents and put the letter to his heart then into his back pocket. He asked my name and some stupid jock kid near me tried to take credit for throwing it up there. Luckily I was with so many people who knew what my mission was that they all shouted “NATHAN” and Kele said “Thank you, Nathan”. He played the whole encore with my letter in his back pocket and held the hands of a couple of crowd surfers during the final chorus of 'The Pioneers'...ending the show beautifully.Setlist: Waiting For The 7:18 / Positive Tension / Banquet / Blue Light / She's Hearing Voices / Hunting for Witches / This Modern Love / Like Eating Glass / So Here We Are / Helicopter [encore] Price of Gasoline / Little Thoughts / England / The Pioneers
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 10:28 AM 7 comments links to this post
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Fan review...Ogden Theatre, 31.07.06
Gig: 31.07.06 - Denver, Colorado - Ogden Theatre
Photo and review: Christian Allen
I had just gotten back from California the morning of the concert, and spent all day blasting any and all Bloc Party songs I had. It didn’t matter what, be it 'England', or 'Helicopter', or even my ultra-shoddy bootleg of 'Hunting For Witches'. I was basically on a cloud.
So we went. My brother and I, just the two of us. We arrived at the Ogden Theatre about an hour before door time and there were only two groups of people already there. Thank God. While it was the longest hour of my life, the feelings of anticipation easily destroyed any feelings of boredom. We could hear, through the huge set of doors, Bloc Party and the opening act Mew doing their sound check. And finally, the doors were opened. After a rather lengthy discussion with the theatre’s manager about me getting in (it was a 16+ show and I’m only 14), we got in. We ran up to the very front, and sure enough got front row.
Mew came on about an hour afterward. They were very solid, had a unique sound, captivated me and at the same time got me even more excited for Bloc Party. When they left the stage I was impressed yet still happy that Bloc Party was even closer. So after waiting for a little while, and noticing the temperature in the theatre rising to quite a generous one, the lights dimmed, and the amazing four came on.
I could only see their silhouettes through all the fog and the odd lighting, and the first thing that came to my mind was: “Wow, Kele’s hair looks even crazier in person!”. I had a good idea of what they were going to be playing, as I had been following their every move and been reading tons of reviews of the previous concerts on this tour. So I wasn’t really surprised when the opening song was 'Waiting For The 7:18'. It was an amazing song. As a drummer, I had a hell of a lot of fun just watching Matt Tong’s every move. It was surreal, the whole song. Bloc Party’s energy was undeniable. They're definitely the most danceable band I’ve ever seen. The crowd constantly shouting back the words, the sweat running down everyone’s faces...it was amazing. Just amazing.
The encore was even better. They played one of their more rarely-played new songs, 'Wet' (or, I should say, 'On'... blech). It was one of the more anthemy songs by Bloc Party, and it's beauty almost brought tears to my eyes. They closed with 'The Pioneers', in which Kele looked like he was going to collapse on stage. But despite his fatigue, he sang his heart out.
When they left, I felt hurt. But I knew that great things don’t last. And I was happy to know that I got to see my favourite band in concert, putting on the best show I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen some big acts. Coldplay, U2, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers...I enjoyed Bloc Party more than all of those bands combined. In the end I couldn’t have been happier. It was a perfect show, and a perfect night.
God Bless Bloc Party.
Setlist: Waiting For The 7:18 / Positive Tension / Banquet / Blue Light / She's Hearing Voices / Uniform / This Modern Love / Like Eating Glass / Little Thoughts / Helicopter [encore] Wet / Price of Gasoline / So Here We Are / The Pioneers
Gig: 31.07.06 - Denver, Colorado - Ogden Theatre
Photo and review: Christian Allen
I had just gotten back from California the morning of the concert, and spent all day blasting any and all Bloc Party songs I had. It didn’t matter what, be it 'England', or 'Helicopter', or even my ultra-shoddy bootleg of 'Hunting For Witches'. I was basically on a cloud.
So we went. My brother and I, just the two of us. We arrived at the Ogden Theatre about an hour before door time and there were only two groups of people already there. Thank God. While it was the longest hour of my life, the feelings of anticipation easily destroyed any feelings of boredom. We could hear, through the huge set of doors, Bloc Party and the opening act Mew doing their sound check. And finally, the doors were opened. After a rather lengthy discussion with the theatre’s manager about me getting in (it was a 16+ show and I’m only 14), we got in. We ran up to the very front, and sure enough got front row.
