Labels: Tour
¶ 11:20 AM 2 comments links to this post
It's just been announced that Gordy will be sitting out Bloc Party's forthcoming tour dates as he becomes a first-time father. Here's what he has to say...
"A little bit of news for you ahead of the US tour, our first tour in some eight months. To have been away from the winding road of touring so long is a pretty big deal for us, considering we've spent most of the last four years playing our skewed R'n'B meltdown with barely so much as a pause for a cup of tea between shows. But the time has come to stretch the gig legs and break out the spandex once more.
Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to join the boys during the next month or so of touring. The reason for this is that my wife is expecting our first baby in a few weeks and after some long hard thinking we all decided, band included, that it was a bit silly for me to be flying round the world at such a critical time in the pregnancy. No one wants me to wind up in the wrong continent should there be any complications or should the little one decide to put in an early appearance. So while the other chaps are jetting around the Pacific Rim I will be buying the groceries, attending ante-natal classes and generally preparing myself for the cloud of unknown that is becoming a Dad.
In my stead we've been schooling a friend of ours, Daniel Lindegren (aka Tommy Sparks), in the ways of the Bloc. For the next few weeks Daniel will be doing his best to cover my portfolio of bass, keys, buttons, knobs and things that go 'clonk'. He is more than proficient at many of these things so I can't see it marring anyone's enjoyment of the Bloc Party experience while I'm away. All being well, I will return to reclaim my mantle around the end of August, possibly bringing with me some profound wisdom as a new father, if not a complete lack of sleep.
Keep on rockin' young 'uns"
Congratulations Gordy! Looking forward to having you back...
Labels: Tour
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And...the guys have also announced a gig at Dublin's Marlay Park on August 21st in support of The Killers - ticket details here!Labels: Tour
¶ 12:04 AM 4 comments links to this post
Labels: Pin_Me_Down, Tour
¶ 5:59 PM 1 comments links to this post
Bloc Party's Radio 1 Live Lounge cover of Nelly Furtado's 'Say It Right' (recorded last April) is featured on the 'NME Awards Souvenir' CD free with this week's NME, on sale today!
And tomorrow (Thursday), the Bloc play their first gig of the year - the NME Big Gig in the O2 Arena - as part of a stellar lineup (see below). Will the boys roadtest any new material? Send in your setlists!
Schedule:
The Cribs: 7-7:20pm
Klaxons: 7:30-8pm
Bloc Party: 8:10-8:50pm
Kaiser Chiefs: 9-9:45pm
Manic Street Preachers: 10-11pm.
Edit: This week's NME also features a short interview with Kele...read it below!
Labels: Other_releases, Press, Tour
¶ 12:01 AM 2 comments links to this post
Drowned in Sound have managed to grab an interview with both halves of Pin Me Down...read on or go here for the full article. Also, expect to see Russell donning a pair of headphones at Gatecrasher's Summer Sound System over the May Bank Holiday Weekend...it's just been confirmed that Bloc Party will be performing a DJ set there.
DiS: Why embark upon this new project now? And why has it taken a while for you to release anything?
Russell: We've actually been working on this since the time we first met, which I think was the very end of 2004. It’s just that I’ve been so busy with Bloc Party and we could only swap ideas over the internet, which has its limits. After a few years of writing and demo-ing, I finally found a two-week gap to go into a studio and record my parts of an album.
Milena: I think it took us a while to really focus and hone in on what we were doing. We wanted to make pop music that was challenging, that has big hooks, but that actually makes you think. I'd say half the songs we recorded are from our early sessions, but the other half are relatively new. I think we got better as time went on because we got used to writing and playing for the other person.
DiS: Are there any live or touring plans? I assume Russell is still a busy boy with Bloc Party in 2008?
Milena: Yes, Russell is a busy boy with Bloc Party, but we are planning live shows and touring in the near future. We will probably start in the UK and Europe. I can't really say much about the live show other than that you should expect sequins, roman warrior hats, Fender guitars used as weapons, and many cute faces on stage to ogle and Google.
DiS: We sense that Pin Me Down is evidence of your love of early 90's pop and dance rearing its head. True or false?
DiS: One more - is there a release plan, record label in place, etc?
Labels: Pin_Me_Down, Tour
¶ 5:56 PM 1 comments links to this post
Oops...Bloc Party are apparently not playing this festival now. Sorry for the confusion!
Labels: Tour
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¶ 7:13 PM 5 comments links to this post
Bloc Party kicked off their European tour in Amsterdam on Wednesday after a false start (the Copenhagen gig scheduled for Tuesday was unfortunately cancelled), treating their Dutch fans to 'Flux', 'The Once And Future King', 'Tulips', and even a snippet of 90's Eurodance favourite, 'No Limit'! Here's a shaky clip from YouTube...did anyone get a better recording?
Labels: Tour
¶ 9:03 AM 4 comments links to this post
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
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."
Labels: Tour
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¶ 10:49 PM 3 comments links to this post
Having spent some quality time in the studio, Bloc Party are just about to head out on their third transatlantic tour this year! They begin by headlining the Hideout Block (or should that be Bloc?) Party tomorrow before headlining Canada's Osheaga Festival two days later, above Interpol and Arctic Monkeys, no less.
