Bloc Party @ The Bowery, Green Day @ Pianos

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Posted in music on April 8, 2005

Bloc Party @ The Bowery, Green Day @ Pianos

Bloc Party @ Bowery BAllroom

Bloc Party played the first of two shows at Bowery Ballroom in NYC Thursday night (April 7th, 2005). Thanks to Kathryn Yu for the above picture.

SCALPING

Tickets were going for $100 a pop outside the venue. The block was filled with people looking and hoping for a miracle. Kele (singer) asked the crowd who paid the most to get in. Someone in the front screamed $200. He gave them his laminated pass and asked him/her to sell it on E-bay to recoup some of that loss.

NO DANCING

The show was both awesome and frustrating at the same time (like being tied up and tickled?). The complaint? More people stood around with their arms folded than danced. (like Toronto) There was a small pocket of communal dancing and excitement going on in the front (which I eventually found my way to), but the rest of the crowd might as well have been sitting. My favorite line from Kele: "I don't care what magazine you work for. You can have fun and dance." (or something like that).

A few times I just closed my eyes, and pretended I was back at Roxy. There should be a mandatory open bar for an hour before every Bloc Party performance. I think that would have helped.

WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE?

As also reported at the Modern Age, Bloc Party thought they were funny by pretending to start songs by The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, Radiohead, and Coldplay. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Bloc Party's intent was to pick on those bands and the people that like them. Funny? a little. Cocky? a lot.

INTERMISSION

After about 30 minutes of playing, Bloc Party left the stage. Was it over? No, it was just intermission. Either that, or the encore was really long.

SEEN IN THE CROWD

James Iha of Smashing Pumpkins (yeah, I know - New Yorkers are thinking it would be weird if James WASN'T there) & a member of TV On the Radio.

Mike Dirnt of Green Day with a fan @ Pianos
Green Day @ Pianos

AFTER PARTY

The after party was at Pianos. Bloc Party, Ultragrrrl, and Karen Plus One were DJing. I went right from Bowery to Pianos, but by the time I got there, there was already a line half way down the block. Not too bad, EXCEPT it was pouring. I had no umbrella, but waited anyway. By the time I got up to the list, I was drenched. Then my name wasn't on the list. Luckily there were enough +1's to go around, and I eventually got in.

I'm not big on after-parties, especially ones on a weeknight, but I'm glad I went. Bloc Party was ('if you want to call it') DJing and generally just hanging out with the full-to-capacity crowd. Iha appeared again. I think I saw Chris Glover.

The really interesting thing happened when I was about to leave at 2am (the same time Human Television was starting to play). I couldn't help but notice Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt from Green Day hangin at the front bar with two large bodyguards close by. (Strange that I had just been talking about Green Day earlier in the day).

I'm a jaded New Yorker, but I still got excited at the sight of them in a bar. I'm not the type to approach celebrities, but I can't say the same for my friend who thinks American Idiot is the best thing since sliced bread. Long story short, this friend and Billie were talking about the meaning of life with their arms around each other for about five minutes. My camera wasn't working, so I unfortunately couldn't capture the Kodak moment.

After Billie left, I ended up outside in a group discussion with Mike Dirnt. Mike is the most conceited, down-to-earth, guy you'll ever meet. He was really, really nice, and had no problem just chillin' with his fans. We asked him if he saw Bloc Party. He hadn't. I'm not sure they even knew it was the after-party. They were in town to play Saturday Night Live (tomorrow). He told us about his plans for a few more albums, mixed with world domination.

Our party was eventually broken up by another endearing fan. I used that opportunity to finally get home and get some sleep. Thanks to Brian for the two photos of Mike Dirnt.

Mike Dirnt of Green Day with a fan @ Pianos
Green Day @ Pianos

NEXT

Bloc Party are back at Bowery tonight (Friday). Expect more scalping.

And the breaking news is two more scheduled shows at Webster Hall: June 14th & 15th. Tix not on sale yet.

