Kele Okereke plays it cool in Los Angeles

September 21, 2010, at the Music Box

By Melissa Bobbitt
Published: September 27th, 2010 | 11:00am

This may have been the most intense tour Kele Okereke has ever embarked on. Not only was it the conclusion to the Bloc Party frontman’s first solo venture, but it entailed some hairy experiences.

“We’ve met some rednecks in Redding, we’ve been held at gunpoint, we’ve gotten the shits, and we played some amazing shows,” the charismatic singer/guitarist told the Music Box denizens. And all the while, whether musing on songs of sacrifice or songs of unrepentant joy, he smiled like no other artist in his dance-rock genre dares.

One could easily see just how much the outrageous yet humble Brit loves to entertain. He’d jump offstage and wave directly into fans’ point-and-shoot cameras. He’d harmonize sweetly with synthesizer player Lucy Taylor, holding her wistful gaze and pacing toward her during “All the Things I Could Never Say.” He’d exhibit his wily rhythmic moves with complete abandon—a combo of tribalism, rude-boy scuffle, and unctuous athleticism.

The Music Box was as alive and bustling as though it were a Saturday night instead of a typically comatose Tuesday. Opener Does It Offend You, Yeah? was a great contributor to that frenzy. Despite the absence of lead singer James Rushent (he’s been under the weather lately), the electronic outfit was totally nuclear.

Guitarist Matty Derham and bassist Chloe Duveaux strangled and mangled their instruments, all the while jumping and maintaining airtime that would impress even Michael Jordan. Material old (“We Are Rockstars”) and new (“We Are the Dead”) was given great response from the crowd. And upping the wow factor was drummer Rob Bloomfield who took on vocal duties for one song—even though, as Derham revealed, he’d been vomiting earlier that day.

Not to be outdone, Kele (no last name needed in promotion of his The Boxer album for Glassnote) was a true master of ceremonies. From the initial urgent beats of “Walk Tall,” he had the audience in his palm. Donning a Gucci sweatshirt and black basketball shorts, he clutched the mic stand and grinned. By song two, the scandalously hip “On the Lam,” he ditched the constrictive top and caroused in a tank.

He farmed mostly from The Boxer, but didn’t forget about the Bloc Party supporters. “I have this other band. It’s called the Black Eyed Peas,” he kidded before launching into a remixed medley of Party music: “Blue Light,” “The Prayer,” and “One More Chance.”

His hour’s worth of rock battle cries included “You can’t stop me!” and “I’m taking over!” With this virgin trek into solo territory, Kele has shown he really is unstoppable.

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Kele official site

Kele MySpace page

Glassnote Records

Does It Offend You, Yeah? official site

Does It Offend You, Yeah? MySpace page

Virgin Records