Bloc Party at The Olympia

 Bloc Party at the Olympia, Dublin, Tuesday 12th of February 2013

These days it can be hard for a support band to make an impact. Mostly, they seem to be playing in front of a small smattering of uninterested bystanders while most of the potential audience are too busy ‘pre-drinking’ to turn up to see them. It can be hard for the band to keep up the energy when there is none reflected from the crowd.

It is with credit to Cast of Cheers that they managed an excellent supporting cameo on Tuesday night. They bounded around the stage with energy and, what seemed, genuine excitement. Add to that a willingness to throw in a level of experimentation in their live sound and, we know we may be sounding like a broken record here, the Dubliners are truly an impressive outfit. They made it a tough act to follow.

And when Bloc Party come out, they initially seem like they are not up to the task. In their opening salvo, they seem conspicuously vacant. Guitarist Russell Lissack and bassist Gordon Moakes have their eyes planted on either their instruments or the ground in front of them with frontman Kele Okereke stares off blankly into the distance or has his eyes closed. Drummer Matt Tong, dressed only in a pair of denim cut-offs like a real-life never nude, seems to be the only band member enjoying being on stage.

The light show is impressive and the amps are turned up to ear shattering volumes, but they add a fold to the show that just hasn’t been reflected by the musicians. The body language is of people merely fulfilling an obligation. The sound of Mercury and Like Eating Glass seem to drift away and disappear into the shadows of the Olympia night. Okereke seems to spit out the lyrics on the otherwise sentimental Real Talk.

Song for Clay and Banquet liven up proceedings before Coliseum reverts to type. It’s just before the 11th song of the night, the dancey One More Chance, that Okereke finally interacts with the crowd. He then dances around the stage for the song and performs a ‘call and response’ with the audience, who have been fantastic all show, for the chorus.  It is the first example of him showing a little necessary front man swagger.

When the band exit for the first time a short while later, there is a part that hopes they don’t return and just call an end to the show. It’s grating, and frankly insulting, when shortly after returning to the stage Okereke says “ You’ve been good to us so far, but you could be so much better.”

This, however, turns out to be a turning point in the night as, seemingly transformed by a two minute exit, Bloc Party really turn it on for the next half an hour. They add a sense of drama to Ares which sees Okereke end up singing from a position prostrate on the floor before This Modern Love is performed with the sort of emotion that matches the lyrics. Flux, which starts out as a cover of Rihanna’s We Found Love, is suitably rocking before they take their leave of the stage again.

The band end the three-song third part of their set with crowd favourite Helicopter. The crowd adjust and sing as the necessary energy is channelled from the stage. It’s the high point of the evening and a nice note for everyone to leave on. It’s just a shame the start of the show couldn’t have been similar earlier.

Bloc Party Photo Gallery

Photos: Kieran Frost