Bloc Party at Crystal Palace

In the summer of 2004, there was a Labour government with a whopping majority, the nation was cheering on an England team featuring an exciting young superstar in a European Championship, and Jimmy Anderson was bowling against the West Indies at cricket.

Meanwhile, a band called Bloc Party was beginning to make waves on the indie scene with their debut EP and its frantic, foot-thumping contribution to the mid-2000s post-punk revival.

The more times change, the more they stay the same. Except for frontman Kele Okereke and chums, who in the 20 years since have gone from new kids to beloved survivors of that era’s guitar band explosion.

On Sunday they could headline a huge hometown show at Crystal Palace that felt like a mini-festival.

After able support from Connie Constance, The Mysterines, Friendly Fires and The Hives, Bloc Party took to the stage and played their mournful classic So Here We Are.

The set does lean on their debut, Silent Alarm, as the opener is followed by another track off that record, Like Eating Glass, while others provide obvious high points – moments where the massed crowd gets dancing. Like the midpoint, the unmistakable and beautifully simple driving riff of Banquet.

Meanwhile, Banquet’s sister song, Helicopter, the other hit that won them early attention, takes its place alongside the melancholic This Modern Love in an extended encore.

There’s plenty to enjoy besides that though, as the group, now featuring Louise Bartle on drums and bassist Harry Deacon alongside Okereke and fellow founder, Russell Lissack, never rested on their early success.

Hunting For Witches and Flux, from second album A Weekend in the City, stand up equally as well – with the latter, which showcased the group’s shift towards a more electronic sound, a real highlight in the encore.

Less heralded tracks, like the raucous Mercury and the soulful doomed romance-themed indie disco of One More Chance, showcase a versatility that goes beyond the hits.

They and newer material, like off-kilter new single Flirting Again, provide the threads that help Okereke – who seems to have barely aged – thread together Bloc Party’s history into an entertaining and eclectic gig.

And what a history to draw upon. One that has provided lots of people with plenty of joy since 2004 – and did for several hours until quirky party anthem Ratchet closed the night under cloudy Crystal Palace skies.

Mark Worgan
Photos: Miguel de Melo

For further information and future events visit Bloc Party’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Banquet here: