Bloc Party wonderfully surrounded themselves for their biggest show ever, celebrating their twenty-year career. The result? A unique and adrenaline-filled day. Live report.
Neither the rain nor the sun could dominate our 7th of July at Crystal Palace Park. The real winners are the five bands of the day, each more fiery than the last, and the large crowd present to applaud them. It’s pretty simple: the energy built up steadily throughout the day until the (somewhat chaotic) journey home. Everything is ready in the park’s Italian Terraces. Only one stage is set for the day and the rain is threatening, constantly alternating with strong sunshine. The atmosphere is bright and upbeat.
Connie Constance kicks off the whole thing and, to me, the young artist is a real revelation. Her growing and communicative energy made her songs resonate throughout the site. I was quickly convinced by the smiling performance of the English artist. Without knowing her songs at first, immersing myself in her universe and rhythms was the easiest thing because she wonderfully managed her stage space. Whether alone, with her band in the background, in a red tartan outfit, or accompanied by dancers in effective choreographies, her charisma is captivating. Her performance, although short, left quite the impression!
SECOND ROUND
Connie Constance is followed by The Mysterines. It’s already the second time I’ve seen them live this year, but this is the first time since the release of their sublime new album, Afraid of Tomorrows. Their stage presence is similar to earlier this year, a touch more static than the previous artist. But while Lia Metcalfe stayed a tad more behind her microphone stand, she is no less charismatic than Connie Constance. The leader of the British band played between two microphones, alternating effects while the rain and sun continued their battle, creating beautiful natural light effects on stage. The new bangers from The Mysterines hit the mark with the ever-growing public, and with such vocals and riffs, it’s pretty understandable.
When the third band of the day is up, the crowd goes wild. The 2000s are here, and nostalgic and new fans are uniting in their love for the unique atmosphere of the era. Friendly Fires takes the stage, the sun shining as strong as the crowd sang, in unison with Ed Macfarlane. In his yellow t-shirt, he gives it his all, moving and dancing like there’s no tomorrow, vibrating to the sound of bass and synths of their indie electro-rock. Some more psychedelic moments worked less for me, but the band is still acclaimed throughout their set. The mood is great and the seed of chaos they planted quickly grows up.
FULL SPEED AHEAD
The Hives jump on stage with the same energy and good humour they had during their spring tour. The big difference here is the two BSL (British Sign Language) interpreters on the side of the stage, under the screen. Both of them were simply incredible, as dynamic as the Swedes, who were dominating the stage as usual. Howlin’ Pelle roused the crowd as he usually does, always emphasizing the differences between Europe and the UK… and proclaimed himself as New King in the process (nothing surprising). That, added to a legendary bass line, and the sparks here, mosh pits going off immediately. Everything flew by, as often with them. A joke here, a banger there, they are unstoppable, and already the end of the set is approaching. After a final Tick Tick Boom, they’re leaving a sweaty and pumped-up crowd for the grand finale.
Bloc Party is a mix of great classics, both monstrously energetic in their riffs and ultra-relaxed in their electro wanderings. The band is clearly one of the great legends of music and tonight was their biggest concert yet. It’s no easy feast to celebrate twenty years of career. But with a perfectly curated setlist, communicative energy, and some beautiful lighting effects, it was very successful. The sun sets slowly, and it’s a festival of colours that burn the stage. From the hottest red to the calmest blue, the scenes match the songs wonderfully without overdoing it.
The BSL interpreters are still here, equally brilliant, always invested, smiling, and energetic. Here, the stage is inhabited by their wild charisma and that of Bloc Party, led by the brilliant and irresistible Kele Okereke in his NHS t-shirt. And the health system wasn’t the only thing supported by the band. Indeed, Okereke dedicated I Still Remember to teachers. It was one of the highlights of the set. Along with it, I also think of their beautiful intro So Here We Are, their newest single Flirting Again, the famous Banquet and Helicopter that sent the crowd into a frenzy, and the incredible Ratchet that ended the show. Despite a chaotic exit from the site, due to the large demand for transport, it’s undeniable that it was a glorious celebration, from start to finish!
PHOTOS
