Yes, it really really really did happen...
-
Artist:
(do push play!)
Never in my life did I think that I'd see Blur live. Last Friday, July 3rd, in London, I was happy to be proven wrong.
Met up with my favourite pervert in the world (that's Neill, of course) and walked over to Hyde Park. The mood was good, really good. The sun was shinning, the beer was flowing, and everyone was excited to be there. Support bands were Deerhoof, Florence and the Machine (didn't catch either), Amadou & Mariam, and Vampire Weekend (both unable to hold any interest).
And then, magic happened. Blur. BLUR. BLUR! Blur came on the stage (I had just finished my loo business after I cut through in front of the whole loo queue and started running towards Neill). Collective excitement over every single song, dancing to Country House, Girls and Boys, Park Life, For Tomorrow, and making Hyde Park shake with Song 2. Witnessing a female fight, throwing (plastic) bottles to people that were on other people's shoulders (quit blocking the view!), talking to happy strangers, pushing and smiling our way deeper and deeper into the pit, losing and finding each other, exchanging secrets. The most unforgettable moments came with This Is A Low, Beetleebum, End of a Century, and an extended version of Tender that had us hypnotized and chanting 'Oh my baby, Oh my baby, Oh why, Oh my'...
Blur were on top form and looked truly very happy to be there. People adore them, and they adore back. Always a good sign that a reunion is worth every penny. I saw the setlist online and I was surprised that we actually heard 25 songs. I could have sworn that it lasted barely an hour, time just flew away. Always a good sign that you had a great time at a show.
My favourite part of the show was The Universal. It was a glorious chill-inducing moment. The sun was down, the stage lights were sparkling, and Blur were up there, giving us an amazing performance of a tremendously beautiful song. Slowly unfolding towards pure greatness, with great backing vocals and mesmerizing trumpets, it was breath-taking. It was so intense that my vision got a bit erm, blurred, and I'm not ashamed to admit that as I write these words, while listening to the song, and thinking back, the same thing is happening.
For me, up until some months ago this was ridiculous wishful thinking, and somehow it became an wonderfully overwhelming reality. This has been a hard year for me adjustment wise, but this cerainly was one of the precious moments that make me feel that I made the right decision by coming to the UK.
Every paper that you read
says tomorrow's your lucky day
Well, here's your lucky day
It really, really, really could happen
Yes, it really, really, really could happen
If the days they seem to fall through you
Well, just let them go
Setlist:
- She's So High
- Girls And Boys
- Tracy Jacks
- There's No Other Way
- Jubilee
- Badhead
- Beetlebum
- Out Of Time
- Trimm Trabb
- Coffee And TV
- Tender
- Country House
- Oily Water
- Chemical World
- Sunday Sunday
- Parklife
- End Of A Century
- To The End
- This Is A Low
Encore 1:
20. Popscene
21. Advert Play
22. Song 2
Encore 2:
23. Death of a Party
24. For Tomorrow
25. Universal
Many thanks to Neill, who was a great friend, as always, despite the fact that after we lost each other at the show at some point, he bought me a beer and gave it to two 20 year old girls. ahahhahahha xxx
Locating MOG account...
Comments (43)
I hate you anna, and I am not going to throw in a j/k here because besides new order this is just another one of the bands I would kill to see live at one point in my life.......ok, just kidding. I will have to live through your words until they come state side for now
Bah, I know you love me deep down inside.
I believe that they will. This has been one hell of a successful reunion!
When I was 15 I went to London and bought my older brother a Blur t-shirt. He didn't know who they were and gave it away. I mark that single action as the turning point where I became cooler than him. Sounds like an awesome show. I love summer, music, and beer. it's like magic.
I think it's safe to say that the brother lost the train to coolville right there! It was truly amazing. I'll never forget it...
they might but I do not think they will make it to MN
When the mountain doesn't come to Muhammad... oh wait, who is Muhammad and who is mountain in this case? So confusing :o)
Your enthusiasm is spraying madcap like an agitated beer, and catching as hell! That's closer to being there than I ever thought I'd get....'tis why I still hang around. So happy for you...and thanks for the share!!
Oh wow, lucky you! Good to hear it was so great and you and Neill had such a fun time! I do hope that they come to Holland, I'm sooo going to be there. Saw a bit of their set on the BBC as part of the Glastonbury coverage, and it sounded just excellent. Was really impressed with 'Tender' then, never really picked up on the nuance of the "come on come on come on, get through it" bit.
