dear damon
July 2009
You promised to put your collective "heart and soul" into your gigs at Hyde Park and tonight I, along with 60,000 others were witness to that gig where you gave it your all. All I could do was stand in awe and open my heart and soul to your music which was full-on power and passion. This magical musical wonder you, Graham, Dave and Alex personify and create is the reason so many of us joined your blurry, magical, mystery tour in the first place.
The day began with the promise of a super hot heat wave (32 degrees C, close to 90 degrees F). It's been like this now for the past few days and Londoners and visitors have been advised to "use sunscreen" and to "keep hydrated." I was totally knocked out, not only because of the heat and humidity, but also because of the crazy journey across the Pond which took a half day more than usual due to equally crazy weather along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. People on the forum had been planning to pitch tents, queue at the crack of dawn etc., to get up close to see blur perform at Hyde Park. As much as I love you all, as worried as that got me that I would be stuck way at the back, the 60,001st person to watch you from afar, I could not get myself out of bed until the early afternoon (the loony birds raising hell at 3 A.M.-ish did not help).
Finally woke up at half past one and got ready to go to the Park. At 2:30 I was out the door. The day was as hot and as humid as forecasted and people on the streets all looked like wilted flowers. Having realised I hadn't eaten for close to a day I had a simple, healthy brunch with freshly squeezed orange juice, stocked up on H2O and walked to the Park (didn't plan it this way, but just so happened to be staying while in London at a place 5 minutes form the Park. Lovely). There were signs for "Peter Pan," but none for the gig (bummer, that). I just generally followed some people who were just as lost, so ended up going in a circle for awhile until a kind man pushing a pram gave me the correct directions. When I reached the Box Office there were people sitting around outside the cordoned area not going in yet. I immediately knew it was because of the overbearing heat and that the inside area would offer no respite from the direct sunlight beating down on everyone. Heat stress and heat stroke were definite concerns for many, it seemed.
There was a gazebo structure with benches encircling the inside of it in which I decided to take refuge from the sun. I had an extra ticket hoping to have been able to bring my brother to the gig when I originally bought it as he had seen you live without G, but I wanted him to see and experience blur with the four members all together. Alas, my brother could not be here so I found someone who needed a ticket and sold it to him for a bargain (share the love, you know?). You were scheduled to come on at 8 PM so I decided to hang out at the Marble Arch Marks & Spencer for awhile and cool down. Ended up cooling down until half past six and walked back to the Park. Once I got in I saw the multitude of people who were there. Many people had already staked their positions early and were not budging, but somehow there were walkways created in between crowds of people where people could traverse to go to the concessions, the loo or whatever. With many "excuse me"s and "sorry"s I made my way down the serpentine-like pathway towards the front.
Where did I end up? Yes, you guessed it. Right smack dab up front. Except, I will hasten to add, I did not risk going to dead center up front as I have been there, done that, before at smaller gigs, even, and that position right in front of you is NEVER a safe zone. One needs to be prepared mentally and physically, to be pushed, stepped on, punched, splashed etc from those around and behind oneself. Somehow the possibility of being squashed by tens of thousands from behind did not appeal to this chick. I found a place to the right of Graham which is always a safe place. By the time 8 PM rolled around, I was ready!
It was so awesome to see the photographers coming from the backstage area. Seemed there were photographers from all over the world. The emergency medical staff and crowd control peeps (yay, Smoggy!) were the next to come out. The two dudes working the huge camera that was shooting the whole concert seemed totally up for the event. The water bucket was ready for drinks delivered in cups of water should that become necessary. (an aside: it's pouring outside as I write this at 2:28 AM London time).
At 8:22 PM you appear onstage. You are dressed as you have been for the past gigs in your dark blue Fred Perry polo shirt and jeans. Graham in his striped shirt. I could not see exactly what Alex and Dave were wearing from my vantage point. The first song begins and you sound incredible!!! This is the blur that I have been waiting for! Hearing your live sound again breaks open the floodgates of memories from all the gigs I have been to of your's, but this time the sound is more like fine wine. It's matured and become full of emotion, the blues, pathos and celebration. It is as alive as I've ever heard blur's music. I am moved to no end by the richness of your music. As the others sang the song lyrics out loud around me, I just listened quietly and with reverence.
Loved all the special moments where you spoke of how "Parklife" was written about Hyde Park and that you used to live nearby at Kensington Church Street and how the Park holds special memories for you because of the 2003 anti-war demonstrations to try to stop something and how you just wanted to remind yourself about it as you segwayed into "Out of Time." I loved how you dedicated the song to the Sun and called our attention to the beautiful, red, setting sun and how you urged us to call out "Hello Moon" to the moom that will now show up to take the place of the departing sun. When our greeting to the moon was half-hearted you asked us to say it louder, which we did. Lovely, that was.
