--------------------------------------------------------------
Jess's note: this is a letter from my friend joe who describes
when he fell in love with blur (well, started  liking them)and how 
he felt somewhat disappointed of his latest blur show, and his 
tales of meeting Graham and Damon. I find it has generally some good
points and felt it should be published on my site (with his permission
ofcourse) Please try to understand where he's coming from. 
--------------------------------------------------------------

hello,

         It is time I am honest with myself. i have trouble with 
the fact that I seem to be the only one.  



 "Damon Albarn is about to go onstage at Philadalphia Electric 
Factory. His mission: To use punk rock fury to scare the life 
out of the mall honeys and britpop wannabes that constitute blur's
old fanbase while thrilling their new Mtv alterno-rock converts.
only a few britpop chessnuts will survive." -MelodyMaker

 Personally, i don't think i am going to be one of them.

 Seeing blur on friday was not very fun...

 First some background.  I have told this story before.  This is how and
why i was a HUGE fan of blur.

 Sunday, May 21st 1995:

 After a couple years of listening to the current popular music
 such as smashing pumpkins, pearl jam, the red hot chillie peppers
 etc...I thought my "musical needs" were being met.  

         a friend told me that there was a musical festival in 
toronto featuring my then favourite band ned's atomic dustbin...
i tell her i'm in, anything for ned's!..who else is playing?  
"well blur is"  who??  "well you know that song 'girls who want
boys who like ...'"  oh?  you mean some little fruity one-hit-
wonder band is headlining that!  I hate that song too... i am 
thinking we can leave early.

         so at the show...ned's were amazing..there was a mosh
 pit in the lawn seats!..it was great.  

 night begins to fall, the very large amphitheater is packed...
the MC announces that blur will be coming out  the crowd goes 
wild!  all i am thinking is "oh come on..the song isn't that 
great!..what is going on here?  who is this band?

         out come four guys..jumping, smiling, waving...mumbling
friendly things to eachother and the audience in that british 
way of theirs.


       And so begins the greatest gig i have ever seen in my life.

       Damon runs for his keyboard..the lights start doing that 
psycadelic thing..and lot 105 starts.  at first i don't know 
what to make of it all...but i liked it!  loved it even.

 the show reminded me of a carnival.  throughout it, damon was 
jumping around like there was no tomorrow, constantly splashing 
water on the crowd.."can I get some bigger bottles....this is 
a big place so i need big bottles"  I remember singing along 
to songs I had never heard before.  the la la's from magic 
america stands out in my mind.  as does (after asking my friend 
the exact wording) A-G--AIN!!!!!  what struck me about this show
was that after years of being forced to listen to self indulgent
seatle based noise, i was finally having fun!  i was smiling,
dancing, singing along with several thousand others.  it was so
liberating.  I remember thinking how lucky i was to have stumbled
upon this band...one of the greatest kept secrets.  I remember 
thinking how cool toronto was..to be so enlightend to such a cool
movement in music.  i also knew that there was no way this music
would ever catch on in the mainstream.  Too quirky...it don't RAWK...
and god forbid you get caught singing something blurry with your
fratboys or jock buddies.

         I remember during "to the end" a guy got on stage and 
ran to damon, putting his arm around him, hugging him.  damon 
didn't seem to mind, and he kept on singing. I thought that was
so cool.

         parklife was incredible.  it is etched in my mind. 
by the time G&B came on..I loved it..because i now understood 
what they were all about.
  

 by the same token, when called for, they were able to kick out
some real strong stuff like advert and popscene.  It was co-ordinated,
orchestrated and awesome.


         i left the show with the feeling that i saw one of those 
cheesy musicals...i felt happy..i couldn't get the tunes out of my
head.  but as opposed to a broadway musical..i didn't mind. this 
band was COOL!  i wanted to go out and buy every cd!  

         
         so i did.  buying and endlessly listening to MLIR, parklife and
 leisure.  when the greatescape came out..i bought it right away.  loving
 country house.  stereotypes..the universal.  i couldn't get enough. I
 was elated to hear they won the big chart shodown with oasis.  I loved
 the way damon and the band handled the situation.  there was a cute
 cheekyness about them.  they completely contrasted their rivals. 
 whenever they spoke it was somehow soothing and comforting as opposed to
 incoherrent and insulting.  while everyone i knew was purchasing a copy
 of WTSMG and listening to rehashed beatles tunes...i was enjoying blur.
 (and at that time..i knew there were quite a few people in toronto who
 were into blur..and i figured they were big in england...there were the
 folks on popscene..but that was it..as far as i was concerned..i was the
 only blur fan i personally  knew...)
         
         since then i have absorbed everything blurry.  seeing showtime only
 re-enforced my love for the band.  for those of you who are having
 trouble grasping what i am trying to convey to you..SEE SHOWTIME! if you
 have only recently become a fan of blur, you won't recognize the band on
 your tv.  it depicts them in their prime.  blur were ECCENTRIC,CAMPY,
 UNIQUE and DISTINCT, POP-PY ,CHEEKY, FUN, even QUIRKY.  what other bands
 primary lyric was "la la la"?  

         i have seen blur 3 times since...and i was quite happy with their
 performance each time.  shows at st. andrews were incredible.  during
 the greatescape tour...it was far from sold out, but the show was
 amazing..the lights came on during the encore (the venue wanted them to
 finish up) but damon insisted they play on and finish the set.  it was
 good to see them again.  i saw them twice during the march tour.  While
 not being a huge fan of the new cd, i accepted it as a deviation from
 their vintage material.  something that adds to their diversity. 
         
