Spring is here, but it sure felt like summer inside a hot and sweaty 9:30 Club last night. Bloc Party packed their arena worthy show inside the cozy confines of 815 V St NW and banged out a show to remember.

The outcome of the night was never really in doubt once lead singer Kele Okereke stepped on stage wearing a Clinton Portis jersey. The man clearly knows how to play to his audience. About halfway through the show, he took a homemade sign from a few teenage fans in the front row that was asking the band to play their b-side “Tulips,” which they did despite not having played the song in over two years. Later in the set they played another b-side, “The Once and Future King,” and to top things off, Okereke spent the majority of his time singing “Mercury” while crowd surfing.

The rest of the set was a mix of the band’s three albums. Old hits like “This Modern Love” and “Like Eating Glass” were mixed in with heavier fare like “Hunting for Witches” and “Trojan Horse.” The biggest reaction of the night was when the band seamlessly segued from “Song For Clay (Disappear Here)” into “Banquet” without skipping a beat.

I can’t say I was ever a fan of Longwave, who served as the opener last night. I’ve heard a few of their records and they always came off as too breezy for me, all style and no substance. But their set last night certainly changed my opinion of them. Live they have much more grit and heft, showcasing their effects-heavy shoegazer influences and lead singer Steve Schiltz’s vocals. The band noted that they were recording last night’s gig, so here’s hoping that sees the light of day soon.

Full Bloc Party setlist after the jump.