Mew came on about an hour afterward. They were very solid, had a unique sound, captivated me and at the same time got me even more excited for Bloc Party. When they left the stage I was impressed yet still happy that Bloc Party was even closer. So after waiting for a little while, and noticing the temperature in the theatre rising to quite a generous one, the lights dimmed, and the amazing four came on.
I could only see their silhouettes through all the fog and the odd lighting, and the first thing that came to my mind was: “Wow, Kele’s hair looks even crazier in person!”. I had a good idea of what they were going to be playing, as I had been following their every move and been reading tons of reviews of the previous concerts on this tour. So I wasn’t really surprised when the opening song was 'Waiting For The 7:18'. It was an amazing song. As a drummer, I had a hell of a lot of fun just watching Matt Tong’s every move. It was surreal, the whole song. Bloc Party’s energy was undeniable. They're definitely the most danceable band I’ve ever seen. The crowd constantly shouting back the words, the sweat running down everyone’s faces...it was amazing. Just amazing.
The encore was even better. They played one of their more rarely-played new songs, 'Wet' (or, I should say, 'On'... blech). It was one of the more anthemy songs by Bloc Party, and it's beauty almost brought tears to my eyes. They closed with 'The Pioneers', in which Kele looked like he was going to collapse on stage. But despite his fatigue, he sang his heart out.When they left, I felt hurt. But I knew that great things don’t last. And I was happy to know that I got to see my favourite band in concert, putting on the best show I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen some big acts. Coldplay, U2, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers...I enjoyed Bloc Party more than all of those bands combined. In the end I couldn’t have been happier. It was a perfect show, and a perfect night.
God Bless Bloc Party.
Setlist: Waiting For The 7:18 / Positive Tension / Banquet / Blue Light / She's Hearing Voices / Uniform / This Modern Love / Like Eating Glass / Little Thoughts / Helicopter [encore] Wet / Price of Gasoline / So Here We Are / The Pioneers
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 9:47 PM 1 comments links to this post
Monday, July 31, 2006
Fan review...McCarren Park Pool, 29.07.06
Gig: 29.07.06 - Brooklyn, New York - McCarren Park Pool
Reviewer: Heather from Seattle
Photo: Brooklyn Vegan
The show was very unique, with the stage set up on the edge of an oversized, abandoned swimming pool. It was very crowded and quite a large-scale production. The sound was great and there were no technical glitches that I noticed (as opposed to the NJ show from two nights earlier). Nearly every song was drowned out by the crowd singing along. The new tracks sounded tight and the band's enthusiasm was contagious. My favourite line of the evening came from Kele (as per usual): "The sign says 'No Diving'. Know what I say? Fuck that shit." Then, he jumped off the massive stage to come down into the crowd for a moment.
At the encore, the group came back to the stage armed with large squirt guns. They proceeded to cool off the crowd by squirting all of us. After the encore finished, all four of them jumped down into the crowd to hand out the setlists and shake hands. Jumping back up on stage, they waved goodbye and Russell proceeded to squirt a topless Matt. It was a superb ending to the show.
Setlist: Waiting For The 7:18 / Positive Tension / Banquet / Blue Light / She's Hearing Voices / Hunting for Witches / This Modern Love / Like Eating Glass / Little Thoughts / Helicopter [encore] So Here We Are / Price of Gasoline / Compliments / The Pioneers
Gig: 29.07.06 - Brooklyn, New York - McCarren Park Pool
Reviewer: Heather from Seattle
Photo: Brooklyn Vegan
The show was very unique, with the stage set up on the edge of an oversized, abandoned swimming pool. It was very crowded and quite a large-scale production. The sound was great and there were no technical glitches that I noticed (as opposed to the NJ show from two nights earlier). Nearly every song was drowned out by the crowd singing along. The new tracks sounded tight and the band's enthusiasm was contagious. My favourite line of the evening came from Kele (as per usual): "The sign says 'No Diving'. Know what I say? Fuck that shit." Then, he jumped off the massive stage to come down into the crowd for a moment.
At the encore, the group came back to the stage armed with large squirt guns. They proceeded to cool off the crowd by squirting all of us. After the encore finished, all four of them jumped down into the crowd to hand out the setlists and shake hands. Jumping back up on stage, they waved goodbye and Russell proceeded to squirt a topless Matt. It was a superb ending to the show.
