Last night saw the first date of Bloc Party’s 20 date UK tour at Southampton’s Guildhall, and the earnest start of the campaign for their (superb) new album ‘A Weekend In The City’.

Opening up were Canadian Metric, who did little more than piss me off. Whilst some people love them to pieces and think Emily Haines is the best thing since sliced bread, I didn’t appreciate the noise they created - I much prefer her stuff with Broken Social Scene.

So after 35 minutes of noise from the Canadians, the stage was set for Bloc Party, and after putting up with the crap music pumped over the PA, the lights go down and Kele and co came on stage. Sure as anything they didn’t disappoint. Opening with new song ‘Song For Clay’ they blasted their way through about 16 anthems, including all of our favourites.

The new stuff feels like it could fill a stadium, with its driving bass and prominent drums. The Prayer I felt was a bit of a letdown - thrown in the middle of the set, I would have prefered it to have been the climax of the first half, however it was still a highlight for me. I’ve never been a big fan of their initial album, however live it just blew me away - I can’t even begin to pick a favourite.

Halfway through ‘Helicopter’ which closed the first set a random guy jumped on stage from the crowd, needless to say quickly escorted off, after getting tangled in Kele’s guitar. The start of the second half saw a second set of drums being lifted onto stage, for a superb rendition of new song Bloc Party – Sunday. On the album its one of about 5 standout tracks, but live its just as good as ‘The Prayer’, with Gordon joining Matt on the Drums. Before the second half we had a proposal, with a guy and a girl getting engaged on stage which was a sweet moment.

Closing the set was ‘Pioneers’, which kicked the rather subdued crowd into a bit of action. I only wonder what happened to the guy in the wheelchair we saw being wheeled in front of stage at the centre during this action!

Setlist:
Song For Clay
Like Eating Glass
Hunting For Witches
This Modern Love
Waiting for 7.18
Blue Light
The Prayer
Banquet
Uniform
So Here We Are
Positive Tension
Helicopter
—————
Two More Years
Little Thoughts
Sunday
Pioneers