I don’t remember telling you that I missed out seeing Bloc Party when they recorded 3 songs for The Album Chart Show @ Club Koko last Monday. I had entered a competition at the Bloc Party website and had won, but I didn’t check my emails until last
WEDNESDAY! As you can imagine, I was extremely cross with myself…Then, another gig was announced and another competition put up on the site for the
Mean Fiddler album launch gig, which was broadcast
live on XFM this evening. I entered [the first 100 emails received got in], not expecting to win again - but I
WON AGAIN! What a blessing!So, I got time off work and being a very punctual Nettie, I turned up at the venue around 3pm. Obviously the first person there, because there was no other nutter who was gonna brave the freezing cold. I am that nutter.
About 45 minutes later, I cab drew up just near the building. I just happen to look up and I saw Kele Okereke and Matt Tong come out of the cab with another guy. I went over and said hi. It was my first time meeting Kele [I was hoping I would catch him and I did!] and he was
lovely. I’d met Matt before and he remembered me from the
NME 10th Anniversary gig at Koko last year. I asked how he was because as you know, he had a health scare last year [collapsed lung!] and I was worried about him. He thanked me for my concern and said he was feeling much better. I wished the guys good luck with the gig and they went inside.
I was expecting a mate of mine to show up [I had a spare ticket], but he couldn’t come, so I did my own competition. I texted 10 friends and said, the first person to text me back, gets my spare ticket. Kara [crazyduckette] was quick off the mark and made her way down to the venue. It was rumoured we’d get in about 6.30, but were not let in until the alloted 7pm.There was no support act, so it seemed like ages before the band got onstage [just after 9pm]. They were introduced by an XFM DJ Iain Baker and they were off! They did an absolutley
BLINDING set. I couldn’t stop watching Kele work his guitar. It was facinating seeing him produce the well familiar and unfamiliar sounds of both albums [I really need to learn the lyrics to the new album stat!].They played six songs off the new album. “The Prayer” is a brilliant song. I love the almost tribal feel of it. “Waiting for the 7.18″, which Kara loves coz of the lyrics “Lets drive to Brighton on the weekend” [her home town]. Someone kept yelling “Hunting for Witches”, but they never played it. Of the old songs, I was going mental when “She’s hearing Voices” came on. That’s my all time favourite Bloc Party song. I also loved “Like Eating Glass” and the crowd went mental for “Helicopter”.
Kele would come right up to the front and ‘pose’ for pictures. I love his smile. I think he is just so photogenic.
Russell, was doing his thang, legs akimbo, guitar solos aplenty [after the gig I happen to meet his dad and said “You must be very proud”, to which he replied “I am. He’s a good boy” -
Awwwwwww].
Gordon was doing his usual, witty banter inbetween songs and going up on the drum podium and jumping off [love that guy]. He was having slight technical problems with the connection to his bass amp, but got through it. You could hardly notice really.
Matt was hitting those skins like there was no tomorrow. He is an absolutely
awesome drummer [and he took his top off, which is always a bonus. :D].There were two drumkits on stage and later on Kele said “I bet you’re wondering why we have two drumkits?”. He said one was for Gordon, who left his bass and hopped on the ‘left handed’ drums, which mirrored Matt’s [I never knew that Gordon was a lefty…;)] and they launched into a new song “Sunday”, which has heavy, driving drums and it was really cool seeing the guys play together. It really beefs the song up. The chorus/refrain at the end “I love you in the morning” is so sweet. Afterward, I yelled “Beautiful” and Kele said “Thanks”. :DAt the end of the gig, Kele ripped up his setlist from the floor and personally handed it to me. I thought that was a lovely gesture.
The setlist was as follows.
Song For Clay
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
It’s a triumphant return for Bloc Party, who rocked the house muchly. I can’t wait for the Astoria gigs next week and most importantly, their new album “A Weekend In The City”.
They’re UNSTOPPABLE!
PIX ARE IN THE GALLERYAnd here are some vids…
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