Setlist: Waiting For The 7:18 / Positive Tension / Banquet / Blue Light / She's Hearing Voices / Hunting for Witches / This Modern Love / Like Eating Glass / Little Thoughts / Helicopter [encore] So Here We Are / Price of Gasoline / Compliments / The PioneersLabels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 9:56 AM 3 comments links to this post
Fan review...Bank of America Pavilion, 28.07.06
Gig: 28.07.06 - Boston, Massachusetts - Bank of America Pavilion
Reviewer: Derek Davies (originally posted on GWFAS)
Anyone who's been reading this website for any time at all can pretty much immediately discern that my favourite band is far and away Bloc Party, and for this reason I already knew Bloc's show in Boston two nights ago would be one of my all-time favorites before it even happened. However, it was a longer journey than usual to get to the venue, as we had to take the ferry over to the mainland from Martha's Vineyard before driving about an hour to Boston to get to the Bank of America Pavilion, which proved to be my favourite large-scale venue I've ever attended and a pretty great environment for Bloc Party's anthemic, fist-pumping angular guitar-rock. With me were my favorite trio of indie girls, the always-lovely Merry, India, and Lizzy, and despite a glaring lack of testosterone outside of that which was supplied by me (which is to say, not much), we had a fucking splendid time.
As anticipated, the band did not disappoint, ripping through every track I'd wanted to hear from 'Silent Alarm' as well as two amazing tracks from their upcoming and as-yet-untitled sophomore album, 'Waiting For The 7.18' and the incredible 'Uniform'. While I'm extremely upset I didn't get to hear 'Hunting For Witches' (another new track that's seen some exposure in live settings) as the audiences the next two nights in New Jersey and Brooklyn did, I'll settle for what was, with the exception of the inclusion of 'Tulips' over 'Little Thoughts', essentially the perfect Bloc Party setlist. Kele and co. even hooked us up with 'Two More Years', the exclusion of which from the band's Intonation setlist last month nearly reduced Lizzy and I to inconsolable messes at the time, as well as set-closer 'The Pioneers', another phenomenal track we missed out on last time around.
More and more, Kele is proving himself to be one of the most intelligent and charismatic frontmen in indie rock, and at no point was this more apparent than when a surely-inebriated prototypically-surly Bostonian in a Red Sox jersey jumped up on the corner of a stage and started clapping and drunkenly-dancing in front of the audience during 'Price of Gasoline' in the encore. Rather than letting the security guards take care of the man, Kele walked over and put his arm around him while still singing, and brought him over to the mic to share lead vocals on the chorus with him, before leaving the man to take over vocals on his own. When the guy had difficulty keeping up with the words, Kele gently led him over to Gordy's mic to take over on the much more simplistic backing vocals (just grunting "ugh" every other second or so). Afterwards Kele took the man aside and they shared a laugh about something before the certainly overwhelmed fan returned to the audience. It was certainly interesting to see Okereke, who wrote such a scathingly-anti-American song as 'Helicopter' (with it's "stop being so American" lyrics), embrace a fan so obnoxious and stereotypically-American as this dude was in his drunken grandeur, but this sequence of events was a true testament to his charisma and ability to work a crowd as a rock and roll frontman.
Bloc Party is in a very exciting place right now as a band, and their next album should elevate them to an entire new level of popularity and critical acclaim. With 'Silent Alarm' the band garnered nearly unanimous critical praise but also gained a lot of haters who called the group Gang of Four knock-offs and accused them of being just another run-of-the-mill guitar rock band trying to cash in on the dance rock fad. However, with their new album Bloc are trying to shake such accusations ("dance punk will not be a noose around our neck", Kele said in a recent interview) and have traded in their danceable, angular guitar riffs for much a much more languorous, morose sound like that first hinted at on 'Two More Years'. In fact, with the exception of possibly 'Hunting For Witches', there's nary a single track that's 100% danceable the entire way through, as the lion's share of the songs are either much slower-paced, moody affairs all the way through or follow the formula established by 'So Here We Are', in which the song starts out slow and builds to furious climax before it's completion, as can be seen in both 'Waiting For The 7.18' and 'Uniform'.
Setlist: Waiting For The 7:18 / Positive Tension / Banquet / Blue Light / She's Hearing Voices / Uniform / This Modern Love / Like Eating Glass / So Here We Are / Helicopter [encore] Two More Years / Price of Gasoline / Tulips / The Pioneers
Gig: 28.07.06 - Boston, Massachusetts - Bank of America Pavilion
Reviewer: Derek Davies (originally posted on GWFAS)
Anyone who's been reading this website for any time at all can pretty much immediately discern that my favourite band is far and away Bloc Party, and for this reason I already knew Bloc's show in Boston two nights ago would be one of my all-time favorites before it even happened. However, it was a longer journey than usual to get to the venue, as we had to take the ferry over to the mainland from Martha's Vineyard before driving about an hour to Boston to get to the Bank of America Pavilion, which proved to be my favourite large-scale venue I've ever attended and a pretty great environment for Bloc Party's anthemic, fist-pumping angular guitar-rock. With me were my favorite trio of indie girls, the always-lovely Merry, India, and Lizzy, and despite a glaring lack of testosterone outside of that which was supplied by me (which is to say, not much), we had a fucking splendid time.
As anticipated, the band did not disappoint, ripping through every track I'd wanted to hear from 'Silent Alarm' as well as two amazing tracks from their upcoming and as-yet-untitled sophomore album, 'Waiting For The 7.18' and the incredible 'Uniform'. While I'm extremely upset I didn't get to hear 'Hunting For Witches' (another new track that's seen some exposure in live settings) as the audiences the next two nights in New Jersey and Brooklyn did, I'll settle for what was, with the exception of the inclusion of 'Tulips' over 'Little Thoughts', essentially the perfect Bloc Party setlist. Kele and co. even hooked us up with 'Two More Years', the exclusion of which from the band's Intonation setlist last month nearly reduced Lizzy and I to inconsolable messes at the time, as well as set-closer 'The Pioneers', another phenomenal track we missed out on last time around.
More and more, Kele is proving himself to be one of the most intelligent and charismatic frontmen in indie rock, and at no point was this more apparent than when a surely-inebriated prototypically-surly Bostonian in a Red Sox jersey jumped up on the corner of a stage and started clapping and drunkenly-dancing in front of the audience during 'Price of Gasoline' in the encore. Rather than letting the security guards take care of the man, Kele walked over and put his arm around him while still singing, and brought him over to the mic to share lead vocals on the chorus with him, before leaving the man to take over vocals on his own. When the guy had difficulty keeping up with the words, Kele gently led him over to Gordy's mic to take over on the much more simplistic backing vocals (just grunting "ugh" every other second or so). Afterwards Kele took the man aside and they shared a laugh about something before the certainly overwhelmed fan returned to the audience. It was certainly interesting to see Okereke, who wrote such a scathingly-anti-American song as 'Helicopter' (with it's "stop being so American" lyrics), embrace a fan so obnoxious and stereotypically-American as this dude was in his drunken grandeur, but this sequence of events was a true testament to his charisma and ability to work a crowd as a rock and roll frontman.
Bloc Party is in a very exciting place right now as a band, and their next album should elevate them to an entire new level of popularity and critical acclaim. With 'Silent Alarm' the band garnered nearly unanimous critical praise but also gained a lot of haters who called the group Gang of Four knock-offs and accused them of being just another run-of-the-mill guitar rock band trying to cash in on the dance rock fad. However, with their new album Bloc are trying to shake such accusations ("dance punk will not be a noose around our neck", Kele said in a recent interview) and have traded in their danceable, angular guitar riffs for much a much more languorous, morose sound like that first hinted at on 'Two More Years'. In fact, with the exception of possibly 'Hunting For Witches', there's nary a single track that's 100% danceable the entire way through, as the lion's share of the songs are either much slower-paced, moody affairs all the way through or follow the formula established by 'So Here We Are', in which the song starts out slow and builds to furious climax before it's completion, as can be seen in both 'Waiting For The 7.18' and 'Uniform'.
Setlist: Waiting For The 7:18 / Positive Tension / Banquet / Blue Light / She's Hearing Voices / Uniform / This Modern Love / Like Eating Glass / So Here We Are / Helicopter [encore] Two More Years / Price of Gasoline / Tulips / The Pioneers
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 9:39 AM 5 comments links to this post
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Fan review...The Stone Pony, 27.07.06
Gig: 27.07.06 - Asbury Park, New Jersey - The Stone Pony
Reviewer: Markus from Delaware (the guy yelling "Skeleton" at the top of his lungs between each song)
Photos: Heather from Seattle
Bloc Party at The Stone Pony did what they do best: churn out bangers. I arrived and was surprised to find an outdoor venue, but my ticket did say "rain or shine" so I wasn't worried. Mew was accessible but I wish I could have heard their album before the show. Bloc went on after an intro from a local D.J.
'Waiting...' was the first one, and was different from the demo I have of the song from the spring. Mostly effects on their new equipment (Kele's Gretsch is beautiful), the rhythm was clear and direct. They ran through a few favourites like 'Banquet', 'She's Hearing Voices', and 'Positive Tension', but then...oh man. I've heard all the demos circulating the net recently but nothing can do justice to 'Hunting For Witches' live, which I believe has been reworked slightly. I think the people around me, who I'm sure haven't heard the song before, actually really got into it. Kele prefaced it with "be nice", but no need when the song was so excitingly frantic and dug so deep. Best song of the show.
Bloc Party dedicated 'Blue Light' to some fans they met before the show. 'This Modern Love' connected well with a lot of people. They went off for the first encore of what is usually two. It started raining lightly, but no worries. I was loving it and the Bloc didn't seem to care. They gave us 'Tulips' and 'Price of Gasoline' before they were forced offstage, despite an angry crowd. For the record though it really did seem like they were pulled from us rather than them just not wanting to play in the rain. A sad end to what was looking like the best show I've ever seen from them (this is my fourth).
Other funny things from the show:
Gig: 27.07.06 - Asbury Park, New Jersey - The Stone Pony
Reviewer: Markus from Delaware (the guy yelling "Skeleton" at the top of his lungs between each song)
Photos: Heather from Seattle
Bloc Party at The Stone Pony did what they do best: churn out bangers. I arrived and was surprised to find an outdoor venue, but my ticket did say "rain or shine" so I wasn't worried. Mew was accessible but I wish I could have heard their album before the show. Bloc went on after an intro from a local D.J. 'Waiting...' was the first one, and was different from the demo I have of the song from the spring. Mostly effects on their new equipment (Kele's Gretsch is beautiful), the rhythm was clear and direct. They ran through a few favourites like 'Banquet', 'She's Hearing Voices', and 'Positive Tension', but then...oh man. I've heard all the demos circulating the net recently but nothing can do justice to 'Hunting For Witches' live, which I believe has been reworked slightly. I think the people around me, who I'm sure haven't heard the song before, actually really got into it. Kele prefaced it with "be nice", but no need when the song was so excitingly frantic and dug so deep. Best song of the show.
Bloc Party dedicated 'Blue Light' to some fans they met before the show. 'This Modern Love' connected well with a lot of people. They went off for the first encore of what is usually two. It started raining lightly, but no worries. I was loving it and the Bloc didn't seem to care. They gave us 'Tulips' and 'Price of Gasoline' before they were forced offstage, despite an angry crowd. For the record though it really did seem like they were pulled from us rather than them just not wanting to play in the rain. A sad end to what was looking like the best show I've ever seen from them (this is my fourth).
Other funny things from the show: - Two (separate) stage divers hugging Kele before jumping back into the crowd to escape security.
- Gordy using different vocal textures, like growling, during songs, which I thought was bloody brilliant and funny.
- Russell having a problem with guitars the whole show, which I think was the venue's fault.
- Kele asking Tong to say something and all he could say was: " ...I love you all! I really do!" Haha.
Great show that should have been twice the length. I didn't even get 'The Pioneers'! Even when the crowd screamed "rain or shine" for five minutes upon them being pulled, no success. Oh well. Next time hopefully there will be a new album out and I'll get to see them indoors.
Setlist:
Waiting For The 7:18 / Positive Tension / Banquet / Blue Light / She's Hearing Voices / Hunting For Witches / This Modern Love / Like Eating Glass / So Here We Are / Helicopter [encore] Tulips / Price of Gasoline [thunderstorm stopped play!]
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 5:56 PM 7 comments links to this post
Friday, March 31, 2006
Gig reviews: Royal Albert Hall, London, 29.03.06
MusicOMH.com: "...in their set of around an hour, they proved yet again that they're one of the most vital and relevant bands around, with an arsenal of songs to rival almost anyone. On this evidence, their new album will see them go stratospheric."
