Mixing the dark pop style of the Cure with the angular, droning riffs of Sonic Youth and Gang of Four, South London art-punk band Bloc Party is the latest young outfit making waves with their take on the underground sounds of the '80s. Consisting of Nigerian-born singer/guitarist Kele Okereke, guitarist Russell Lissack, bassist/singer Gordon Moakes, and drummer Matt Tong, the group tried several different names before finally settling on Bloc Party.

The group's demo and concerts began to attract attention from both the press and their peers. Like-minded Scottish group Franz Ferdinand invited the band to play the Domino Tenth Anniversary bash after listening to a tape Okereke had sent. Heavy touring in the U.S. and a reputation for high-energy stage shows built a buzz surrounding the band, leading tastemaking magazine Vice to sign the group to its label.

Their debut album Silent Alarm appeared early in 2005 to widespread acclaim. The group held fans over with an remix version of Silent Alarm, but finally released its equally celebrated sophomore recording A Weekend in the City in early 2007. A more mature effort that finds singer Okereke cataloging his thoughts on life in 21st century London, the album delivered an earnest, anthemic sound that pleased Bloc Party fans and critics alike.

The group moved into a more electronic-tinged for its third album Intimacy, but Bloc Party's latest effort Four eme/rged this past August to reveal a return to the terse, edgy guitar riffs that had been their trademark. Bloc Party returns to the Bay Area for the first time since their bracing set at this year's Outside Lands Festival, headlining the Fox Theater with tuneful indie-punk rockers Dum Dum Girls.

Bloc Party
Thursday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m. $35
Fox Theater