Bloc Party - London Olympia

Bloc Party are on a mission tonight. This is the first of two UK shows before they travel to the States for a small tour, and they want to make sure we have a damn good time.

Inside the walls of London’s cavernous Olympia venue the excitement is palpable. Either side of the platform huge screens are set up so that those stuck towards the back can also still feel some immersion in the action. For the most part, this works well.

Bloc Party appear on the towering stage to a rapturous greeting and open with 'One Month Off' from their latest album, 'Intimacy'. Sharp guitars, electronic beats and pounding bass ring out through the Grand Hall, frontman Kele Okereke is working his charm - this is a band really on its game tonight. They play a well-balanced set, taking songs from all three studio albums. 'Mercury' and 'Song for Clay (Disappear Here)' go down particularly well, but it’s the anthems such as 'Banquet' and 'This Modern Love' from their 2005 debut 'Silent Alarm' that still seem most loved.

Towards the end of the main set, for some reason the response of the crowd does not resonate with the band as they had hoped it would. What was intended to peak to a crescendo of excitement appears to have fizzled out . I decide this is more due to the confusion of what is about to happen next, rather than a lack of reverence for the performance just witnessed. The vast structure of the Olympia may also be guilty for failing to feedback the audience reaction in the way a more intimate venue might.

Nevertheless, the band seem to have taken this apparent lack of rapturous reply to heart, and when they return to the stage for the first of two encores it prompts drummer Matt Tong to quip that he feels like they are the Arctic Monkeys. Kele pitches in his frustration at this moment by pointedly asking the audience if they actually want this (presumably: to be here, to really let themselves go and enjoy the gig), and exclaims: “You’re not watching some snooze-rock band”! This outburst is then somewhat strangely followed up by gentle love song 'Sunday'. Couples are arm in arm; friends are grouped together, swaying softly with their (overpriced) lager held aloft. It isn’t until 'Like Eating Glass' kicks in that everyone really perks up. Kele is happier with the response now, but wants more still. He thanks us for coming and “celebrating the musical phenomenon that is Bloc Party”, and we are reminded that these are going to be the band's only UK shows for quite a while so are implored to “go fucking crazy” for the next song. A storming version of 'Helicopter' kicks off, and we duly oblige. Russell Lissack’s spiky guitar riffs are slicing through the atmosphere and finally bringing the crowd fully back to life. People surge to the front and an almighty mosh ensues until the final chords echo out.

After another routine break, Bloc Party return for a second and final encore, determined to rouse the crowd again and leave on a real high. First comes 'Intimacy' opener 'Ares' followed by the set closer and fan favourite 'Flux', which is accompanied by a spectacular display of green lasers. After taking their bows for the last time tonight, the foursome leave the stage to an enthusiastic send off from the young crowd, the lights go down and across the speakers comes the Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes classic '(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life'.

While it may be somewhat hyperbolic to claim that this song summarises the evening (as presumably was the intention of playing it), fans certainly go home suitably thrilled by Bloc Party’s performance, despite the impersonal setting.

Words and photo: Steve Asenjo