Those wracked in fits of anticipation, rest easy; Bloc Party are still skinny, still insanely tight and still fucking awesome. Those waiting for the McCarren show in the (718) this Saturday are in for a few new tunes, like “Waiting For the 718″ (no relation) and the political “Hunting for Witches.” The first set of the Party?s “latest US tour” was taut and quick; ten songs and out, with the encore providing two more before fears of an electrical storm had the Stone Pony staff pull the plug. (They also didn?t like cameras ? hence the camera phone shot.)
For our money, there isn’t a frontman in indie rock as charismatic as Kele; dude wears his words on his face, works the stage like a bona fide rock star, and just drips with cool (even when saying shit like “Hello, Stone Pony!”). The new stuff sounded good — arty guitars and Matt Tong’s mad beats in full effect — but it’s still Silent Alarm that drives the kids crazy. The band claimed nerves, but the show rocked. Get ready, BK.
SETLIST
01. “Waiting For the 718″
02. “Positive Tension”
03. “Banquet”
04. “Bluest Light”
05. “She’s Hearing Voices”
06. “Hunting For Witches”
07. “This Modern Love”
08. “Like Eating Glass”
09. “So Here We Are”
10. “Helicopter”
Encore
11. “Tulips”
12. “Price Of Gas”
Here are two non-album cuts performed last night. (The band offered “Tulips” a few months back, dedicated last night to “the lovers.” That’s ’cause it’s sexy.)
Bloc Party – “Waiting For the 718″ (Live at Coachella) (MP3 Link Expired)
Bloc Party – “Tulips” (MP3 Link Expired)
MCCARREN POOL UPDATE: Another night with the Party, but this time — with a little help from the folks at Sentimentalist Magazine — we were able to bring in our camera!
We knew the lads would look smashing, but who knew their fans had such great fashion sense? And who knew getting a beer could be a two-hour affair? Saturday night’s setlist after the jump.
MCCARREN POOL SETLIST
01. “Waiting For the 718″
02. “Positive Tension”
03. “Banquet”
04. “Bluest Light”
05. “She’s Hearing Voices”
06. “Hunting For Witches”
07. “This Modern Love”
08. “Like Eating Glass”
09. “Little Thoughts”
10. “Helicopter”
Encore
11. “So Here We Are”
12. “Price Of Gas”
13. “Compliments”
14. “Pioneers”
You Might Also Like
 Killers, Bloc Party Confirm New Albums |  Download Writing By Ryan Adams, Kele Okereke, James Murphy,… |  Kele – “Everything You Wanted” Video |  Kele – “Tenderoni” Live Video |
 |
 |
Seeing them in Berkeley in a week. Can’t contain myself. Sooo juiced.
Can we have them back please, the UK is jonesin’
hey!
i would die for attending one of their show
these guys are the best…thanks for the “encore” tracks
Their stuff has not really borne repeated listenings, in my opinion. And their live performances are oddly mechanical: the black lead singer even uses the same stage patter before each song at different shows.
or you could have just said “the lead singer”……….
Wow that was amazing. The Black Lead Singer.
That slanty eyed chinky communist bloc party drummer guy shure can poud them skins real bad! uh-huh.
What ? They’ve got a Purple lead singer as well ?
what do you meanthey didnt like cameras? did they stop u from taking pictures?
geez, way to shit the bed up there…i’m seeing them this monday and i can’t wait..it’s been a while since i’ve listened to them, but i eagerly anticpate the new album and material, hopefully it translates well!
They were the highlight of my ACL Fest experience last year, with the sun setting and “Helicopter” with its swirling guitars kicking in. I think Kele is naturally charismatic and intelligent, which is something we’re lacking all too much in modern music. I will definitely check them out the next time they play anywhere near me.
Every time I’ve seen them they are outstanding…and the banter I’ve observed tends to be random and related specifically to where they are performing, not prepared.
Also, yeah, Black Lead Singer? Is there a reason for that?
thanks for the review. i’ve read others where it said their live show never really captures the energy of their record. never seen them myself, but soon i hope. the new songs sound good too.
and “the black lead singer”? wtf? if ‘mark swiderski’ ever sees tv on the radio, his head might explode.
bloc party are terrible live. true story
spicoli, were you at bloc party webster hall night 2 last year? didn’t think so. that shit was fucking magical. people were like hugging and stuff. they came out after house lights for a second encore. it was like the beatles were back in the building or something.
Sorry, I just don’t hear it. Bloc Party bore me.
i agree with glom, Bloc Party is absolute shite. “there isn’t a frontman in indie rock as charismatic as Kele” – that’s the stupidest shit I’ve ever read on this site … for shame that you think that way.
guess it’s time to get those dead_red_eyes checked, dude. kele’s all energy.
There’s no way in hell that your hero “Kele” is more charismatic and energetic than Tim Harrington of Les Savy Fav. Get a life FANBOY, and get a new pair of ears cause Bloc Party is shit.
fair point dude. tim harrington is pretty awesome. but bloc party is still f’in awesome. no need to hate.
Well I came off sounding like your typical Olympia, WA or Portland, OR hipster … and that makes me cringe. Sorry for my ill behavior … to each his own … you enjoy your Bloc Party, and I’ll enjoy my “GEROGERIGEGEGE” [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mddj-GBKMfc] .
i’d be interested if they had better songs.
unfortunately, they don’t.
If anyone is interested in looking at some pictures from the Asbury Park show, you can check them out over here.
http://wdmo.blogspot.com/2006/07/bloc-party-stone-pony-asbury-park-nj.html
We weren’t hassled at all about our camera. Good crowd, good show. Both got better as the storm rolled in.
http://www.wdmo.net
Just like to note, I’m pretty sure that Compiments and Helicopter were part of the McCarren encore, with Helicopter definitely being their outtro.
Never mind, I’m an idiot. Getting song names mixed up. Pioneers was last, but Compliments was still in the encore section, next-to-last I think.
Payback — what are you going on about? The McCarren setlist is in the post (after the jump) and yes, as noted, “Compliments” and “Pioneers” were part of the four song encore.
Great show, good time, but that fucking beer line was a nightmare.
Missed the show in Brooklyn but the Asbury Park show was amazing – both the band & the crowd were great. I’ve got a bunch of pics up here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fwyb/sets/72157594215531171/
I recently saw Bloc Party and Secret Machines and Boston and they were great.
Hey, Julio. I’ll be at the show tonight too! WooT!