Previously

Green Day playing Giants Stadium

Bloc Party @ Tribeca Grand Hotel - pics

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Tags: Bloc Party, Green Day

Posted on April 8, 2005 5:08 PM

Comments (20)

Do you remember what time the show got out last night? Going to tonight's show so was just curious.

Posted by Bao | April 8, 2005 7:07 PM

Bloc Party went on not long after 10:30, and was finished before midngight.

Posted by brooklynvegan | April 8, 2005 7:10 PM

You didn't need a miracle to get in. After about an hour, during the ponys set,the bouncers let a lot of people in (maybe 30+), and all we had to pay was a mere 15 bucks.

Posted by Anonymous | April 8, 2005 7:39 PM

Bloc Party play tonight..Friday

Posted by Anonymous | April 8, 2005 8:17 PM

yeah. oops. for some reason I thought today was Saturday as I wrote that post. corrected. thanks

Posted by brooklynvegan | April 8, 2005 8:20 PM

i foolishly missed their toronto show, hope they'll be back in my city soon..

p.s. your blog fucking rules , one of the best i've read!

Posted by mishie | April 9, 2005 5:41 PM

I'll eventually official post what I'm about to say, but until then....

Friday night was a complete reversal of Thursday night. The show was 1000 times better. It was louder, people danced, Bloc Party were cool, etc, etc....

Posted by brooklynvegan | April 9, 2005 5:48 PM

Is Dirnt conceited or down to earth? How can you be both?

Posted by information leafblower | April 10, 2005 9:58 AM

he was both. He was the kind of guy who would just hang with you all night, and listen to every word you say, and is totally cool, but every other response would be littered with how great his band was. So maybe conceited wasn't the best word, but I was definitely going for the oxymoron there. :)

Posted by brooklynvegan | April 10, 2005 11:33 AM

Props to you for waiting in line. The rain and lack of an umbrella detered me. I think I was left of the guest-list too, so I didnt want to wait and sober-up. I didn't hear anything about Scarlet Johanson being there, so I wouldnt have been able to make out with her anyway.

Despite what others have said about Friday being better, Thursday still rocked in the front. I didnt get any good pictures, but I was right next to a photographer from the New York Times (a small local publication).
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/09/arts/music/09bloc.html?pagewanted=all&oref=login

Posted by Jerry | April 11, 2005 9:50 AM

kind of disappointed you didn't say which guy from TV on the Radio was there (even if you just said "the white guy" or "the guy with the big afro" or "the bald guy who does most of the singing"... or was it "the drummer with the dreadlocks"?) :\

Posted by jen | April 15, 2005 1:48 PM

Re midweek afterparties, I dig absolutely.

Last Tuesday, 9/20/05, I went to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Metro here in Chicago. That night, playing in town were: U2, Franz Ferdinand, Paul Weller, Beck, AND BRMC! A typical night in NYC, perhaps, but a big deal for Illinois.

Metro had promoed a big Franz Ferdinand AP in their disco, the Smart Bar. I was psyched, given the action in town that evening. When I got there, however, the crowd was like 20 fratboys. BORING!!

Black Rebel, however, kicked it.

Posted by uniklop | September 27, 2005 12:16 AM

Yo could you send me my buddy's email? I miss him..he was cool.

Posted by Billie Joe A. | January 16, 2006 2:48 AM

Heh.So funny!=)))When Green Day will give concert in the Moscow?!!!Sorry, for mistakes...

Posted by Russian_Girl=)) | April 17, 2007 9:41 AM

You guys should have photos of Billie Joe!!!!!!!!

Posted by Anonymous | May 21, 2007 1:58 PM

You guys should have photos of Billie Joe!!!!!!!!

Posted by Jesse | May 21, 2007 1:59 PM

You guys should have photos of Billie Joe!!!!!!!!

Posted by Jesse | May 21, 2007 1:59 PM