Bloc Party - The Olympia, Dublin - 12th Feb 2013

ghostdancer

http://www.mcd.ie/home/fn.php?c=4810190&ar=blocparty&cat=all

UK indie legends Bloc Party have just announced details of a long –awaited return to Ireland at The Olympia Theatre, Dublin on February 12th 2013

Tickets priced from €33.50 inclusive of booking fee go on-sale this Friday, October 5 th from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and www.ticketmaster.ie

Only less than a year ago, a big question mark loomed over whether new music would ever emerge from Bloc Party. Now, they return with their strongest, most vital statement to date, in triumphant new album 'FOUR'.

Following an extended hiatus after 2008's critically acclaimed 'Intimacy', the four piece of Kele Okereke, Russell Lissack, Gordon Moakes and Matt Tong reunited in New York in the winter of 2011, prompted by a creative impetus inspired by a dramatic year in world events, as well as a shared desire to rekindle their singular musical kinship.

Teaming up with producer Alex Newport (Death Cab For Cutie, The Mars Volta, At The Drive-In), the band approached the new songs by tapping into the raw passion and energy that is well-known to anyone who has seen them perform live – setting aside digital and studio cosmetics in favor of a rehearsal room, their
instruments, and the magic of their innate musical chemistry. In Kele's words, "we wanted to challenge ourselves by not relying on the invisible grid that seems to be mapping out all of popular music these days".

And indeed, ‘FOUR’ presents a band in the fullest sense of the word: lean, hungry, spirited and uncompromising, armed with a collection of songs as powerful and anthemic as they've ever penned, as well as some of their most hard-hitting and visceral recordings to date. The album finds Kele’s unmistakable delivery is at it's most fervent: urgent and rallying one moment, invitingly intimate and vulnerable the next, coupled with the bands hallmark dynamics of angular, incendiary energy that prove more thunderous and commanding than ever. Always ones to explore a wide sonic and emotional palette, ‘FOUR’ rages through the barely-contained rock swagger and towering chorus of ‘Kettling’,
jetting angular guitars and enticing melodic twists of 'Octopus', and breathless, exclamatory breakdown of ‘Coliseum’, while not losing touch with their more intimate side in the lush, shimmering romance of ‘Healing’, poignant falsetto underscoring the bittersweet shuffle of ‘Real Talk’, and warm arpeggios of uptempo ballad ‘Day 4’ that open into a spellbinding coda of crystalline guitars and distantly looming
strings.

'FOUR' marks a triumphant and much-welcomed return of one of the most important and loved acts to emerge out of British guitar music in the noughties. It is the sound of a seminal band maturing with grace and confidence, exploring new areas of their craft while never losing sight of the singular fire and urgency
that made them so compelling in the first place. In Kele's own words: "the record is the sound of four people in a room, loving what they do and doing it to the best of their ability. It is the sound that only the four of us could make, and I am prouder of it than any record we have ever made".

handsomecake

Super

Thundercats Ho

Get In..

Furious-Red

Delighted , they stole the show at Oxegen 09

Easy Rod

I'm in. Delighted they're back.

Dr.Winston O'Boogie

Any word of a pre sale?

Just Like Heaven

niallo24 wrote: »

Any word of a pre sale?

It's only Olympia there won't be a pre sale.


I'm so incredibly excited for this it's absolutely ridiculous. Never got a chance to see them, but Kele's solo tour was savage and I love the new album.

Furious-Red

fewtinsoffroth wrote: »

It's only Olympia there won't be a pre sale.


I'm so incredibly excited for this it's absolutely ridiculous. Never got a chance to see them, but Kele's solo tour was savage and I love the new album.

They had a presale for Of Monsters Of Men

Just Like Heaven

Furious-Red wrote: »

They had a presale for Of Monsters Of Men

Yeah I thought somebody was gonna correct me I don't know why I said that

I got my ticket anyway Can't wait.

maximoose

Excellent, cant wait for this.

ghostdancer

2nd night added - Wednesday 13th

Just Like Heaven

ghostdancer wrote: »

2nd night added - Wednesday 13th

I need money fast

Easy Rod

ghostdancer wrote: »

2nd night added - Wednesday 13th

Sweet, first night standing was sold out at 9.15am!

Furious-Red

Got standing for the 1st night:D

Just Like Heaven

Yeah I got standing for the first night, but I reckon I'll be sitting for the second night if I go at all by the looks of my account balance.

Bollocks :P

maximoose

Got the OH to get me ticket for the second show for my birthday, sorted

The WP

Hello all,

If anyone knows someone who wouldn't mind swapping their standing ticket on the 12th for a seated ticket, unlikely as that seems, could them pm me? Thanks.

whitewave

Got my ticket today for the first night, delighted. Haven't seen them since Phoenix Park a few years ago...must get listening to the new album!

Thundercats Ho

Same as. Havent seen 'em since the park gig. What was that 2008?

Should be savage.

AimeeZero

I bought a ticket for the 13th. Anyone willing to SWAP for the the 12th?
If your interested do private message me.

frantic190

Got tickets to the 2nd night, should be a good one!

Gillington

Cant bloody wait but €50 to stand in the Olympia!!!? It had better be worth it Kele!

Think this is my 8th time seeing them here or abroad :P

maximoose

Friend saw them lastnight in Glasgow and said it wasn't the best, not a great set and the new songs weren't received very well.

I still can't wait though

Lumbo

maximoose wrote: »

Friend saw them lastnight in Glasgow and said it wasn't the best, not a great set and the new songs weren't received very well.

