Bloc Party, Kokamino - Friday 10th March 2006
Reviewed by Martin Stapleton / Pictures by Suzy Cook

Tonight Bedford’s premier music venue welcomed back one of it’s old favourites, ladies and gentlemen we present, Bloc Party.

The tour was arranged by the band for their vast and loyal fan club members. Esquires was chosen as one of those lucky hosts, although it was a pity that the ordinary keen music punter was unfortunately excluded from this mutual love in.

Coincidentally, keen Bloc Party aficionados may remember that it was on Thursday March 11th 2004 that Kele and the boys made their debut at Esquires, as a support act to Graham Coxon. That evening is etched in my memory and it was all the more special for Bloc Party. With a vast array of A&R men hovering around this new young band, eventually Witchita managed to sign them up and as they say, the rest is history.

Bloc Party were certainly one of British music’s most exciting new discoveries of 2005 as their extensive NME coverage showed, with debut album Silent Alarm voted that publications top album of last year. The only setback to their rise and rise is having felt the acid tongue of Mr Liam Gallagher, who likened Bloc Party to a bunch of contestants on University Challenge. (Kele meets Paxman. Hmm.)

Anyway, on to tonight, and although I am not one of Bloc Party’s greatest admirers, I will endeavour to be objective.

In June 2004 Komakino supported Bloc Party and tonight once again they open for them. They start with their next Download single 'Kommunikate' and together with 'Innocent Child' it is featured on their EP. With some very strong drumming from Mark Stone and Ryan Needham’s refined vocals I thought as a taster for the main event, Komakino were an ideal Hors d’oeuvre.

They place explodes as the lads are uncovered from darkness and they reveal themselves in all their superstar glory. 'Waiting for the 7.18' opens this set that collects songs from the debut album as well as showcasing their new record. From this point a vast array of hands are held in the air as they clap to the rhythm. Old favourites ‘Positive Tension’ and ‘Banquet’ increases both the volume and adulation. The peak of the evening arrives with their hit single from the later part of last year, a mass sing along to ‘Two More Years’, a perfectly pure pop song that most certainly receives the biggest roar of he evening.

What is heartening and is very noticeable is the respect and a genuine warm feeling that Bloc Party have for this place, not to mention their adoring supporters. Guitarist Russell in fact comments that we are ‘lovely and so much better than the audience at Nottingham last night’!

For all their recent success, they don’t seem to court controversy, no drug scandals with supermodels, no paparazzi receiving a left hook. They let their music do the talking. ‘So Here We Are’ and ‘Helicopter’ end the set and they leave their fans pleading for more. Teasingly they retreat to the dressing room and a full 3 minutes elapses before they return to a tumultuous reception. They play a further four songs to quench the fan club’s thirst, and if that is not enough they reappear for a second encore. And so, after some seventy minutes, Bloc Party walk off stage for a final time to loud cheers that take a while to subside. Whether we will see them again at Esquires, who knows, but tonight they certainly gave these fans a night they will never forget.

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