9:15 pm the lights go dark for awhile, then there was light and blur appear onstage! They are in excellent spirits, all smiles, as damon introduces the Harlem Boys' Choir who are here to lend their voices for "Tender." The intro begins and it's one massive family of blur fans who sway to and fro. We love blur and make a lot of noise to prove it. Thank Heavens, damon has shaved off his soon-to-become-full fledged beard (sorry damon, I know that you don't want to look young, but there's tons of time left in your life to look like a geezer, so don't rush it, will you?) He's wearing his faithful Fred Perry shirt and light blue jeans and trainers. Alex looks clean-cut and fashionable in his beige V-neck and army green pants. Graham's wearing a gray (grey) Mets t-shirt, light blue jeans as well, and trainers. dave I cannot see (as usual!) Tonight's version is similar to the video version with damon and the boys singing "oh my baby" repeatedly. Graham's "Oh my baby" bit is welcomed enthusiastically as damon laughs and rolls his eyeballs as if to say to Graham, "look at what a hot-dog you are now!" The audience sends the boys' choir off with thunderous applause and the next song begins immediately.
The next song is "Bugman" and all of a sudden everyone's shoving everyone around and it's mayhem! Girls are losing consciousness in the front center of the crowd and getting pulled out by Smoggy and the crew (good going, guys!) Although I am standing four rows from the front on Graham's side, I get smooshed as well and am a bit concerned for everyone's safety (including my own). This madness continues for two more songs, "Coffee and TV, " and "Swamp Song." "Bugman" is spastically-rendered by blur. "Swamp Song" is insane! damon is a time bomb, waiting to go off any minute now. Watch it! He's beating his hands against his thighs towards the end of "Swamp Song," almost like he's in a trance.
Graham's "Coffee and TV" is played to the T. His emphasis of the first syllable in "coffee" and "sociability" is adorable! damon strumms diligently away on his acoustic guitar as he provides back-up vocal support. In "1992," damon, acoustic guitar slung over his shoulder, cradles his left cheek in his left hand as he quietly sings the lyrics very sadly. He plays the melodica during the instrumental portion. Very melancholy-this song.
"B.L.U.R.E.M.I." is next and has everyone moshing around and going nuts as we all sing "B.L.U.R.E.M.I." in unison. The song is superfast as damon asked Graham to play it faster before they begin. "Battle" comes next and is awe-inspiring! The echoes sound eerie in this dancehall, the Roseland. Before the heavy duty instrumental part begins, damon is in a-capella mode. Sweet! Then the instrumental part begins and boy, is it powerful!!! Awesome guitar, Graham! damon lights a fag during this bit and smokes a bit.
The next song, "Mellow Song," damon introduces by saying, "please be quiet as I need to concentrate on this one." People are still yelling as damon finally says "Sshh..." into the microphone after waiting for a bit. He plays and sings this one seated on a stool. The melodica is haunting. So love the way he looks when he's earnestly blowing that instrument.
Next is "Trailerpark" which, in the words of damon, "was for 'Southpark,' but they didn't want it, so we used it instead. Hhhmph!!! He doesn't say "Freestyle 45," but something else instead, which I couldn't quite catch. He whistles "Rawhide" style (Rollin' rollin' rollin', keep them dogies rollin'...) He also sings "oh...ooh..."in a very high voice near the end of the song. "See it, feel it..." begins "Trimm Trabb," another great song with Graham giving us some powerful acoustic guitar. Nice! The set before the encore ends with "No Distance Left to Run."
"Good-Night" says damon, but no one is leaving. The wait is brief as blur return for their four-song encore. They're all played to the hilt. "Beetlebum" is warmly welcomed as the song that the New Yorkers were first treated to, at the Tibetan Freedom Festival which was held in NYC two years ago. "This is from 1991," says damon as they launch into "There's No Other Way." "Popscene" is frenzied and high energy with damon doing his jumps for the ecstatic crowd. The inevitable "Song 2" ends it all with damon offering the microphone to the crowd who happily sing the first verse for him. The 1 hour and 20 minute gig ends with a bang and we were all completely satisfied. They played last night, it was a good show...
BRITGIRL
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