Gigwise.com: "Closing on the outstanding ‘Pioneers’ it’s when Kele delivers the line “We promised the world we’d tame it” like no one else can that you’re reminded just why Bloc Party are inimitable and for that reason alone, very, very special."
Gigwise.com: "Closing on the outstanding ‘Pioneers’ it’s when Kele delivers the line “We promised the world we’d tame it” like no one else can that you’re reminded just why Bloc Party are inimitable and for that reason alone, very, very special."
Labels: Gig_reviews
¶ 12:25 AM 2 comments links to this post
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Last night's Royal Albert Hall gig
I was lucky enough to go to Bloc Party's charity gig at London's Royal Albert Hall last night...and it was absolutely STUNNING!
The reliably shambolic Mystery Jets were the first band on. They played a good set (but no 'On My Feet'!) and the crowd really seemed to warm to them. Henry Harrison, the elder Jet, was his usual cool self...in 'Alas Agnes' the drummer sped up, so Henry walked over to the drums and tapped out the tempo on a cymbal!
Biffy Clyro were the next band to play. Biffy have always been a bit of a cult band...a rock behemoth that has never quite made it out of the underground. Judging from the new material played tonight, however, Biffy should soon get the commercial success they deserve. The Biffy army were out in full force last night, with cries of 'Mon The Biffy!' echoing around the venue! Credit must go to the guys near me who not only sang all the lyrics, but also every guitar riff!
Before the headline set, a short video about the Teenage Cancer Trust was played on the big screen, providing a few minutes to reflect on the reason behind this series of gigs. The Teenage Cancer Trust focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer by providing dedicated teenage units in NHS hospitals. As well as providing excellent medical facilities, these units are funky and vibrant - equipped with computers, TVs, music equipment, game consoles and facilities for parents to stay close by overnight.
So far, TCT has built eight units - two in London and one in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle and Manchester. Units cost over £1 million each to build and TCT wants to see at least 20 units in the UK so that every teenager with cancer in Britain has access to these unique facilities. To find out more, head over to the TCT website.
So...on to the main attraction! Bloc Party's set followed a similar format to the recent Marshals shows, with five new songs being premiered alongside the highlights of 'Silent Alarm'. The boys were in really good spirits - Kele was constantly smiling and joking with the crowd. It was actually the second time Kele had played at the Royal Albert Hall...he sang there in a school choir when he was 12!
I was worried that the seating would be slightly restrictive, but everyone in the arena stood up when Bloc Party came on, allowing more room for people to dance!
My favourite bits of Bloc Party's set:
I was lucky enough to go to Bloc Party's charity gig at London's Royal Albert Hall last night...and it was absolutely STUNNING!
The reliably shambolic Mystery Jets were the first band on. They played a good set (but no 'On My Feet'!) and the crowd really seemed to warm to them. Henry Harrison, the elder Jet, was his usual cool self...in 'Alas Agnes' the drummer sped up, so Henry walked over to the drums and tapped out the tempo on a cymbal!
Biffy Clyro were the next band to play. Biffy have always been a bit of a cult band...a rock behemoth that has never quite made it out of the underground. Judging from the new material played tonight, however, Biffy should soon get the commercial success they deserve. The Biffy army were out in full force last night, with cries of 'Mon The Biffy!' echoing around the venue! Credit must go to the guys near me who not only sang all the lyrics, but also every guitar riff!
Before the headline set, a short video about the Teenage Cancer Trust was played on the big screen, providing a few minutes to reflect on the reason behind this series of gigs. The Teenage Cancer Trust focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer by providing dedicated teenage units in NHS hospitals. As well as providing excellent medical facilities, these units are funky and vibrant - equipped with computers, TVs, music equipment, game consoles and facilities for parents to stay close by overnight.
So far, TCT has built eight units - two in London and one in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle and Manchester. Units cost over £1 million each to build and TCT wants to see at least 20 units in the UK so that every teenager with cancer in Britain has access to these unique facilities. To find out more, head over to the TCT website.
So...on to the main attraction! Bloc Party's set followed a similar format to the recent Marshals shows, with five new songs being premiered alongside the highlights of 'Silent Alarm'. The boys were in really good spirits - Kele was constantly smiling and joking with the crowd. It was actually the second time Kele had played at the Royal Albert Hall...he sang there in a school choir when he was 12!
