Bloc Party rocks out at Lupo's on Tuesday

By: Erin Shea

Posted: 10/11/07

10/11/07 - Tuesday night's the new night to part - if the Oct. 2 Bloc Party show at Lupo's is any indication.

The evening started slowly, with opening acts Smoosh and Tokyo Police Club opening the show to little fanfare, but when Bloc Party hit the stage, all hell broke loose.

Smoosh, a trio of tween-age sisters, ranging from 11-15 years old, kicked off the show with a surprisingly good set. The drummer, 13-year-old Chloe, was particularly impressive, but this should come as no surprise, since she was taught by Jason McGerr, Death Cab's drummer.

The only negative aspect of their set was lead singer Asya's inability to connect with the audience. She was very energetic and fun while she was singing, but all she said between songs was "Thanks," which was a bit awkward.

She didn't seem to try to get the audience involved much, even though, as one of the opening acts, that was her purpose.

Of course, Tokyo Police Club wasn't much better. The lead singer, Dave Monks, was definitely more charismatic, as was the rest of the band, but honestly, by this point it was almost 9:30 p.m. and I think people were a little tired of opening acts.

I must say though, Tokyo Police Club's keyboardist, Graham Wright, was the most entertaining of the group. He was just so gloriously nerdy and alternated between looking like he was going to have a seizure or drop to the floor and start doing the worm.

Now, you may think that's the same thing, but it's not. Yes, both involve varying degrees of writhing, but they are completely different.

It's all in the facial expression, as Wright proved, alternating between looking whiny and vaguely constipated and like he was about to have an orgasm.

After Tokyo Police Club left the stage, we were tortured with another long break, waiting anxiously for Bloc Party to take the stage. It was during this time that some absolute genius decided to play "Sandstorm."

In an instant, Lupo's audience shifted from a group of bored teenagers and twenty-somethings to a rave, complete with glow sticks and tacky dancing.

And then, in the midst of this hysteria, Bloc Party entered the stage, surely from the heavens, and kicked the show off with "Song For Clay (Disappear Here)" whose urgency was even more apparent live, making it the perfect way to start things.

The energy only rose from there until lead singer Kele Okereke decided it was time to have a little chat with the audience.

He assured everyone he wasn't trying to be anyone's grandpa, but that it's really not cool to kick girls in the face. What a gentleman. He then proceeded to warn everyone they'd play nothing but slow songs until "everyone behaves."

Of course, Bloc Party didn't follow through on that threat, waiting until later in the set to play the only slow tunes "So Here We Are" and "This Modern Love" showing Smoosh, who had covered the song earlier, how it's really done.

It's obvious from the band's enthusiasm that it really loves what it does, particularly Okereke, who approached each song with such fire - like this one show meant everything to him. It really was quite the experience, seeing him up there.

As they closed the set with "Like Eating Glass," I was already anticipating the encore. While "Like Eating Glass" was fantastic, it's not exactly the kind of material to close a show with.

Of course, after making us fans cheer and holler for a good long while (or more like 3 minutes) Bloc Party reemerged, ready to rock out for not one, not two, but four more songs, which were, of course, the strongest of the night.

Their debut single, "She's Hearing Voices," was definitely a favorite with the crowd, as it was with me. Its unique chorus infinitely more infectious live, if you can believe it.

They ended the encore with what they declared to be their "A-game," the absolutely brilliant, "Helicopter"

However, the highlight of the night, at least in my own humble opinion, was the inclusion of "Skeleton" in the encore, from their 2004 EP Little Thoughts, a song rarely played live. The inclusion of "Skeleton" in the set is already drawing ire from their British fans that haven't had the good fortune of being able to hear the song live.

Face it, Brits. We're just better than you.