Bloc Party travelled to Brazil last week to perform at Video Music Brazil, an MTV production. "Perform" they did.
The band took the stage to wild applause. But instead of performing live, the group proceeded to mime through two songs, 'Talons' and 'Banquet'. The latter dissolved into pantomime with singer Kele Okereke racing around the stage and into the audience holding a microphone, not bothering to even feign playing guitar. During this, various band members looked bored, laughed and at one point, jumped into the crowd also.
The audience wasn't too happy, as can be heard at the start and end of this clip. Other bands on the night played live and rumours are circling as to the reason Bloc Party mimed. One suggests that the band requested it at the last minute, despite rehearsing live for the spot. Another is that it was a sort've 'Fuck you' to MTV. Which seems unlikely considering it was the bands first appearance in South America. So far there's been no official word from the Bloc Party camp. The band return to Brazil in early November before
heading to Australia.
Read our review of Bloc Party's Intimacy here.Bloc Party - 'Banquet' @ Brazil MTV Awards