I was worried that the seating would be slightly restrictive, but everyone in the arena stood up when Bloc Party came on, allowing more room for people to dance!
My favourite bits of Bloc Party's set:
- The new songs! Five new songs were played last night (see the setlist below) and they all sounded huge in this magnificent venue. 'Hunting For Witches' is already one of the set highlights, 'Blue Moon' is a heartbreaking anthem set to a groovy, lilting rhythm. 'Uniform', which seems to be about Kele's frustration at the lack of individuality in today's youth culture, is a twisting epic which features Russell on the EBow! 'Wet', a gorgeous slowburner with a multilayered guitar intro, contains the lyrics 'you make my tongue loose' and 'Waiting For The 7.18' soars like an eagle!
- 'So Here We Are'. In the instrumental bridge, the house lights came on and Kele came right to the front of the stage without his microphone, mouthing the words to the rest of the song as we all sang our hearts out.
- The intro of 'Hunting For Witches'. The. Best. Intro. Ever.
- Matt's drumming. How does he keep it up? He must have a robotic arm or something.
Anyway, I apologise for the length of this post. It was just a very special gig! Here's a few photos I took last night:
Setlist:
Waiting For The 7.18
She's Hearing Voices
Banquet
This Modern Love
Hunting For Witches
Two More Years
Uniform
Like Eating Glass
So Here We Are
Helicopter
Wet
Price of Gasoline
Blue Moon
The Pioneers
Labels: Gig_reviews, Setlists
¶ 12:41 PM 10 comments links to this post
Monday, March 13, 2006
Gig review: Nottingham Rescue Rooms, 09.03.06
Nottingham Rescue Rooms, 09.03.06: Drowned in Sound
"Simply magnificent then, but did we really expect anything less?"
Nottingham Rescue Rooms, 09.03.06: Drowned in Sound
"Simply magnificent then, but did we really expect anything less?"
Labels: Gig_reviews
¶ 2:02 PM 1 comments links to this post
Sunday, March 12, 2006
The fan club tour: my summary
With the fan club tour finishing in Norwich last Saturday, I thought I'd write a bit about the new songs that were premiered.
I was lucky enough to go to the Nottingham leg of the tour, and I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable, and sweaty, gigs I've been to. Congratulations must go to whoever chose Komakino as the support band - they were excellent in Nottingham, setting things up nicely for Bloc Party.
All the setlists for the dates are in the setlists post. I'll try to update this, so feel free to send me setlists of any BP gigs that you go to.
In total, ten brand new songs were played over the eight gigs. Below is a list of the songs in the order they were premiered, and my first impressions from what I heard in Nottingham and from other fans' videos! By the way, I've never been great at describing things, so excuse my poor attempt at music journalism!
'Machine': lives up to its title...Matt Tong provides a mechanical drum beat and the main guitar riff is reminiscent of the chorus guitar line in 'Price Of Gasoline'. The song begins and ends a cappella with the chorus lyrics: "People are afraid to merge on the freeways, people are afraid to merge".
'Hunting For Witches': 'Helicopter' Mark II? Russell or Kele opens the song with a VERY cool guitar effect, then Russell comes in with a riff which reminds me of the intro riff in
With the fan club tour finishing in Norwich last Saturday, I thought I'd write a bit about the new songs that were premiered.
I was lucky enough to go to the Nottingham leg of the tour, and I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable, and sweaty, gigs I've been to. Congratulations must go to whoever chose Komakino as the support band - they were excellent in Nottingham, setting things up nicely for Bloc Party.
All the setlists for the dates are in the setlists post. I'll try to update this, so feel free to send me setlists of any BP gigs that you go to.
In total, ten brand new songs were played over the eight gigs. Below is a list of the songs in the order they were premiered, and my first impressions from what I heard in Nottingham and from other fans' videos! By the way, I've never been great at describing things, so excuse my poor attempt at music journalism!'Machine': lives up to its title...Matt Tong provides a mechanical drum beat and the main guitar riff is reminiscent of the chorus guitar line in 'Price Of Gasoline'. The song begins and ends a cappella with the chorus lyrics: "People are afraid to merge on the freeways, people are afraid to merge".
'Hunting For Witches': 'Helicopter' Mark II? Russell or Kele opens the song with a VERY cool guitar effect, then Russell comes in with a riff which reminds me of the intro riff in