Bloc Party

“This is a really big night for us... please come down, don’t ruin it for us...”

We’re just three songs in to the set and some nutter has clambered up one of the poles in a heaving Radio One tent. Lead singer Kele’s somewhat timid attempt at hostage negotiation (eventually) persuades him to come down, but it’s a wonder he’s surprised at all – it’s just another mad occurrence in what has been a crazy year. This rapturously received set is yet another.

Having made their Reading debut last year to intrigued indifference, they now find themselves being deafened by the crowd reaction to every song, be it Top 5 smash or obscure deleted single. As set closer ‘Pioneers’ reaches its peak, cannons launch white confetti across the tent – a strangely inappropriate gesture for a band who seem to epitomise the shy, awkward indie kid, but still a glorious one that more than makes up for the animatronic-fest that’s in full swing over at the Main Stage. “This has been an amazing year for us”, Kele admits mid-way through the set, and on the basis of future single Two More Years – a melancholy-injected disco romp – they can expect many more to come.

review by Tom Foster

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