Entertain Me!
blur live at the Point, Dublin, Ireland
September/October/November/December 1999
July 22, 1999 (BRITGIRL's birthday, YES!!!)
At 9:15 pm or so they come out onto a brightly lit stage at the Point. damon is wearing a grey t-shirt that says "Beer Nuts," and is wearing a pair of faded light blue jeans. Graham has on a black t-shirt with "grave diggers" written across it
with artwork to match (reminds me of the "Tales From the
Crypt" comics that used to scare me to pieces when I was
a kid) and jeans. Alex has on a blue shirt with brown
trousers (a favourite combo of hues, it seems...) and dave
looks like he has on a blue t-shirt.
"Tender" is excellent. Though no back-up singers or choirs are present, damon and Graham sing it beautifully and the
playing is so sweet! "Bugman" is next and everyone is
pogo-ing, damon's going bezerk, Graham's guitar is mad.
damon loses his balance after screaming "Bu-u-u-ug-man!"
and nearly falls back, but doesn't and is laughing to himself.
What a nutter, but a charming one! He plays the tambourine
during the instrumental portion and is sashaying sideways as
he gets into the beat (boogie on down, damon!)
Next is "Coffee and TV" and we all scream. Everyone's
bopping around up front where I am. The harmony is
exquisite. damon starts making excruciating expressions
during the latter part of the song, stops playing for a moment,
then starts thumping his acoustic guitar as Graham looks at
him the whole time as if to encourage him and as if to say,
"you can do it, don't give up..." after the song ends, damon
looks toward Graham and complains, "I had the most awful
cramp in my hands."
The crampy hand doesn't get a break as the next song is "1992" and once again damon's making "Ouch!" facial expressions while he strums away.. It's a bit much for him so he turns his
back against the audience, approaches dave's drum kit as he does so, and I wonder if he stopped playing...hang in there!
"B.L.U.R.E.M.I." begins and damon is screaming. The song is delivered at supersonic speed and when it's over, damon
looks stage left and asks for his music. The standers-by
at the side of the stage don't seem to understand what he
wants and no one brings him his music. In fact, someone
starts to walk off with the music stand and when damon
sees this, he exclaims, "no, don't take it away!" as he laughs
with disbelief. He's apparently forgotten the words to the
next song because, as he says, "the music was written first,
then the words, and it's been a long time since we've
performed it live." It's "Chinese Bombs!!!" Yes, it has been
awhile (since Wembley '97 for me).
Next is "Advert!" Graham's strumming another tune before it, and damon says to Graham, "yeah, keep the groove going on
this one," to which Graham displays some "groovy" moves.
damon introduces the song after that by saying "this is a
song from "Modern Life is Rubbish"..."Coping." All scream
and more wild pogo-ing ensues. Madness and mayhem continue
for "Popscene" as damon and Graham jump all over the stage.
As I wonder whether this madness will ever cease, the
intro to "Trimm Trabb" is heard. How I love this song...
shivers go up and down my spine...damon's scream is cathartic
for all of us. Next is "Battle" and it's awe-inspiring with
full-on power...enough to bring us all to our knees. After the
song ends Graham says "deaf...deaf...deaf...deaf..." into the
microphone as he sticks his left pointing finger into his
left ear as if to unpop it.
"NDLTR" brings the girls, yes, especially the girls, to the brink of tears. damon laughs to himself when he sings,
"when you're coming down, think of me here" part. What
could that laugh mean?
They retire backstage, but our cries of "we want blur!" bring them back. "Beetlebum" begins with Graham's crispy guitar
playing. Next comes "CSBM" which must be one of damon's
favourite as he gets so into it. The next song is a real
surprise for all of us, "To the End" is sung by damon with
all his heart and soul. It's such a perfect song to show off
his vocal talents. What a masterpiece! After he finishes
singing the song, damon says, "it feels nice to sing it now."
His melodica playing was very improvisational...nice touch
during the instrumental portion, damon!
damon then chants "going high and low before..." as the
recitation segues into "This is a Low." For the final chorus
damon raises both arms up high in the air. His voice sounds
absolutely beautiful...after the song ends, they go off stage
again, Graham picks up the cap that was thrown at him from
the audience. A truly righteous and considerate chap he is,
that Graham.
The crowd wants more and lets their desire be known with
whistles, clapping and yelling. When blur return for a second
encore, damon says with a smile and an American accent,
"I have to say, as always, you know, Dublin you rock!!!" to
which the crowd goes insane. "Girls and Boys" just further
fuels that insanity and we couldn't care less.
After the song ends, damon picks up a glass at his feet,
smiles and says "cheers"as he raises his glass to the
audience and drinks some champaigne to which Graham asks
the audience, "anyone like beer?" The crowd roars and damon
follows through by saying "beer nut" as he pulls his t-shirt
for all to see the logo on it. Yup, we see it, damon.
damon then says, "this is an old one" and "TNOW" begins.
Next come the barking pooches and damon's in mime mode
as he exhibits all manners of gestures and body language
to express the lyrics through his movements (he sings it
too, of course). he even runs in place, the man's running on
adrenaline now. What energy! Finally "Song 2" begins and
everyone's having a blast. blur have never sounded better,
it seems, as my birthday party of a concert comes to a
fantastic close. Bravo blur!!!
BRITGIRL
This is the fourth in a series of neverending blur gig reports by BRITGIRL. Copyright belongs solely to BRITGIRL and
reproduction permitted only by prior written consent.
KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO'S THERE?
Enter the dragon...Say What?!
dear damon
Name that tune!
Educate Me!
Ravenous for "Ravenous?"
The archives c'est arrive'!
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