Bloc Party Singer Comes Out Of The Closet
In an interview with The Guardian, Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke reveals that he is gay. It's not the most shocking revelation, but a breath of fresh air in the very white and straight dominated world of indie rock. Apparently, Okereke's says his decision to come out was prompted by a feeling he would be forced to discuss such matters when Bloc Party's sophmore album, A Weekend in the City, is released in February- Two songs on the album, "I Still Remember" and "Kreuzberg", have overtly homosexual themes. Okereke told The Guardian why he waited until now to discuss his sexuality,
"I didn't talk about it when I did interviews for the last record because it wasn't an area really reflected in the music; I didn't talk about race for the same reason. Why was that still a discussion point? The only reason it was a discussion point was because of the racial prejudice that exists in the mainstream media."
"I think I'm going to have to [discuss my sexuality]. With the first album I didn't think it was essential to the experience. I didn't want to have to talk about it in a tabloid way. It wasn't there in the songs, so why did people need to know? But yeah, there are songs on this record that do feel like they're about desire, longing. So yeah, I am gonna talk about that."
A Weekend in the City is released February 6th.
Recommended Viewing:
"I Still Remember" Video
Metric Start Work On Third 'Mellower' LP
Metric frontwoman Emily Haines has revealed to Billboard that the band has begun work on their third full-length LP, and that it's taking a decidedly mellow turn.
"We're making up lots of music in a bit mellower vibe. It's always nice to check yourself, see if you can explore different moods as a writer"
Haines says she believes her recent relaxed and airy solo album, Knives Don't Have Your Back, has affected the writing of new Metric material, though it's too early too tell how the finished product will sound.
"I can already see how my work on 'Knives' has affected the direction of the next Metric record, which is cool...but we'll probably do so many songs, who knows how the final record will sound."
Metric spent this past month in a studio in Seattle working on the follow up to 2005's Live It Out, but won't be back in the studio until March to allow for Haines solo tour, which begins January 4th, and a handful of UK Metric Dates supporting Bloc Party.
Emily Haines Solo Tour Dtaes:
01/04/07 Montreal @ Outremont Theatre
01/05/07 Ottawa @ Bronson Centre
01/06/07 Toronto @ The Danforth Music Hall
01/07/07 Philadelphia @ First Unitarian Church
01/08/07 Boston @ Paradise
01/09/07 NYC @ Hiro Ballroom
01/10/07 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Room
01/11/07 Detroit @ Magic Bag
01/12/07 Chicago @ Lakeshore Theater
01/13/07 Minneapolis @ The Varsirty
01/14/07 Winnipeg @ Garrick Theatre
01/15/07 Saskatoon @ TBC
01/16/07 Calgary @ The Grand Theatre
01/17/07 Edmonton @ The Citadel Theatre
01/18/07 Vancouver @ Commodore Ballroom
01/19/07 Portland @ Douglas Fir
01/20/07 Seattle @ Crocodile Café
01/22/07 San Francisco @ GAMH
01/23/07 LA @ El Rey
Metric UK Tour Dates (w/ Bloc Party):
27/01/2007 - Southampton Guild Hall
28/01/2007 - Norwich UEA
31/01/2007 - London Astoria
01/02/2007 - London Astoria
02/02/2007 - London Astoria
03/02/2007 - Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
05/02/2007 - Reading Hexagon
06/02/2007 - Cardiff University
07/02/2007 - Bristol Academy
09/02/2007 - Exeter Great Hall (University)
10/02/2007 - Birmingham Academy
Recommended Viewing:
Metric on a mellow tip, covering Elliott Smith's "Between The Bars"
and Metric's "Monster Hospital" video (from Live It Out)
Bloc Party Stream New Track
If you're feeling a little down because of Matt Tong's trouble with his lung and Bloc Party's subsequent decision to cancel the North American tour, take some consolation in this news. Even though A Weekend in the City isn't hitting shelves until February 6th, you can now head over to their MySpace page and listen to Matt kick the crap out of a beat on a new single. "Prayer" is now streaming and is really an incredible song.
The substance of the prayer is summed up by the chorus "Tonight make me unstoppable/ and I will charm/ I would slice/ I will dazzle them with my wit."
Really, rather than waste my breadth on a description, if you like Bloc Party at all, this song is going to amp you up for the album, and you should already have clicked the link.
As previously mentioned, the album was recorded in Ireland with Jacknife Lee (U2, Snow Patrol) taking care of production duties.
