Reforming was always going to be tricky for Bloc Party. Frontman Kele Okereke’s forays into the world of dance and electro music was perceived by critics as a dissent or escape from the dwindling cause of guitar music, while guitarist Russell Lissack’s projects with bands such as Ash seemed to have sealed the deal of their disbanding.
However, the energy this band put into their live shows all those years ago reappeared into their set in Manchester, and reminded everyone what the hype was all about.
The Warehouse Project provided a particularly apt venue for the band, the dripping, grey walls and industrial space fitting in perfectly with their London-centric sound. In fact, the whole evening felt curiously London based: electro band Plaitum, who took to the stage at around 10pm, would not have seemed out of place in a dingy east London venue, while the constant allusions to London in Bloc’s songs were greeted with cheers by the crowd.
Bloc Party’s new album, Four, has been met with mixed reviews by critics, but the band rode on their relentlessly rocky sound, opening their midnight set with relatively new single ‘Octopus’, flashing strobe lights abound. As an opener this was a particularly good choice by the band, as the crowd had been waiting for the set to start for several hours, slowly getting more drunk and more excited to throw themselves around.
They indeed did this with gusto, spurred on by Kele and the buzzing atmosphere created by The Warehouse. This energy continued throughout the set, reaching a crescendo in Bloc’s rendition of ‘One More Chance’ midway through the set.
The song is perhaps not one of their best, often overlooked due to its release being just after the questionable success of third album Intimacy, but somehow it was the resounding success of the night, permeating through all areas of the arena and lifting everyone up into the ecstasy Bloc was once renowned for three years ago.
The sound of Bloc Party has certainly not died and this goes for their live shows also. There may not have been anything particularly new or innovative displayed in Manchester on the 19th, but their tour will certainly be a success with Bloc fans new and old alike, particularly with their new album to ride on.