Britain's Bloc Party didn't invade the hearts of most Americans until "Silent Alarm" surfaced in 2005 to mass dance party acclaim, but the band actually got its start back in '03 -- although you might not have noticed had you not been privy to its former ego, known as Union.

"A weekend in the City" followed in early 2007 -- OK, fine, there was "Silent Alarm Remixed" in late 2005, but it didn't make a fraction of the impact the original did -- and finally the four-piece is heading stateside for a fall tour.

Bloc Party reaches the shores of Lake Michigan on Sept. 11 for an evening at the Pabst Theater. All tickets are $23 and go on sale on Friday, July 13 at noon at The Pabst Theater box office, on the Web at www.pabsttheater.org and www.tickets.com, or by calling (414) 286-3663 or (800) 511-1552.

This just in! Word from The Pabst is that the British invasion doubles with The Cribs, scheduled to play an intimate, lower level $10 buck show on Thursday, Aug. 2. Tickets go on sale simultaneously with Bloc Party's.