Bloc Party Review

Overall Rating

A surprisingly brilliant and electric live performance from a band mainly associated with seemingly slower and gentle tracks.

Falling over twice and almost dying of dehydration Thank God for the free water at the bar!

I had been looking forward to seeing Bloc Party for a good few days, but I was hardly expecting to see the memorable show that they put on at The Brixton Academy in London.

Normally, with a band such as Bloc Party, you would expect your little bit of pushing and shoving at the front, but nothing major considering the tempo of many of their songs. It was a pleasant surprise then, to feel the force of the Brixton crowd in my back as I battled to get as close to the front as possible, without being right on the barrier separating the stage and the crowd. I had been to a fair number of gigs prior to this one, and had never really witnessed such desperate and demanding crushing with the band not even onstage. The crowd were already pushing this way and that, jumping and singing along to the excellent selection of tracks being played over the loud speaker - Graham Coxon, Freakin' Out and Razorlight, Stumble and Fall, to name two. I was shocked to say the least at the enthusiasm and eagerness of a relatively mixed crowd.

With no real warning the band emerged onto the stage, greeted by a wave of cheering and screaming from a crowd already feeling the pain from a continuous barrage of pushing. 'So Here We Are' was received brilliantly by the crowd, who greeted 'Positive Tension' with crazy shouts, screams and rushes forwards, forcing sections of the crowd to collapse in a slightly dangerous but thoroughly enjoyable fashion. Hits such as 'Helicopter' and 'Two More Years' delighted all those gathered at a packed Brixton Academy to see one of the most successful bands of 2004. There was a great sense of togetherness in the crowd, as is expected at such events, with people helping to pull up those unfortunate enough to have fallen over in huge bundles, as everyone pushed for a look at the band, myself included.

Overall, the band played a positively amazing set that enthralled the crowd, and everyone went home in a state of euphoria, amazed by the live energy and power of such a brilliant band.