London's Bloc Party might look like four painfully shy indie kids but don't be deceived. They're currently being labelled by many as the best new guitar band in Britain.
Comprising Kele Okereke (vocals/guitar), Russell Lissack (guitar), Gordon Moakes (bass/vocals) and Matt Tong (drums), they're proud owners of a blistering, punk-funk sound that's designed to make you dance. This month is your chance to catch them as they hit Rock City for the NME Awards Tour, alongside The Killers, The Futureheads and The Kaiser Chiefs. For many people, they'll be the must-see band of the night.
Forming in London two years ago, Bloc Party swiftly gained a DIY reputation for doing things their own way, putting their own singles out, posting fiercely intelligent messages on their website and passing up the offer of enormous cheques from major labels in favour of signing to small independent label Wichita. Their new LP Silent Alarm spins an intricate web of sounds, taking in a platter of diverse influences from the stark atmospherics of Joy Division to the danceable funk-strut of Prince. Add to this a reputation for scorching live shows and it's not hard to see why 2005 looks like being the year in which they'll start their rocket-powered ascent towards superstardom. We checked in with the band to see how they're preparing for the tour...
How does it feel to be part of the NME Awards tour?
Kele: "Really great. We've just been touring with Interpol who did it a few years ago and they said they had a really good time and that all the bands really pulled together. That's the main fear about doing something like this, the fear that you might not get along with the other bands."
Gordon: "But we've heard they're all nice to their mums and stand up on buses for old ladies so it should be fine!"
What should people expect from a Bloc Party performance?
Matt: "Courage."
Kele: "Tenacity."
Gordon: "And relevance."
Kele: "Also, I wouldn't rule out backstage break-dancing."
Matt: "Our roadie was caught spinning on his head once in Leeds. We had to support him otherwise he'd have broken his neck."
Kele: "If break-dancing does break out we want The Futureheads to join in. They're funky dancers with some, shall we say, interesting' leg movements."
How have you developed as a live band over the last 12 months?
Kele: "We're a lot more competent these days. And sweatier."
Matt: "Plus, Kele sings a bit more in tune now. But only a bit."
What are the other bands on the tour like?
Gordon: "We all really love The Futureheads."
Kele: "And The Kaiser Chiefs are really nice people, we played with each other when we were both unsigned so it'll be nice to catch up with them. Also, it'll be good to meet Brandon Flowers from The Killers and see if he's bitter about me being placed higher than him in the annual NME cool list!"
Will there be plenty of rock'n'roll action on this tour?
Kele: "Most of us got all that out of our system when we were younger and the appeal quickly wore off. We're too busy concentrating on the music to waste it all on drink and drugs. People get surprised by that attitude - they expect bands to live up to all the rock'n'roll cliches. But we're just four seemingly normal people with a love of music. I'm amazed people can't deal with that."
Matt: "Having said that, we all like a drink and to have a good time.
Gordon: When we recorded our album in Copenhagen we often found ourselves in a bar, drinking Danish lager at 6am and then riding home drunk on bicycles! So who knows what might happen."
Kele: "We've been told not to pull shows even if we're all deathly ill so the show'll go on no matter what."
Your sound often gets compared to punk-funk bands like Gang Of Four and The Rapture. Is that something you agree with?
Gordon: "We don't really like the idea of being associated with a sound that's fashionable now because we know that won't last. But when people come and hear us they'll realise that there's a really big palate of sounds to our music that have nothing to do with prevailing trends."
Kele: "For me, the only way rock'n'roll will remain relevant is if it keeps looking forward. It has to be pushing the boundaries."
Franz Ferdinand were in a similar position to you last year and they've gone on to become hugely success. Are you feeling any pressure?
Kele: "It's our first taste of big venues and that's a whole different way of playing so we'll be learning all the time."
Matt: "It's a challenge really, we like trying to win over other people's crowds."
Kele: "We've heard that Killers fans are a notoriously hard bunch to please. I'm just hoping we can psyche up their teenage fans and show them the light!"
What do you want people to take away with them after seeing you?
Kele: "One thing that's important is that kids don't think that we're better musicians than they could ever be. That's not what we're about. We want people to know that anyone can do this if they put the time and hard work into it. We want to inspire people to form their own bands."
You'll be stuck on a tourbus for almost a whole month. Are you likely to go mad at all?
Kele: "We all get pangs of missing our loved ones and family. But at the same time we're doing something that not many kids our age get to do. And we've always wanted to do this. Right now everything's a first time experience so it's really exciting."
Matt: "You end up feeling kind of invincible when you're on tour anyway. You're literally in one place and then you leave again before there's any consequence of your behaviour!"
Finally, do you have a secret pre-gig ritual?
Kele: "Yeah, touching. Lots and lots of intimate touching. You have to break down all barriers before you can get up onstage!"
www.blocparty.com
Bloc Party play at Rock City as part of the NME Awards Tour. See full listing.
