Bloc Party @ Alexandra Palace 15/12/07

It’s nice to be pleasantly surprised. Whether receiving something out of the blue or enjoying a outing that you had previously been dreading. ‘Always expect the worst, and you’ll always be pleasantly surprised’ One saying goes. After feeling just a little under whelmed by The Arcade Fire failing to fully live up to their huge live reputation, in the same venue as tonight’s gig, I did not have great expectations for the supposedly ‘shambolic’ Bloc Party.

I arrived late, nearly too late. But that’s another story. As I shuffled in The Rakes were just finishing off what appeared to be a dull, lifeless performance. I wormed my way towards the front, passing all the early comers who had been placated by the performance of one of the Indie genre’s many anonymously named bands.

They payed their thanks and shuffled off - anticipation for the main event grew, the crowd were in good spirits, and entertained themselves with the dance hits booming out of the PA system that you suspect were chosen by Kele and the band to improve their image as not only ‘another indie guitar band’ but something more. A strategy evident already in the frantic, D&B inspired drumming of Matt tong and the release of the bands latest single, the dance-pop number ‘Flux’. A lone glowstick waved in the darkness as testament to this attempt.

The music faded, the lights went down and Bloc Party took to the stage. Kele is very much the focus of this four piece, despite it being the angular guitar riffs of Russell Lissack and the aforementioned drumming of Matt tong that the crowd reacts to the most, and not his sometimes sappy lyrics. He remains one of modern music’s more identifiable front men, his sharp dress sense, knobbly hair and nasal, yelpy voice standing his out from the rest of the floppy haired pretenders to Bloc Party’s ‘Art Punk’ crown.

There was little acknowledgement of the crowd as the band settled into position on stage and got down to business and opened their set with one of the better efforts off the disappointing Weekend in the city ‘Song for Clay’

The rest of the gig is a bit of blur. As the crowd erupted in response there was very little time to ponder or cringe over the sometimes sloppy lyrics, or space to worry about what they would play next. The crowd bellowed every lyric and bounced to every thunderous guitar riff and drum beat. In larger venues such as this, you’re enjoyment is often as much down to how well the energy of the music is conducted through to the crowd, rather than any deeper aural appreciation of the bands song craft. And it is here where Bloc Party, or perhaps their fan base succeed. Their brand of snappy and infectious dance-rock works perfectly with the younger audience in attendance.

After the initial flurry of up tempo hit’s the crowd was afforded a much needed rest bite by one of the bands more sedate and ballady tracks; ‘Waiting for the 7.18’ which was appreciated, perhaps more down to the chance to regain your breath than anything else, despite the songs up tempo second half, with expansive tremolo guitars it lacks the immediacy and rhythm that gained the band their fame and the kind of song the audience is evidently here for, as they remain relatively subdued for the remainder of the track.

Using this breather, I soaked in my surroundings. I had surged a few feet towards the stage and was now facing the stage dead centre a few rows from the front, An Ideal position to enjoy the rest of the show. As 7:18 dragged on to an end the frenzied torrent of flying arms, legs and fingers continued as the instantly recognisable riff of Banquet fired up. As hit followed hit the crowd became more possessed, recent additions The Prayer and Uniform proving their worth and holding up well in comparison to ’older’ material in getting the desired response from the audience.

I had not experienced such a level of crazy europhoria for most of the year. Even the might of heavier rockers such as Muse, The White Stripes and QOTSA rarely get the crowd going as hysterically as the relatively meek Bloc Party were here. Kele joked that he had “Nearly broken into a sweat” as he surveyed the sweaty sea of bodies amassed before him. Waves of people continually fell to the floor in comedy domino fashion and only then did the sensible British reserve return to allow the fallen comrades to return to their feet and continue jumping as before, undeterred.

Worries over the band’s tightness faded away as they continued to storm through a seemingly never ending set, which thankfully leaned towards the band’s more prompt numbers. Kele by now seemed relaxed and chatted jovially with the crowd between number’s making the venue seem more intimate than the sometimes cold Alexandra Palace really is.

Despite clearly being the centrepiece of the band, he is by no means a magnetic front man , his voice whilst instantly recognisable in it’s yelpy quality is not breathtakingly spectacular. Kele succeeds as a the centre of attention in his relative normalness. There is no glass shattering screams, peculiar uniform or hip shaking moves. He stands, plugging away at his guitar providing the anthemic vocals for the crowd to join in with.

The carefree feeling of a band enjoying themselves at the end of a busy year touring Is evident in their donning of tragically unfashionable Santa Claus hats towards the end of the set. This attitude is perfectly mirrored in the audience, who are desperate to have a good time. Perhaps there was a time where they were rubbish as a live band, but tonight they most definitely were not.

As the night comes to a close they only stumble once more in their song choice. Choosing the painfully dreary Sunday, which becomes even more of a wasted song when it becomes apparently they won’t play the turbo-charged Luno. In an audience as up for it as this one it seemed the obvious choice in retrospect. However complaints such as this are small and only reveal themselves when I dig deep for one to make.

I could go on about the venue, its mind boggling tokens system, excessive queues for coats and it’s relative isolation from any form of public transport but this is a music review and I’m sure’s there’s plenty of bad words out there if you want to find them.

The night arguably peaks with Helicopter which prompts several crowd surfers as the end draws close. The reflective Pioneers acts as the perfect come down for earlier highs, the spent crowd muster one last applause but do not rally too hard for another encore, they are satisfied. As the lights return and blind the audience briefly there is definitely no nagging feeling of disappointment lying under the contentment that often plagues gig’s you’ve hyped up. Instead an exhausted satisfaction is etched on the sweaty and dazzled faces of the audience as they staggered out of Alexandra Palace into the chilly Winter night.

A fitting end to a quality year of live music. Here’s to a better 2008!

Setlist for Bloc Party @ Alexandra Palace - December 15th 2007
Song For Clay
Positive Tension
Hunting For Witches
Waiting For The 7.18
Banquet
This Modern Love
The Prayer
Two More Years
Little Thoughts
Uniform
So Here We Are
Like Eating Glass
Flux Sunday
She’s Hearing Voices
Helicopter
The Pioneers