         June 27th, 1997:
  my fifth time seeing blur!  i couldn't wait.  the place was packed.  I
 was in the third row and my friend asked me if blur were a moshing band.
 "No not really" i replied still somehow clinging to that first blur show
 i had seen.
         when they came out the place went wild.  but it was too wild.  there
 was just screaming.  they opened with theme from retro (it was so loud
 and distorted that it actually took me a while to figure out what it
 was..was this that new song?)....and from that point on...the night was
 an endless bombardment of strobelights and distorted in-your-face
 NOISE.  nothing more.  it was uncomfortable to watch.  i was embarrassed
 because there were alot of people there due to my persuasion.
         they didn't play, nor was there a hint of the spirit behind songs such
 as lot 105 and suppashoppa.  damon only went to his keyboards to further
 the cause of creating louder more mindless sounds.
         staple songs such as to the end, the universal and end of a centuary
 were nowhere to be found.  my guess is they didn't want to scare away
 this new fanbase with anything so melodic
         when they did play the essentials such as parklife and girls and
 boys..to me it was tainted.  in march damon introduced G&B by mumbling
 "this song sucks"  i read somewhere that graham hates to play parklife. 
 this is a low was so juiced up that it no longer moved me as it once
 did.    
         save for stereotypes, there was nothing from TGE.  a brilliant cd!
 album 5's saving grace, look inside america, was also absent
 gone too are the "la la's"  coping had some but they were just shrieked
 out by damon quickly.  still somehow , that was my favourite part,
 joining in on the la la's
         damon seems to have lost his zing too.  he seems to have a bit of a
 'tude.  more cocky,  "ya ya..they love me"   type thing.  so he no
 longer seems to try.  his jumps didn't seem as high or enthusiastic. 
 his smiles were more token "aren't i gorgeous" smiles then genuine.
         alex looked suicidal throughout the entire show.  he seemed like he
 just wanted it to end.  and i felt i knew why. The guy who wrote "far
 out" was there playing base to a madhouse that seemed to love whatever
 they did.  i kinda felt bad for him.  i remember reading that he wasn't
 too happy with the new american direction blur were heading.
         and all this time i was getting kicked around by moshers, getting
 soaked by the bartenders popgun and other's sweat.  in hindsight i
 shoulda went and got a primo seat in the balcony.  but i don't think it
 would have made that much of a difference.
         
 i actually wanted it to end.  and they hadn't even played song 2 yet.

 damon introduced it by going to the mic, raising his arms and blaring
 "wHAAAAAAAAAAAAAH HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH" - that is what my favourite band
 has been reduced to.  a headbanging catch phrase.  at one time his songs
 were a witty social commentary..a poke at english life.  their melodies
 were singable, dancable..like nothing i had heard before..now i am again
 fighting off moshers and being forced to listen to "heavy metal"