The nineteen-date tour also takes in two more festivals (Austin City Limits and LA Weekly's Detour), as well as dates in Mexico City and Canada. Support across the trek comes from different combinations of Final Fantasy, Smoosh, Deerhoof, J Versus K and Tokyo Police Club. Full details here!
As usual, BLOG PARTY would love to hear from you, so if you're attending any of these dates, please email in your setlists, photos, reviews, or general ramblings! And, keeping with the theme, download below a cover of 'This Modern Love' by teeny-tykes Smoosh, support band on most of the dates:
Labels: Tour
¶ 7:40 PM 2 comments links to this post
Roll up, roll up! Bloc Party have just announced a special concert in the circus-style Big Top at Dublin's Phoenix Park on Saturday 3rd November. Support comes from Biffy Clyro and Foals.
Tickets go on sale from here on Friday 7th September at 9:00am, priced €36.60 including booking fee, limited to six per person.
Labels: Tour
¶ 12:14 PM 1 comments links to this post
Bloc Party have announced a new show on their upcoming US/Canada tour at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI on Tuesday 2nd October. Tickets for the gig don't go on general sale until August 10th, but members of Pioneers will be able to buy tickets from Monday 6th August.
BlocParty.net is back from its hols now, so Always New Depths is back online (hopefully for good this time!) and keep your eyes peeled for an exclusive Pin Me Down feature on BLOG PARTY very soon...
Labels: Tour
¶ 10:40 AM 0 comments links to this post
Bloc Party have just confirmed a one-off fanclub-only show at Brighton's miniscule Concorde 2! This will take place on Friday 24th August 2007 as a warm-up for the Carling Weekend, so bring your beach gear for a weekend in Brighton, 'Waiting For The 7.18' stylee.
Here's the all-important information:
- A password will be emailed to all Pioneers on Monday 9th July.
- Tickets then go on sale at 11am on Tuesday 10th July, limited to 2 per person.
Edit: The date of the show is now Thursday 23rd August, not the 24th as previously announced. There's no change in the other details though - tickets go on sale next Tuesday!
Labels: Tour
¶ 6:02 PM 3 comments links to this post
Only two of the dates are currently on sale (to members of Marshals), but here are the forthcoming US & Canada tour dates in full. Citizens of the oft-neglected states Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky and Oklahoma rejoice!
[Note] All dates are in the UK format (dd.mm.yy)! These dates are unconfirmed, so are subject to change. On-sale information coming soon...
Labels: Tour
¶ 10:11 AM 5 comments links to this post
Some quick-fire news bulletins...
This coming Sunday (July 1st), Bloc Party play at Poland's Heineken Open'er Festival and, according to this article, they'll be joined onstage by Polish rapper O.S.T.R. for one song. (Thanks to Wojciech for the info!)
Prince, Smashing Pumpkins, Justin Timberlake and Arvo Pärt are some of the artists on Kele's decidedly eclectic iPod playlist. Click here to read Kele's explanations as he goes through his playlist on shuffle.
Stay tuned for more songs from Russell's side-project, 'Pin Me Down', in the near future! According to a post on their Myspace, a track called 'Fightsong' has just been completed and, even more excitingly, Russell has recently purchased a Kaoss pad. Look out Jonny Greenwood!
Labels: Collaborations, Random, Tour
¶ 4:04 PM 2 comments links to this post
All photographs taken by Bloc Party for Guardian Unlimited. Head there for more photos!Labels: Tour
¶ 2:57 PM 4 comments links to this post
Bloc Party's never-ending world tour continues with the announcement of their third transatlantic trip this year!
Confirmed so far...
28.09.07 Toronto, ONT - Ricoh Coliseum
03.10.07 New York, NY - WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden
Tickets for these two shows go on sale to Marshals members from tomorrow (26th June) and on general sale from Friday (29th June).
More dates to be announced very soon!
Labels: Tour
¶ 11:45 AM 5 comments links to this post
In other less startling news, the festival season begins in earnest this weekend with a little event down on Worthy Farm! Bloc Party perform on the Pyramid Stage tomorrow (sandwiched between The Magic Numbers and The Fratellis...eek) before flying to Germany for a couple more festival appearances...
- Friday 22nd June - Glastonbury Festival, England - Pyramid Stage @ 18:15
- Saturday 23rd June - Hurricane Festival, Germany - Green Stage @ 19:30
- Sunday 24th June - Southside Festival, Germany - Green Stage @ 18:00
Labels: Tour
¶ 10:28 AM 7 comments links to this post
A year ago, Bloc Party brought the love to Dundee. Today, the band were confirmed for this year's 'Big Weekend' festival in Preston, hosted by Radio 1!
Bloc Party will be headlining the 'In New Music We Trust' Stage on Sunday 20th May, performing after Maximo Park, those cheeky purveyors of fuzzy pop goodness, and at the same time as Kaiser Chiefs over on the Main Stage. (Boycott the Kaisers!)
Click the banner to read more about the event and find out how you can register for tickets...