I still can't wait though

A mate of mine was at the Glasgow gig, said it was great.

I've just picked up tickets to see them in Copenhagen in November.

Just Like Heaven

Cast of Cheers opening both nights. Recent setlists have been pretty awesome I reckon (I liked Intimacy), getting excited now

Lightbulb Sun

Anyone know what time this gig is likely to finish at? A rough estimate even?

maximoose

Doors at 7:30... I'd guess around 11pm?

Setlist from gigs in Japan at end of Jan

1.So He Begins to Lie
2.Trojan Horse
3. Hunting for Witches
4.Like Eating Glass
5.Kettling
6.Real Talk
7.Waiting for the 7.18
8.Song for Clay (Disappear Here)
9.Banquet
10. Coliseum
11.Day Four
12.One More Chance
13.Octopus

Encore:
14.Signs
15.Ares
16.This Modern Love
17. Flux

Encore 2:
18.Ratchet
19.Sunday
20. Helicopter

Cant wait now

Thundercats Ho

I'd imagine it'll be
Doors @ 7.30
Cast of Cheers @ 8.00
Bloc Party @ 9.00 / 9.15

Should be a ripper..

Lightbulb Sun

Thanks.

What song not on that Japan setlist would you like to hear if you had to pick one?

I'd say Two More Years.

maximoose

Lightbulb Sun wrote: »

What song not on that Japan setlist would you like to hear if you had to pick one?

The Marshalls are Dead. Couldn't believe they played it when I saw them in Liverpool a few years ago and it was fupping great!

Lightbulb Sun

maximoose wrote: »

The Marshalls are Dead. Couldn't believe they played it when I saw them in Liverpool a few years ago and it was fupping great!

That song goes back a bit, one of their earliest songs I think! Would love to hear Skeleton but that'll never happen!

Thundercats Ho

What a fúcking gig

faughs

What time did bloc party play until and what time did they begin.... What was set list like????? Sorry for all the questions. I am goin tonight

Lightbulb Sun

faughs wrote: »

What time did bloc party play until and what time did they begin.... What was set list like????? Sorry for all the questions. I am goin tonight

I'd say they started at 9.19, I remember looking at my watch but they were slightly late on. They were due at 9.15

They played until 10.45ish.

There was a mix from all 4 albums. Setlist might be different tonight. They played that new song Ratchet from the setlist below. It's similar in parts to the Japan setlist there but with a few songs changed out. They didn't play Sunday for example last night.

Furious-Red

Came on about 9:20 and played till about 10:45????

Setlist was pretty good mix of the hits and good bit off the new album which sounds brilliant live . Gonna buy it now

faughs

Sounds gud. The new album is really good. So really looking forward to it

Furious-Red

faughs wrote: »

Sounds gud. The new album is really good. So really looking forward to it

Yea i had heard a few of the songs off it but after last night i decided to buy it

FledNanders

No Kettling - disappointed! Very good gig though

maximoose

Know what time Cast of Cheers started?

p4ddyh1

What did people make of the cast of cheers last night?

Lightbulb Sun

maximoose wrote: »

Know what time Cast of Cheers started?

8.00pm I think

p4ddyh1 wrote: »

What did people make of the cast of cheers last night?

They were good, I quite enjoyed them. Some of their songs weren't as good as their more well known songs like I am Lion and Family but they had their moments for sure and some nice jams.

Their drummer is very good but also hits pretty hard. If you have earplugs bring them. I regret not bringing mine, their set was tough on my right ear in particular.

p4ddyh1

ear plugs to a gig?

Lightbulb Sun

p4ddyh1 wrote: »

ear plugs to a gig?

You're probably thinking of earplugs that get rid of all sound.

Musicians earplugs. I'm a musician so I bought a pair to protect my ears when I play. They lower the sound and get rid of the louder frequencies so it's not too loud and damaging. They work well at gigs too, since it's more or less the same thing except not actually playing on stage.

p4ddyh1

ah ok, makes sense. they expensive?

Lightbulb Sun

p4ddyh1 wrote: »

ah ok, makes sense. they expensive?

Yep, my right ear is in bits I can tell you now.

No, Elacin Er20s are what I have. Only 5-10 quid I think. HMV in Dublin used to have some but online is the best bet now.

faughs

Great.. I can catch a good bit of the Man U and Madrid game in the pub before hand..ha

Thundercats Ho

faughs wrote: »

Great.. I can catch a good bit of the Man U and Madrid game in the pub before hand..ha

Install 'film on tv' on your smart phone. I was able to watch the Celtic game last night in my seat in the Olympia (until BP started). Just register with them (its free) select standard definition and it should stream without buffering.
Worked a treat last night (apart from the result).

Furious-Red

I did think if took a few songs for the band to really get into the gig but when they did it was worth it .

faughs

I don't know if the girlfriend would be best impressed..haha. I must check it out though

calabi yau

Furious-Red wrote: »

I did think if took a few songs for the band to really get into the gig but when they did it was worth it .

+1 I thought the very same but then it turned in to some gig. The highlight was Banquet for me as I think it all really kicked off from there. My God they are some tight and professional outfit though for heavy rockers.

That song ratchet at the end was amazing and This Modern Love held up to still being my top 5 songs of all time. I thought there was a great energy about the crowd as well.

rickyjb

This modern love was class tonight again. Loved the way they dropped banquet and a few other silent alarm songs early on, really got the crowd going. All in all a little bit lacklustre in comparison to the last few times I've seen them but still a good gig.