Bloc Party played a triumphant hometown gig last night (April 19) at London's Brixton Academy.

While most of London was crawling around Camden, a few thousand elected instead to go and see Bloc Party, who didn't do any crawling at all.

Taking to the stage at 9.30pm, in an assortment of brightly-coloured T-shirts, the world-beating art-rock outfit launched into 'Song For Clay (Disappear Here)', the opening track from their new album 'A Weekend in the City'.

They followed with the massive 'Helicopter', then worked through big tracks new and old, including 'Banquet', 'This Modern Love', I Still Remember, 'Like Eating Glass' and the mighty 'The Prayer' that raised the already bellowing, hip-shaking Brixton.

The Bloc boys were illuminated on-stage by bright blue lights, one of which was shining prettily off the bare, medium-hairy chest of quality drummer (and Penfold lookalike) Matt Tong, who was on fine skin-beating form.

Among the VIPs at the gig, rocking up in the guestlist queue was Hollywood hunk Jared Leto, who we overheard telling his mate (who may or may not have been from his band 30 Seconds To Mars): "I f*cking love Bloc Party!".

Unfortunately my girlfriend "f*cking loves Jared Leto" and won't shut up about how hot he looks in person. Yawn.

Anyway, back to Bloc Party they smashed it, then smashed it some more. Kele even tried to crowd-surf, but the security men kept hold of his little art-college legs.

It's no wonder they're one of the biggest bands on Earth at the moment.

Kele's parents, who were in the crowd, must be proud as punch. So must Matt's chest-hair stylist.

'DL'