Bloc Party Live @ The Guildhall, Southampton

Even more paradoxical perhaps is Kele's jolly bonhomie and cheery banter. It's only been a matter of weeks since his title of 'Grumpiest Sod in British Music' was usurped by that young master of moping, Alex Turner.

That Kele has emerged from trawling such dark emotional depths in order to write the new album with a big toothy grin on his face and a relaxed demeanour is a measure of the man. Moreover, it underlines the fact that he is - if not exactly happy - then blessed with the intelligence and eloquence to take on the mantle of spokesperson for the disaffected and disenfranchised among us.

More impressive still, is the manner in which the relatively young crowd tonight embrace Bloc Party's 'brave new direction' in so much as to say 'we agree with the sentiment lads...and we're with you every step of the way'. Such support can prove vital if you're venturing out on a limb.

But, as long as this band has songs such as 'Like Eating Glass' and Helicopter' in their canon, that can induce mass hysteria at a whim, they'll never stray far from our hearts.

After all the sporadic - albeit brilliant - doom, gloom and kick-up-the-arse call-to-arms sloganeering, the evening ends fittingly with 'The Pioneers'.

However, it's the penultimate song 'So Here We Are', played amid blinding white light, that ambles up to us like an old friend, places a comforting arm tenderly around our shoulders, tell us that everything is going to be alright and sends us on our way joyful and exhilarated.

It's the unlikeliest of songs to win the night, especially given Bloc Party's current social outlook, but we leave remembering why we invested so much hope, faith and trust in this very special band in the first place. As if they'd have ever let us down.page << 1 2 3 >>