I've just re-uploaded last year's set (thanks to Bec for the mp3s!), so click here to listen to Bloc Party's Big Weekend in Dundee!
In other festival news, Bloc Party have also been announced as headliners for the 'Best Music Poll 2007' festival in Boston, MA. Tickets go on sale this Friday.
Labels: Tour
¶ 7:13 PM 0 comments links to this post
Bloc Party have announced a second night at London's Alexandra Palace on Saturday 15th December after all tickets for the first night sold out within a few hours of going on sale this morning.
Tickets for Glasgow SECC (December 12th) and Manchester Central (December 13th) are also on sale. You can get tickets now by visiting this link.
Labels: Tour
¶ 6:34 PM 0 comments links to this post
12.12.07 - Glasgow SECC (£18.50)
13.12.07 - Manchester G-Mex (£18.50)
14.12.07 - London Alexandra Palace (£20.00)
Tickets will be available in a pre-sale to paid members of Marshals (Pioneers) from Thursday 26th April at 9:30am and go on general sale on Friday 27th April at 9:30am.
So, Bloc Party have moved up to enormodome status! How will they fare in the land of extortionately priced beer and dubious acoustics? Will they emerge from a giant inflatable fruit of some kind? Several thousand people singing along to the chorus of 'The Prayer' is sure to be a bit of an experience anyway...
Labels: Tour
¶ 9:29 AM 5 comments links to this post
Bloc Party close their U.S. tour in style, becoming the first rock act to perform at New York's prestigious United Palace theatre:
[Setlist, 31.03.07] Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Positive Tension / Hunting For Witches / Waiting For The 7.18 / Banquet / I Still Remember / This Modern Love / Little Thoughts / The Prayer / Uniform / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass [encore] Sunday / She's Hearing Voices / The Pioneers / Helicopter
Crowd photo: Kathryn Yu
Band photos: Tammy Lo
"And the Bloc Party just don't stop. Approaching the final stretch on their present North American jaunt, and bound for the old countries next month with Mahogany (reminder: arrive early!), touring juggernauts Bloc Party have just revealed a three-week U.S. coda to their already enormous trek in support of this year's 'A Weekend in the City'. Oft-neglected minor American metropolises like Myrtle Beach and Asbury Park: Bloc Party cares about you! Even you, Pompano Beach, Florida." (from Pitchfork)
The new tour dates go something like this...
27.05.07 Pompano Beach, FL - Pompano Beach Amphitheatre
28.05.07 Tampa, FL - USF Sun Dome
29.05.07 Orlando, FL - UCF Arena
31.05.07 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
01.06.07 Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
02.06.07 Winston-Salem, NC - Millennium Center
03.06.07 Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
05.06.07 Upper Darby, PA - Tower Theatre
06.06.07 Asbury Park, NJ - Convention Hall
11.06.07 Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theatre
12.06.07 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
13.06.07 Las Vegas, NV - The Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
16.06.07 Alpine, CA - Viejas Casino 'Concerts In The Park'
Edit: a couple of the dates have been changed, and a new show has been added in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Tickets are available now from here, for Marshals members only (tickets will not be valid if purchased by non-members). Username: bloc, password: party.
Labels: Tour
¶ 6:45 PM 15 comments links to this post
On the second night of Bloc Party's two night stint in Los Angeles earlier this week, Final Fantasy (a.k.a. Owen Pallett, violin-looping genius) welcomed Kele onstage to join him in a rendition of Mariah Carey's 'Sweet Fantasy'! This was a bit of a one-off; a special treat for everyone at Final Fantasy's last night supporting Bloc Party. Unfortunately, no bootlegs have surfaced yet, but there's a short video clip on YouTube here!
Also, the lovely people over at Say Anything Syndrome are currently hosting a whole bunch of Final Fantasy covers, including a different recording of 'Sweet Fantasy' (sans Kele). If anyone happened to record the Los Angeles version, please send it in this general direction!
Labels: Other_bands, Random, Tour
¶ 10:41 PM 1 comments links to this post
Bloc Party have announced a show in Auckland, New Zealand on August 8th - their first in Kiwiland. Tickets for the gig at the St. James Theatre will go on sale at 9am from here on Thursday 22nd March.
Labels: Tour
¶ 2:00 PM 2 comments links to this post
On Thursday night, Bloc Party closed day two of this year's SXSW Festival with an electrifying one hour set at Stubb's. This was one of the must-see gigs of the week and Kele & co. treated the packed crowd to fifteen songs picked from both albums. Look out for details of a 'Live from SXSW' digital EP from URGE for a chance to experience the beer-soaked occasion from the comfort of your own home.
The tour rolls into San Francisco tonight, before a two night stint in Los Angeles. Judging from the gig reports so far, Bloc Party look well on their way to winning the hearts of fans across the Atlantic, even managing to incite a (polite) stage invasion in Vancouver!
[Setlist] Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Positive Tension / Blue Light / Hunting For Witches / Waiting For The 7.18 / Banquet / This Modern Love / The Prayer / Uniform / I Still Remember / So Here We Are / Like Eating Glass / SRXT / She's Hearing Voices / Helicopter
