Do You Think You're Better Off Alone?

For a Sunday night, it was tough to get into the high energy that Kele Okereke's support act Mama with her ridiculously slinky dancers had going but no sooner than the first bridge of Kele's opening track, the entire crowd rediscovered the meaning of second wind.

For his third solo show ever, it is fair to make the assumption that he was the ultimate driving force behind El Bloc Party.

He had only slyly released 'Tenderoni', 'Rise' and 'Walk Tall' before his Irish tour but those tracks are nowt but a ripple in comparison to the tidal wave of awesomeness that he has in store for us with The Boxer later this month.

Kele is going for a more techno-electro slant with his solo stuff which is what suits him best. He seemed completely at ease performing previously unheard material and thrived off the reaction of his loyal followers.

This may be a bold statement, but judging by the Cheshire Cat smile he had on his face for the entire gig, it feels like it was the music that he was meant to make.

He treated us to a medley of songs by the band he "used to be in" (make of that what you will) including 'The Prayer', 'One More Chance' and the finishing number 'Flux'.

I left The Academy completely in love with Kele. Apart from the fact that the man is completely ripped (yes, that description makes me feel like a woman in her early 40s that is in love with Jason Orange), Kele has a stage presence that is entrancing and inclusive.

It's almost as a weight has been lifted off the man's shoulders and we are so very lucky that it has resulted in some damn fine music.

If The Boxer doesn't become one of your essential albums, then I will have to reconsider my opinion on the human race.

I kid you not.