Webster Hall
New York City
Words & Photos by Diana Wong
Concerts are different from a photo pit. I can’t dance with gear around my neck. I don’t have time to sing along. I am focusing intently on the stage …but through a small hole in my camera. So when the tremors from jubilant audience undulating on the standing room snaps me away from my shutterbug trance, I can tell it’s a special gig. This was the case during Bloc Party’s explosive set.
It hit me during Hunting for Witches. The crowd literally rattled Webster Hall, actually making it trickier to take a steady shot. Photos taken, I fled to the balcony and watched scene unfold.
The delicate strums of This Modern Love quickly morphed into a spot-on sing-along with the band. Jostling and dripping, the swirling crowd lapped up Banquet and other old favorites. It was a feedback loop throughout the night – in the good way.
The crowd reciprocated the raw energy from the stage, which Bloc Party easily returned, giving it their all. Vocalist Kele, clad in a crimson Jordan jersey, tossed out a new song before the encore. The crowd hung on tightly, despite the unfamiliarity.
The latest tune, with its sharp slices, echoed the precision and feel of Silent Alarm, the debut record that threw Bloc Party into the limelight. While waiting for the encore, I overheard neighbors talking about how they had waited so long to see Bloc Party tour again. I agree – come back as soon as you can.
Here is the setlist:
Waiting For The 7.18 / Like Eating Glass / Hunting For Witches / Two More Years / The Prayer / Uniform / Mercury / This Modern Love / Song For Clay (Disappear Here) / Banquet / New song
Positive Tension / Price Of Gasoline / She’s Hearing Voices / Helicopter
The untitled new song apparently has lyrics something like…”If you want to be cruel, I can be as cruel as you…fight fire with fire…lies lies lies”.