I love 'The Universal', one of their best tracks imho. It's got a bit of existentialism in it for me. My current interpretation, check back next year for another one probably. ;)
Scot, ahahhaha yay! Let's bounce off the walls and sing woo hoo:D
You're very welcome, thank you for reading!
Stefan, oh Stefan, I hope they will, so you can get a good dose of excellence. I know what you mean, and yes, Tender works really really well live!
The Universal IS one of their best tracks, and if someone disagrees, we can take it outside...mwuahahhaha!
I love the way that our interpretations of a song change over time. Never bored!
Oh, the euphoria! I could channel the feeling you got, because I know exactly what you mean.
"I saw the setlist online and I was surprised that we actually heard 25 songs. I could have sworn that it lasted barely an hour, time just flew away. Always a good sign that you had a great time at a show." - Couldn't say it better myself.
I was a blur fan over here before most people in the USA had heard of them, but at some point we went in separate directions. I still like 'em, but not as much as I used to. Glad you had a great time, though!
p-wagz, please channel some of it, 'cause I'm still all hyper... might help!
Merci. If I never look at my watch during a show, it was a Class one.
Groony, ha! Ahead of the curve, my friend, so you can be forgiven for taking a Wrong turn somewhere hehehe :)
Cheers for reading!
At least I was on the right road at some point, right? I think it was that I really, really liked Leisure, but didn't think anything else sounded like it, and didn't like the direction they took as much. I liked some songs afterward, but that's about it.
Of course! You're perfectly fine. What usually rubs me the wrong way is when I say something about Blur and someone goes 'the woo hoo band?'...... bloody hell! :)
ha!
I'm jealous, last time I saw them I only caught a couple of songs as I'd caught some kind of stomach bug and spent most of the night being ill in the toilets. 1993 at Newcastle Uni. They looked immense at Glasto, got to get to see them again.
If you saw them in 1993 even for a bit you have no right to say you're jealous! hehehe :P
I do hope you'll get to see them again, and bug-free this time!
Seeing them in the states just wouldn't be the same thing, was this a one time thing or are they touring? I'm getting my passport renewed this week and hoping to be over there after the holidays.
Sounds like you had a great time. Wish I could've been there.
Damn you Anna, damn you! I'm so jel. I've been a huge Blur fan since 'There's No Other Way' hit the radio/tv over here but haven't ever seen them live. I'm so hoping they do make it over here but the drummer is supposed to be jumping ship to join Bad Lieutenant(the new New Order w/o Hook). I have hope though! They know I'd love to see them!
It sounds like you had an amazing time & they put on an amazing performance. Damn you niece, damn you! @;P
damn indeed!... last time i saw them was Leeds festival in '98 with Pavement... that was pretty amazing also...
David, as long as you had a good excited crowd, I'm sure it would be fine! Started as a one time thing (the gig I went to actually), but the demand was so big that it expanded. They've played Glastonbury, 2 gigs in London, and I think they're doing 2 more festivals. If the demand in the US is big, I don't see a reason why they wouldn't come over, if someone organizes it, that is.
Oh yes, do come! We'll kidnap you and keep you here FOREVER. mwuahahahha!
Uncling! You damned me 4 times in one comment, that must be a record ahhahahah
Eh, Hook projects take some time, I wouldn't worry about that. I bet that they have been or will get invited over by American concert organizers. Coachella? That would suit you just fine, methinks! Or something earlier even!
It was CLASS. Now stop damning me! ahahhaha :P
Oh look, more damning from Michael, dear me!
Nooooice.... vintage Blur... you did well, my friend!
See, I was right in my damning of you Michael is joining in, hahaha! Guess I did damn you 4 times! That's what you get for seeing Blur before me, heh. And that new New Order project(Bad Lieutenant) is WITHOUT Peter Hook, and Blur's drummer Dave Rowntree will be taking over. Neill reported on it, go check his page here: http://mog.com/Neill/blog/1351759
And Blur at Coachella would be fabulous, I would SO love that! But that's another 9 months away. I do hope they show up in the states before that. However, I do think that Gorillaz will be dropping an album before then so that would interfere. Sigh, oh well. Better Gorillaz than no Damon at all.
Never been a big Blur fan. I love the Gorillaz, but Blur fever missed infecting me.
Now that I think about it, some one told me that every album cover looked like the self titled album cover - all blurry. I don't like that person, even though I don't remember who told me that. The end. Hope you enjoyed my story.
I was here (i think) Hi Anna!
I am so jealous of you. I mean, I always have been, but this just hits a whole new level for me. If they don't come to the states I don't know what I'll do, haha, I don't care how far I have to drive! Any news on a DVD release??
You wonderfully lucky, lucky girl. I like Blur just fine, but don't have nearly the same ardorous relationship you do with them. That's fine though, since it means I can just be happy for you instead of cursing you like the haters. I mean, Uncle August, come on! Who'll be our role model now? heehee
Sounds like you had a blast. Long shows that go by quickly are truly the best.
People have heard of them in the U.S.? When did this happen?
You've been absent too long, Anna. Stop having a good time!
Anna, I spent quite a bit of time discovering (note; not re-discovering) Britpop these past few months so I am a Blur newbie!
Uncling, let me get my voodoo dolls....
Aye, I read that, but I was all high on post-show adrenaline when I wrote this ahhahah
I should have said a word to Damon (imaginary first name basis ahahahah) about it.
They are, and I read that The Horrors are going to be featured in it ,whatever that might mean... can't wait to hear it, regardless!
p-wagz, I always enjoy your stories :)
I don't like that person either, basically because he/she is a LIAR! :)
Hello Jeff! Always good to see you :)
Julia, bah, don't be, I ain't worth it, I assure you :)
I do hope there will be enough demand for them to cross the ocean. They're releasing the shows from Hyde Park as a double live CD. I'm definitely investing in that one!
Oh, Dale, that's a relief! I've never experienced such a d*mn-storm before! Even from family members, go figure :P
*hiding behind Dale*
Todd, it was good times. I hear that!
Mark, if you call "moving houses" having a good time, then yes, I've been painting the town red (or something that sounds better than that)! I'm here now, and I will be rambling till I run out of breath :)
Darla, that's excellent news! Is Robin responsible for the EMCD-ing?? :)
...it was OK....
.
.
.
Sorry, my head just exploded all over again.
I think this was one of the best concerts I've been to. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was.
Hey unknown concert friend!
Top 10, I reckon. I know what you mean. Especially since it was a reunion, those are always a bit fishy.
gah. jealous emoticon.
those strings in universal always get me.
Those strings make me feel like a helpless puppet...
How long had Blur been broken up? I can't imagine it's been long enough for someone like you, Anna to not have found a place and time to catch them...?
I want to say they played the states 5 or 6 years or so ago. A friend of mine had a ticket for me and then semi-renigged for someone else. It was my choosing and I gave in because the ticket was offered to me so last minute. Then again, it could have been Gorillaz or Graham Coxon or Damon solo (???). I'm pretty sure it was Blur who played.
They broke up in 1999, did a little something in 2003 (with barely any Coxon on it), then bye bye again, and now this. I was living in Greece the whole time, not my fault...
How can you not remember... I demand you sell that 9:30 Club T-shirt on eBay as a punishment ;)
I refuse to believe it's been 10 years since Blur broke up! It seems like yesterday (or maybe the day before yesterday). Regardless, sounds like poetic justice in finally seeing them. Glad it was as good now as it could have been, perhaps, then. Seems as if reunions often have very little potential to match up to the Wonder Years of the hey day. I feel that way about the Pixies, Janes Addiction, and The Police. No matter the length of departure, the later rarely outshines the former. In short, you saw a gem.
The 9:30 Club T is officially MIA - last seen in 2006...? It's one of those "What ever happened to..." items where you didn't throw it way, you didn't loan it to someone but it probably was lost in one or two moves. I believe I saw a shredded number 9: when I was unpacking boxes in last year's move.
Girl fight! Girl fight! (Sorry.) Like August, I've been on board since "There's No Other Way," which I played over and over in its extended remix while DJ-ing at the club back in the day. I may be a leetle jealous, Anna, but I have seen them in concert throughout their run. Then again, fhis would be one of the rare reunions that I would try to catch, probably since Damon is still making killa music in whatever combo he chooses. The inspiration continues.
...and another thing; Not THAT many bottles where thrown;
.
Eric, I know... it made me feel really old to type it!
Agreed, reunions are very very fishy, for many reasons. I'm glad this one turned out to be something so precious!
The mystery of the lost 9:30 Club T.... it's in the valley of lost objects... darn those moves!
Mike, unfortunately it wasn't a pretty sight (really, ask Neill!)...
Sounds like a hot club night to me, couldn't have been done any other way (if that's not a terrible pun, I don't know what is).
I agree, the fact that the frontman of a group is still offering inspired music is definitely a good sign for a good reunion.
Neill, I think that video deserves an eloquent OMG. It's raining bottles! I'm relieved that I wasn't featured in it when I got that girl in the head (NEVER HAPPENED).