Blur @ the Reading Festival
Reading, UK, 28 August 1999.
by Daniel

The prime Saturday night headlining slot, a huge and adoring crowd and a beautiful night conspired to create very expectant atmosphere for Damon and co.

After a few indifferent festival performances (according to NME anyway, who seem to review using bingo numbers), Blur were rumoured to be giving a greatest hits set tonight, but when "Bugman" and "Coffee & TV" followed the opening "Tender" a sense of apprehension swept the crowd afraid of an entire 13 run through. An enormous "Popscene" and an excellent "End of a Century" seemed to allay any doubts and everyone settled into enjoy an erratic overview of their 10 year history.

The first highpoint arrives with desolate but gorgeous "No Distance Left To Run". Quite unlike any of their previous slowies it has a static Damon crooning over a spare backing. Far away from the sing-a-long Blur it ebbs and flows and completely enraptures the crowd.

After a brief break "Girls and Boys" sees them start up the crowd pleasing element of their show. Does Graham like any of these songs. Was he their when they were written?

"Theres No Other Way" sees him at his most animated and thank god as the song deserves no less. Sometimes as a bit of baggy-lite, this performance shows it as a great single, of which Blur seem to write almost at will.

"Beetlebum", "The Universal and "Parklife" follow, sending the crowd mental and show that the boys, when not embarrassed by their past and embracing it, give their illustrious back catalogue the dignity it deserves. A raucous " Song 2" and a comedown "Sing" finish it off and the crowd a left anticipating the singles concert announced during the set and hoping they realise their is nothing to be ashamed of.