Bloc Party in Sydney – photos and review
Kicking off the night with their self-proclaimed long overdue return, California’s Young the Giant graced the Hordern Pavilion stage for the first time in 15 years. A solid chunk of the sold-out crowd was already in attendance to catch their shimmering indie rock set, and while the majority were there for the headliners, a small, clearly devoted group of YTG fans were in full voice down front.
Frontman Sameer Gadhia gave his all, bouncing across the stage in an effort to stir a somewhat polite but appreciative audience. As the set unfolded, guitarists Jacob Tilley and Eric Cannata visibly loosened up and leaned into the moment, darting around the stage with grins on their faces. Though the mood in the room was reserved, the band themselves were anything but. They delivered a tight, energetic performance that made a strong case for their return to Australian stages.
Then came the moment the room had been waiting for.
As Bloc Party stepped into the glow of the first-night energy of their Australian tour, the Hordern Pavilion roared to life. The crowd, mostly in their 30s and older, was ready to be transported back, and Bloc Party obliged. They opened with a dreamy, spine-tingling “So Here We Are” before diving headfirst into the angular chaos of “She’s Hearing Voices” and a truly explosive “Hunting for Witches,” which lit the room on fire.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their seminal debut Silent Alarm, the band curated a set that leaned heavily into that record, reminding fans why those songs shook the indie landscape so hard in the mid-2000s. “Banquet” was as massive as ever, a timeless crowd-pleaser that had the entire venue bouncing. “Like Eating Glass” and “Positive Tension” hit with all the jittery energy of their first spins in 2005. Somehow, these songs haven’t aged. They’ve matured, and in the hands of this current lineup, they felt sharper than ever.
Kele Okereke was magnetic throughout. He was equal parts playful and commanding, with a voice that hasn’t lost a hint of its bite or beauty. Despite joking about jetlag, he led the charge with charm and power, moving effortlessly between raw power and delicate restraint. Behind him, Louise Bartle was a relentless force on drums, hammering out precise, propulsive rhythms that gave even the more atmospheric tracks like “Blue Light” and “Different Drugs” a hard-edged backbone. Russell Lissack’s guitar work shimmered and sliced in all the right places, and Harry Deacon provided a steady, unshakable foundation on bass.
The lighting design throughout was immersive and hypnotic. It elevated the experience without ever distracting from the performance. It added tension and drama to songs like “Mercury” and “Song for Clay (Disappear Here),” and brought a euphoric glow to set highlights like “The Love Within” and “The Prayer.”
Then came the encore. And what an encore it was. Beginning with a beautiful “Signs” and the sing-along warmth of “Two More Years,” things took an explosive turn with back-to-back post-punk anthems “Helicopter” and “Ratchet,” before closing on the sweeping emotional climax of “This Modern Love.” It was pure catharsis. A perfect closer to a night of nostalgia, electricity, and enduring musical relevance.
Two decades in, Bloc Party proved they’ve lost none of their urgency or passion. This wasn’t just a school night trip down memory lane. It was a declaration that they’re still one of the most entertaining live acts around.
Review by Andy Lovell. Photos by Adam Davis-Powell.
