Bloc Party Live @ The Guildhall, Southampton

An angular 'Hunting for Witches' pokes a stick at the flag waving Right, while 'On' provides a cautionary tale of the allure of drug abuse against a musical backdrop of - admittedly very apt - euphoria.

It's left to single 'The Prayer' to provoke the first outbreak of obligatory foot-stomping and hands-above-your-head clapping of the night, and provides welcome respite from all the intermittent seriousness.

Much like their crowd-wowing V Festival performances, the band are in ridiculously fine form. Matt Tong's lung-busting, tub-thumping almost steals the limelight as ever. Russell continues his gradual but steady ascent to official guitar genius; all Johnny Greenwood fringe, fretwork and riffing. And Gordy pulls more shapes than a Pippettes dance routine.

However, it's Kele on whom the media will inevitably be focusing its attentions in the coming months. These are, after all, his own words he's singing. Whether he has put himself in the spotlight or the firing line remains to be seen.
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