Bloc Party North American Tour Cancelled
Sadly, we kinda saw this one coming. A lung collapse isn't something you bounce back from. You don't call in to your boss and say, "My lung collapsed, so... yeah, it's been going around... I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" It just doesn't work that way.
So, predictably and unfortunately, Matt Tong of Bloc Party, who suffered from a lung collapse last week, will be in recovery for a while. Consequently, the North American tour, which sees them opening for MTV darlings Panic! At the Disco, is cancelled. PATD fans, don't be alarmed - that's your parents' job - the tour is still on, now it just won't include good music.
Frontman Kele Okereke released a press statement:
"While Matt is on the road to recovery doctors have advised that he not travel or play again for another few weeks in order to give his lung time to properly heal."
"We would like to apologize to all of our fans here who won't be able to see us on this tour," frontman Kele Okereke said in the press release. We were looking forward to playing in a number of American cities that we've never been to before, however, Matt's health is our number one priority right now."
The good news is that Matt might be performance ready by the new year, as their is no mention of canceling the UK tour. Tickets refunds should be available at the point of purchase.
In summary, CANCELLED...:
11-13 New York, NY - Theater at Madison Square Garden *
11-14 New York, NY - Theater at Madison Square Garden *
11-16 Toronto, Ontario - Ricoh Coliseum *
11-17 Rochester, NY - Gordon Field House at RIT *
11-18 Lowell, MA - Tsongas Arena *
11-19 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center *
11-21 Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills *
11-22 Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion *
11-24 Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Theater *
11-25 St. Charles, MO - Family Arena *
11-26 Council Bluffs, IA - Mid-America Center *
11-28 Denver, CO - Magness Arena *
11-29 Salt Lake City, UT - The E Center *
12-01 Portland, OR - Memorial Coliseum *
12-02 Vancouver, British Columbia - Pacific Coliseum *
12-03 Seattle, WA - Everett Events Center *
12-05 San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion *
12-06 Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Arena *
12-07 Glendale, AZ - Glendale Arena *
12-08 Las Vegas, NV - Orleans Theatre *
12-09 San Diego, CA - ipayOne Center *
* = CANCELLED!
Breath easy. We'll be here when you get back.
Bloc Party Drummer Lung Collapse
In my opinion, Matt Tong is the secret weapon in Bloc Party. Whenever I listen to their music, I can't help thinking the songs wouldn't really have promoted these guys to hipster darling-dom status without Tong really bashing the intensity down our ears.
There's probably a secret weapon in every band. Maybe not. But I hope so, because secret weapons are neat.
Well, on Thursday night Bloc Party lost their secret weapon, when Matt Tong suffered a collapsed lung following a show in Atlanta. While there's no mention as to what caused his lung to collapse, they do say this at the BP website:
Doctors at the hospital in Atlanta say Matt is in a comfortable condition and not in any danger, he will however be staying in hospital for at least the next three days for observation and it's not clear at this stage when Matt will be fit to resume performing.
The band have been forced to cancel 4 shows so far, and it's unclear what the status is on the rather intense tour they lined up for themselves with Panic! at the Disco. We wish Matt a speedy recovery. Take care of yourself. Lungs are serious business.
11-10 Charlotte, NC - Cricket Arena * CANCELLED
11-11 Fairfax, VA - Patriot Center * CANCELLED
11-13 New York, NY - Theater at Madison Square Garden * CANCELLED
11-14 New York, NY - Theater at Madison Square Garden * CANCELLED
11-16 Toronto, Ontario - Ricoh Coliseum *
11-17 Rochester, NY - Gordon Field House at RIT *
11-18 Lowell, MA - Tsongas Arena *
11-19 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center *
11-21 Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills *
11-22 Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion *
11-24 Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Theater *
11-25 St. Charles, MO - Family Arena *
11-26 Council Bluffs, IA - Mid-America Center *
11-28 Denver, CO - Magness Arena *
11-29 Salt Lake City, UT - The E Center *
12-01 Portland, OR - Memorial Coliseum *
12-02 Vancouver, British Columbia - Pacific Coliseum *
12-03 Seattle, WA - Everett Events Center *
12-05 San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion *
12-06 Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Arena *
12-07 Glendale, AZ - Glendale Arena *
12-08 Las Vegas, NV - Orleans Theatre *
12-09 San Diego, CA - ipayOne Center *
01-27 Southampton, England - Guild Hall
01-28 Norwich, England - UEA
01-31 London, England - Astoria
02-01 London, England - Astoria
02-02 London, England - Astoria
02-03 Folkestone, England - Leas Cliff Hall
02-05 Reading, England - Hexagon
02-06 Cardiff, Wales - University
02-07 Bristol, England - Academy
02-09 Exeter, England - Great Hall at University
02-10 Birmingham, England - Academy
02-11 Nottingham, England - Rock City
02-13 Cambridge, England - Corn Exchange
02-14 Manchester, England - Academy
02-16 Dublin, Ireland - Ambassador Theatre
02-17 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowland
02-18 Aberdeen, Scotland - Music Hall
02-20 Edinburgh, Scotland - Corn Exchange
02-21 Newcastle, England - Academy
02-22 Sheffield, England - Octagon
* with Panic! at the Disco, Jack's Mannequin
Bloc Party's sophomore disc A Weekend in the City will be released early next year, Feb. 5th in the UK, and Feb. 6th in the USA.