You said that booking Hyde Park was the first thing you did after coming back together again and how you wondered whether you could fill it. That you have and then some. I liked how you seemed truly grateful when you told us you felt "privileged to do nothing for years and to be able to come back to this" and how it was "incredible, really incredible." Well, it was just as incredible for all of us and the wild-eyed looks on peoples' faces, even the ones being rescued from front center of the crowd was proof positive of that.
I loved how you had to tie your shoelaces again and made sure you took the time needed to tie them properly. As one whose shoelaces come undone frequently that brought a smile to my face. Though you said you honestly didn't know how you would repeat what happened tonight once again tomorrow I know you all will, and then some. Even though you made a comment about how your voice sounded like a cranky old geezer's or some such thing you did great. Hope you'll get a lot of honey and whatever other throat remedy that will help you with your voice. I was amazed by the energy of your bandmates, as well. Graham's guitar never sounded so good live. He made a statement in this week's "Time Out" about how he can make a few boo-boos and it will be allright. That's true, but I didn't hear any boo-boos. In fact, Beetlebum was just amazing. Totally blew me away. I am holding out hope that tonight we'll get to hear "Battery in Your Leg." Dave was beating his drums like there's no tomorrow. Wow!!! Hats off to you, Dave! Alex was having the time of his life and really giving his bass playing his all while enjoying himself tremendously. It was visibly obvious. Phil Daniels was pumped up as were you as you jumped around and jogged around during "Parklife." Speaking of jogging, that was funny how during "Sunday, Sunday" you asked everyone to run towards the front, not literally, as you will run towards them. :P Loved the extended "Tender" where we got to sing acapella even. Thanks for directing the megaphone (or whatever the thing is called) this way during "Oily Water." It's always great to see you, d. :D Cheers, too, for the two encores. Perfect! See you again tonight! Am off!
3rd July Friday
Am back and still high on the second night at Hyde Park. Decided to write down the set list tonight as yesterday was all about grooving to the music and just being in the moment (not that tonight wasn't like that, either). ;) Please read all about it in the "Entertain Me!" live gig report section shortly. Suffice it to say, tonight was even better than last night. It might have been because I was on Alex's side as opposed to Graham's side which was majorly blocked by a huge camera that was recording the concert. Once again was able to get right up to the front despite arriving after 7:30 PM and was happy as a clam that the plan worked out. Today's position afforded an even better view of you all (except for Dave who would have been difficult to see unless one were located in the center stage area). The energy level was at its peak on both the part of blur and the audience there and such happy energy was flowing all around, wasn't it? A special thank you to all the ICMS people, St. John Ambulance EMT people and Smoggy and his crew who were there every step of the way for all the fans who needed immediate rescue out of the pit (especially center stage area) and who needed water every so often which they would carry back and forth between the water buckets and the audience who reached out for them. They all did a stellar job in taking care of everyone even when some of those who were fished out were lunging at them and being very unruly. Thanks to all the sound engineers, the sound quality was superb. Thanks also to all the production people and musicians who supported blur. A collective group hug is more than well-deserved.
The funniest thing about being there with the tens of thousands of people smashed together is that it is easy to lose all consciousness of being alone. We all melded together into one great, big, ball of blurry love. To have been able to experience that was the greatest birthday gift of all this July 2009. Thanks blur, thanks everyone who loves blur and blur's music.
Tomorrow on Independence Day I fly to Lyon to get ready to see blur at the Les Nuits de Fourviere. It will be a treat to see them basking in the glow of their success during the English dates culminating in the two Hyde Park gigs. Will update again after the 5th with details.
8th July Wednesday
Last night in London this time, d. Had a smashing time in Lyon and will write up the review upon return Stateside. Tried to go to "It Felt Like a Kiss," but didn't get a ticket early enough, the wait list did not come through and the touts were asking an arm and a leg, so had to forgo the chance to experience that this time. Would have loved to have heard your collaboration with the Kronos Quartet. Hope there will be some way very soon to hear your music for this show. It's been a crazy 8-day week here in London and Lyon what with the heat wave last week leading up to, and during, Hyde Park (especially the first night) and the storms which followed early this week. It's all been well-worth the journey, though, as always. Thank you, again, for the music and may you break a leg at T in the Park this weekend. Stay as awesome as you are. ;)
Gratefully yours,
frances
On the bedside table this month
itinerary, accomodation confirmations, Hyde Park and Les Nuits de Fourviere tickets
On the turntable this month:
Last.fm radio
KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO'S THERE?
Enter the dragon...Say What?!
Name that tune!
Educate Me!
BRITGIRL's gig report
Ravenous for "Ravenous?"
The archives!
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