BLOC PARTY @ Viejas Concerts In The Park 6/16/2007

Bloc Party live at Viejas Casino - June 16, 2007 / Photo by Enrique Ortega

If there was ever any doubt about the rockstar status of Bloc Party, Saturday night’s show at Viejas converted even the biggest skeptics. The San Diego (ok, Alpine) date was the band’s last stop on a long tour across the US, and they were ready to party and unwind. But I’ll get back to them in a second.

It’s not often that every opener of a concert of this size is good, but Bloc Party picked some solid ones. As I arrived at the show last night, UK’s The Maccabees had already begun their set. While they’re not doing anything new musically, they do it well. This might also have something to do with the fact that the sound at Viejas’ outdoor venue is spectacular. Whatever it was, The Maccabees set the tone for the show, with danceable rock beats that resemble Arctic Monkeys, and even Bloc Party themselves. Also, I’m a big fan of British bands who make small talk between songs, because that accent is so awesome.

Next up were The Noisettes. Holy shit! There’s only three of them in the band, but they bring the HEAT! Lead singer/bassist/sometimes guitarist Singai Shoniwa was a vision. Feathers in her teased afro, a gold shoulder cape, and green tights; some say too much, I say just enough! Between her high kicks and shrill shrieks, the dance party officially began when they took the stage. The drummer, Jamie Morrison, who looks like Grizzly Adams, is outstanding. For someone who looks better suited for a hippie-stoner-rock band, he can ride that hi-hat like nobody’s business. I’m kicking myself for missing that energy in a smaller club when they opened for TV On The Radio at the Belly Up a couple of months ago.

Bloc Party were fashionably late to the stage (actually, they were most likely on time, but it felt like an hour in between sets) but it was worth the wait. They played a nice combination of newer and older songs, with one encore. The show was great, not only because of the music, but because of the extras. Instead of just writing about it in boring sentences, I’d like to make a list of highlights in the form of shoutouts. Hey, I like to give respect where it’s due.

Shoutouts go to:

- The Irish and English dudes in the crowd who started a football chant in between songs, and made the Bloc Party guys all happy and wistful

- The person holding a baby on their shoulders in the front row (pretty much ear-to-the-speaker) which prompted Kele to say “I hope you have your ear pods in, sonny. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of infantile hearing loss.” Haha, he said sonny.

- The stage tech who got a microphone thrown directly at his head by Kele, as he clamored to get back on stage after a nice little dance party with the kids in the front row. I think it was an accident, but you can never be sure.

- The bass player, Gordon Moakes, for breaking out all the rockstar moves (especially the bass drum jump). He was breaking it OFF last night!

- The superfans who threw several stuffed animals and other items on stage, including a blue monkey with long arms and velcro hands, that became a necklace for Gordon when he jumped on the second drum kit for “Sunday.”

- That second drum kit. It was awesome. I’m convinced that bands using two drum kits just sound better live. (See: The Go! Team, and Bright Eyes circa “Digital Ash In A Digital Urn”)

- The scaffolding on the side of the stage, for not collapsing while Kele decided to climb it. I’m telling you, every rockstar move ever was used last night.

- Bloc Party — for ending the night with a completely cheesy but totally necessary group bow.

While I’ve seen Bloc Party a few times now, and always at festivals (most recently Street Scene 2006, when they were up against Tool), this was them at their best. High energy, witty onstage banter, a great crowd atmosphere, and they played “all the hits.” There were a couple of other songs I would have liked to hear, but I’m not complaining. The show kicked ass. The new album is no “Silent Alarm,” truthfully, but the songs sound great live — doubters beware.

SETLIST (not in exact order):

Song For Clay (Disappear Here)

Banquet

Hunting For Witches

Waiting For the 7.18

Positive Tension

I Still Remember

So Here We Are

Little Thoughts

The Prayer

This Modern Love

Uniform

Like Eating Glass

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ENCORE:

Sunday

Pioneers

Helicopter