Get well soon.
Bloc Party Album Details
Bloc Party have finally revealed the title for their sophomore album. A Weekend in the City will be released February 6th, from Vice records. The band spent the summer working with Jacknife Lee (U2, Snow Patrol) in Ireland working on the record.
Frontman Kele Okereke describes the theme of the record as "the living noise of a metropolis." The band sites some rather disparate influences from Philip Glass to Timbaland, Aaliyah to Bartok. The track-list which was mentioned previously, was unsequenced but we now have the order.
01 Song for Clay (Disappear Here)
02 Hunting for Witches
03 Waiting for the 7:18
04 The Prayer
05 Uniform
06 On
07 Where Is Home?
08 Kreuzberg
09 I Still Remember
10 Sunday
11 SRXT
This coming November, the band are set to head out on the road for an opening slot with Panic! At the Disco, in an effort to get teen-agers thinking they are as cool as us 20 somethings think. Catch the early show, be home in time to get a good night's sleep.
11-07 Sunrise, FL - Bank Atlantic Center
11-08 Orlando, FL - UCF Arena
11-09 Atlanta, GA - HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
11-10 Charlotte, NC - Cricket Arena
11-11 Fairfax, VA - Patriot Center
11-13 New York, NY - Theater at Madison Square Garden
11-14 New York, NY - Theater at Madison Square Garden
11-16 Toronto, Ontario - Ricoh Coliseum
11-17 Rochester, NY - Gordon Field House at RIT
11-18 Lowell, MA - Tsongas Arena
11-19 Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
11-21 Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
11-22 Chicago, IL - UIC Pavilion
11-24 Minneapolis, MN - US Bank Theater
11-25 St. Charles, MO - Family Arena
11-26 Council Bluffs, IA - Mid-America Center
11-28 Denver, CO - Magness Arena
11-29 Salt Lake City, UT - The E Center
12-01 Portland, OR - Memorial Coliseum
12-02 Vancouver, British Columbia - Pacific Coliseum
12-03 Seattle, WA - Everett Events Center
12-05 San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
12-06 Long Beach, CA - Long Beach Arena
12-07 Glendale, AZ - Glendale Arena
12-08 Las Vegas, NV - Orleans Theatre
12-09 San Diego, CA - ipayOne Center
Bloc Party Tracklist
While this is nothing like an official tracklisting, it still comes from the horse's mouth. Kele Okereke, frontman for Bloc Party, has announced the potential tracks for the new album. Tracks are still being tweaked so it is likely that a few you see here might not make it onto the official album, but this is the veritable idea. Sequencing isn't even on the agenda yet:
A Prayer to the Lord
England
Hunting for Witches
It Started in an Afternoon
Kreuzberg
On
Seroxat
Song for Clay (Disappear Here)
Sunday
Uniform
Waiting for the 7:18
We Were Lovers
Where Is Home?
The band has shortlisted these songs for the album. They are all to be given the officlal mix, and from that point the band will sideline a few tracks for B-side material.
There are still a few shows left on their stint for their debut:
08-01 Anaheim, CA - Grove of Anaheim
08-03 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
08-04 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
08-05 San Diego, CA - Street Scene Festival
08-08 Mexico City, Mexico - Salon 21
08-09 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
08-10 Austin, TX - Stubb's
08-16 Paredes de Coura, Portugal - Paredes de Coura, Portugal Rock Festival
08-18 Biddinghuizen, Holland - Lowlands Festival
08-19 Chelmsford, England - Hylands Park (V Festival)
08-20 Staffordshire, England - Western Park (V Festival)
09-02 Stradbally, Ireland - Electric Picnic