         i don't know if blur are to blame.  on the one hand, yes, britpop is
 dead.  too bad, it was fun while it lasted.  most of our friends missed
 it.   They have also noted that they have taken their original sound as
 far as they could with TGE.  it was time for something new.  granted..so
 this is the direction they have decided to take.  but i can't help but
 wonder...is this their natural direction?..or are they just kissing up
 to america's youth, catering  to Mtv, to radio land.  after a year of
 watching oasis make it big i think they wanted their turn.  and they are
 doing whatever it takes.  how is it that the band who wrote magic
 america then turns around, puckers up and writes look inside america.  a
 complete eating of words of sort.
  if they are being true to their words then, dare i say it again ..they
 sold out.  they are making it big..but not on their terms.  
         for example, whatever ever happened to damon's comments such as "I
 think english culture has alot to offer...i mean we have had enough
 Mcdonalds..and i think we would like to give something back to the
 american people"  well i'll tell you what i am getting back..re packaged
 greasy cheeseburgers... their show was nothing new or original to me. 
 same ol same ol ROCK that we have been hearing for yrs.
         "..and ahh..WAKE UP AMERICA" (damon's words at the brit awards)  ya
 right...IMHO..we are just being further sedated by blur's latest
 offering.
         what is funny though, is that my friends seemed to enjoy the show for
 what it was..a loud punked out guitar driven gig.  so be it.  ya..they
 do it pretty well.  everyone was saying that it was better then the
 recent wharehouse show.  ..i chalk that up to the venue.  the place was
 packed!..the security even seemed to be quite in awe of the energy in
 the place.  and yes ..There's No Other Way was fantastic
         but i couldn't help but feel sad.  I so badly wanted to share the real
 blur with  my friends.  it seems like only natalie (my friend at the
 original edgefest show) and i really know the joy and fun that can be
 experienced at a blur concert.  OH remember that NAT!!  what i wouldn't
 give to hear tracy jacks, sunday sunday or chemical world again!
         the letterman performance just made me feel worse.  ya it looked like
 they were tired.  damon's voice was off. and his lyrics were almost off
 too.  overall..the song tells me they are trying too hard...anything to
 get noticed...during the song..yes they seemed sick of it.  i thought
 "of course they are sick of it ..damon isn't meant to be belting out
 mindless dirvle..his voice is strained..IT ISN'T RIGHT!"
         for those of you who are thinking "joe, you just want to keep blur to
 your self.  you can't bring your self to admit that you may be into
 something mainstream"  well perhaps..ya i liked it that blur were "my"
 band..and at the shows i could have room to grove and raise my arms and
 clap.  but on the other hand..I remember my first blur show..it was
 huge!...i remember watching showtime ...and wishing that the
 northamerican musical tide would flow that way... thinking there would
 be a general happiness rather then so that we could all enjoy the
 experience.  As damon said, (1995) " i still have this wonderful dream
 that american kids will start to get it and understand what we are all
 about."  well on friday...they didn't need to get it...they were
 watching something else entirely.       
         so there, i have said it. finally.   i wonder if i am the only one. 
 are there any others who can relate to these thoughts?  ..well perhaps
 there are,  but they have probably unsubscribed by now. but do let me
 know..tell me you understand.  If you disagree ..well flame away..i
 really don't care anymore.


         anyways..for those of you who still care about what color graham's
 socks were and stuff like that..i give you the following stories.
         we got there early..there were about 8 ppl in line..we staked out the
 back and waited by the bus.  graham came out and walked past..he has a
 very strange walk ..so i get enough nerve to and harass him..he tells us
 that he is "in a funny mood" meaning he didn't want to be bugged..then
 more ppl started to hound him...and he did this sort of weird
 undescribeble "AAOOOHAAOO"  like he was trying to scare everyone off. 
 then this girl alana did it too..which i thought was really funny.  i
 felt bad for being the first to try and talk to him.  OH I asked him if
 he had anything to say to you haoxers..and he kinda brushed us off. 
 later he said.."well i don't do much of that internet stuff..and I see
 them enough in person anyways"..i told him i liked the shoes he was
 wearing (he was searching the bus for a better pair of shoes)  and he
 replies "they are airwalks"  ..but it was all just typicle groupie
 blabber...and he could tell.  
         you know..he seems like a 4 yr old..trapped in a genious guitar 
playing adult's body.
         then my friend..who really couldn't give a rat's ass about blur...
just goes up to graham and says .."yo, you got some water in that bus cause i
 sure am thirsty!"  and graham went and got him a cold bottle of
 water..and then my friend just sat there looking cool and drinking, as
 far as everyone else was concerned, sacred blur tourbus  water.
         i later cornered him behind his bus alone..i apoligized for buggin
 him and asked if he had a moment..he was very kind.   After getting a pen
 that worked.."this pen is CRaaaap"  he signed my book "graham yeehaw!" 
 i asked him if he was enjoying the tour thus far "yes i have met alot of
 really nice ppl"  i asked him they were taking care of themselves
 -"always"  i asked him what song they would do  on letterman "song
 2..but i think he is a bit of a prat that letterman"  so i told him not
 to take any of dave's crap "don't worry i wont" then he said "i've got
 to get some food".. i thanked him for his time and he smiled and walked
 away..
         later damon came out...he walked through the parking lot..and stood
 right next to my car!  he looked like he wanted to lean against it and i
 told him that if he wanted to he could..he just looked at me like i was
 strange..and said "ahh yes"  he was counting a wad of cash.  he then
 looked at this guy wearing an old style motercycle helmet and said to
 himself "wanker heh heh" .then he got into the car beside mine and drove
 off with three girls...i didn't have a pen at the time..otherwise..that
 encounter would have been a bit less meaningless.
         i guess ian, a friend who came with us..was able to meet alex, who put
 him on the guest list he also met dave and ifan.  i didn't get all the
 details of those conversations.
         after the show, the plan was to sit around and wait it out..try to
 meet them as they came out and on to the bus..but i was so disenchanted with
 the show (see above) that i really had no interest anymore.  i guess
 there were a hundred or so ppl there...and they didn't do much
 sighning..so just as well.

 well that is it.

 i don't know what blur's future will hold in my cd player or how they
 will influence my ticket purchasing...I will probably see them in
 toronto next time around in september.  but i will definatly not be in
 the moshpit.  Who knows, I may yet come around to this new blur.  But it
 will never match the old blur that is for sure.

 joe byrne