Blur - London Television Studios - 29/3/03
4/5
By: Toby L
Blur Set-List: 'Ambulance', 'Out Of Time', 'Crazy Beat', 'Brothers & Sisters', 'Gene By Gene', 'Trimm Trabb', 'Badhead', 'Beetlebum', RE-TAKES: 'Out Of Time', 'Crazy Beat', 'We've Got A File On You', 'Badhead', 'Brothers & Sisters'.
The nervous jitters of excitement, as a queue extends around London's skyscraper Studios, are not disguised. Peevish grins, and complimentary, yellow tickets clutched firmly in hand.
Perhaps the most gleaming fact surrounding Blur's second UK show of the year - if you count another recent MTV shoot as a formal 'show', that is - is that you can't gain entry with ease; first come first served, 300 tickets for today's afternoon-shot private filming for Saturday morning chart count-down show 'CD:UK' were made available just a few days ago, even though demand was treble the capacity. Thus, those keenly making an entrance are those one would somehow suspect have earnt the right to be present - and the unified warmth in an otherwise potentially sterile environment serves to back such a notion.
In 2003, Blur themselves are a band you'd presume not to be quite so at ease with their present surroundings. Following the departure of guitarist Graham Coxon, and recent US performances without bassist Alex James (down to the age-old Visa issues, of course), their composure and spirit could be expected to be somewhat knackered, but - instead, as proven with their appearance today - there's a gentle comfort now instilled in the band-unit that never seemed to reign prevalent in past performances... No longer an overbearing compulsion to gratuitously pogo inanely in Damon's case (well, he's getting on now, isn't he?), and a sound enhanced by three backing-singers, a percussionist and keyboard-player, which drives the end-product to a vibrant, shimmering shudder. With Coxon stand-in, Simon 'ex of The Verve' Tong on the strings, they've even bagged the group their own awkwardly geeky replacement.
... But quick - the floor-manager's asking us to be surreally friendly; jump! Clap! Wave! But, God, what about those ugly kids in shot? Eek - no time, the band are onstage - smile!
So, yes, the ambience may be that of accelerated, mood-altered enthusiasm, but when the collision of rhythmic-infused pieces such as 'Ambulance' or a Beck-esque sultriness of 'Brothers & Sisters' (about drugs, that one) present themselves, the tone is radically less inhibited. Even old Albarn is at ease with his local area. 'Ah,' he whimpers before his attendees, going on to confide after a few numbers, 'My hands are hurting... I'm not really a guitar-player...' The hecklers won't let that one rest. 'Take it like a man,' one man commands.
Of the newer material from seventh studio-LP 'Think Tank', frantic dashes through of an unplanned, one-minute 'We've Got A File On You' exhaust, whilst a 'Song 2'-veined 'Crazy Beat' gets two airings, further confirming the suspicion of its status as second single to be lifted from the new record. Gloriously, the choice of older matter makes for a fan's haven - the cheeky bounce of 'Trimm Trabb', 'Parklife's angelic 'Badhead', and an affirming 'Beetlebum', altogether proving that Tong may be no Graham, yet at least the original sparkle of days of yore have lost none of their charm as the years have passed, and arguments have flared.
After a few retakes of certain tracks, we're beckoned and ushered back into the chill of outside, reassuringly confirmed of Blur's continued persistence. Although it at first may seem they have nothing to prove anymore, witnessing them back on the stage once again reveals that - if only for them alone - this is far from the case.
Artists in this article: Blur
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment