Monday 13/12/04 Bloc Party, Ladyfuzz @ Manchester Academy 3

Unfortunately, the rest of the audience, those who were over the age of 14, can see past Ladyfuzz’s somewhat contrived image. The popularity of the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s hybridised fashion/art/music racket making sparked off the inevitable plethora of bandwagon jumper on-ers and tonight Ladyfuzz don’t prove that they are anything but that, just with a bit of Chicks on Speed chucked in for good measure. They could do their whole set dressed normally and they still wouldn’t be very exciting, their lunacy just seems a little too thought out.

 

The same could not be said, however, for the wonderful Bloc Party. It’s impossible not to love this band, hailed at the beginning of the year as one of the UK’s brightest new things, there’s no denying that they were correct this time. Crashing into the 'Marshals are Dead' with broad smiles, the boys in the band ignite the touch paper for an explosive show. The short set includes some songs off the new album, which all of the crowd seems to have downloaded, young music thieving scallywags that they are, and the best bits from EPs. 'Singles Banquet', 'Little Thoughts' and 'Helicopter' send the crowd into a fury of pushing and shoving and moves a very small girl to lead her own one lady stage invasion.

 

With 'Little Thoughts' being placed highly in the singles of the 2004 lists Bloc Party prove that they have cracked the art of making infectious records, stirring the indie fraternity into a frenzy in the process. Leadsinger Kele Okereke’s heartfelt lyrics are rather incongruously placed upon a bed of angular guitar in a way that just works so well. Not only popular with young music fans but also respected by older cynics with live shows like this one it’s easy to see why. Bloc Party cannot fail to go from strength to strength, God Bless Bloc Party.