Bloc Party ‘Intimacy’ Album Launch @ HMV, Oxford St, 27/10/2008
I woke up at 5am today, with a view to getting to HMV for about 6am, but it was a hard time getting out of the house. I got there about 6.30am and saw that there was only 1 person there, so decided to go to McD’s for breakfast. By the time I got back, there was about 10 people in front of me. Aly came along not long after and we were happily queuing only to find that, being at the main entrance to the store, we were at the wrong spot and the queue started around the corner. We hauled arse and found another 10 people there already, so there was bout 20 people in front of me. But it didn’t matter because we were getting the wristbands only.
A security guard came along and put a notice on the door, which made absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. I’ll leave you to work it out.
They were late opening the doors for us to go get our wristbands. Must’ve been about 9.15. Tut-tut….
When we got inside we were told we had to buy the album, in order to get a wristband, which I thought was a bit of a con. Most of us [well, the true fans anyhow] had already pre-ordered the album [I got my copy Saturday morning]. Anyhow, I decided to buy the picture disc of the album, together with a spare copy for the car.
Afterwards, we were messing around in the shop and singing rather loudly as they were playing the album over the loudspeaker. I had to get back home, as I had to go to work half day, but ended up only staying for 45 mins [I was able to negotiate the rest of the day off….]
I got back to HMV just after 1pm and waiting it out with 2 others, who had the good sense to get there early [Hi Darren and Kathryn]. Aly, Sarah and Laurie came along after and we passed the time messing around and scrawling graffiti on the wall.
We got let in at 5pm, which was a nice surprise as we thought opening time was 6pm. When we got inside, they had erected weird barriers in each aisle facing the stage, that we had to stand in. The gap must’ve been about 5 feet, space enough for photographers. It was awkward because it wasn’t a proper ‘front row’ as such and you didn’t have any real room to jump about.
Bloc Party came along, not long after to rapturous applause and performed a blinding set, although it was a bit clinical because the crowd’s response was rubbish [not many knew the songs/moved about]. The setlist was originally going to be One Month Off/Trojan Horse/Signs/Better Than Heaven/Ion Square/Ares/Flux, but they changed it at the last minute to include ‘Halo’, which is a top song live. It came after Trojan Horse.
Kele wore his ‘Choose Life’ t-shirt inside out. I was going to ask him why after the gig, but I forgot. The sound quality of the gig was great - a lot better than the Apple Store gig. Matt’s drumming was extraordinarily superb this evening [when is it never?]. I am so in awe of his abilities. Ares was stonkingly good and you could hear Gordy’s synth-drums loud and clear. I did film some of the gig, but only clips as I wanted to enjoy it as much as I could [pictures are here]. There was some guy videoing it for the back screen anyway. Whether we’ll get to see that is another thing.
Bloc left the stage and we wanted an encore, but didn’t get one…
SETLIST
Trojan Horse
Halo
Signs
Better Than Heaven
Ion Square
Ares
Flux
They held the signing at the front of the stage, which was cool. We were amongst the first in line, but we got hurried on by the security, who said we could only get one thing signed [the actual ‘Intimacy’ album only] and no pictures were allowed. The guy did allow us to get setlists signed, which was just so nice of him…… Some other arsehole security guard kept saying that Bloc Party are ’shit’. I let it go once, but he kept going on and on and being really stupid, so I had to cuss him out in front of everyone - loudly. You’re being paid to be there and you have the audacity to slag off my favourite band! He was well out of order and totally unprofessional.
After we got our things signed, we hung out on the side of the stage as the band patiently and methodically signed for everyone. There were some people who were ‘guests’ and they got other stuff signed like posters and other Bloc albums, which I thought was a tad unfair. Plus, they seemed to have a bit more time with the band. I was trying to get some pictures of them signing, but the goon-headed security guards kept getting in the way.
When Bloc Party got through the queue, we went over and asked for pictures with them, which they happily obliged [thank you kindly]. I can’t believe it’s been over a year since I last got a picture with my boys. Time really does fly. I also got chatting with Matt and Russell. It was nice to spend a bit of time with them, even if it was fleeting.
I bumped into Rebekah and her cute little brother, who she is getting into Bloc Party [that’s it girl, start ‘em young].
It was my first ’signing’ and things went well on the whole. Bloc were very friendly, polite and generally awesome to all and sundry.
But, it can’t beat the Apple Store gig…
VIDEOS [More to follow]
Bloc Party signing autographs
