Blur?

[Mardy]

2009 was, I guess, special for them for a number of reasons. By hte time they'd knocked it on the head back in whenever it was, 2004, they were not held in particularly high regard, there wasn't so much demand for their gigs, not so much interest in them etc. In fact, i reckon this was true all the way through their career, I never had any bother getting tickets for them. Anyway, I digress. 2009 was a vindication for them, it's one of those things where a band splits, and in the meantime people realise that they had the tunes and they'd soundtracked their life and they were massively underappreciated. Much like Pulp. So, the reformation means they they've got unfinished business, it's a celebration, it's a reclaiming of their place and their heritage.

That can't really happen again. It's a law of diminishing returns. it becomes about seeing a gig, not an event, not a triumph. Not the conquering heroes, not the underdog getting their dues. And you know they'll get back together next time the school fees or alimony need paying.

I'm not knocking them or what they do, I bloody love them, but these things are few and far between. and should be treasured as such.

[ghostdancer1]

but but but ... people were posting in the James thread that James charged much the same as other bands of their draw.

James fans seem convinced that they're an act that should be receiving knighthoods though

[The Nal]

ooh lovely, i cant wait

i saw springsteen at hyde park, it was lovely..i could have a nice chat with my friend and i could overhear some very interesting conversions about working in the media, then it only took me about 4 hours to get to the train station

i also got to see a man lying in is own sick in front of me

Very pleasant! Can't blame the guy for drinking himself to the deck.

Nae chance of Blur playing though surely? The 09 gig was so iconic, coming back (and playing the same set) can only be like Robin to 2009s Batman.

but would you get to have piss thrown all over you whilst hearing Song 2 for the billionth time!?

Its not Song 2. Its the song they play at American sports games when someone scores.

And Watford FC.

Edited February 24, 2015 by The Nal

[DeanoL]

but but but ... people were posting in the James thread that James charged much the same as other bands of their draw.

They do, 50 quid is the usual arena gig price now, the rest of the gigs on that tour were arenas. Just for London they went with consecutive nights at the RAH and Brixton Academy rather that just doing the O2, on the basis that the O2 is shit.

[FloorFiller]

Nae chance of Blur playing though surely? The 09 gig was so iconic, coming back (and playing the same set) can only be like Robin to 2009s Batman.

i really want it to happen, but you're right that there isn't much point of it - whilst they'll have a new album out, will anybody really want to hear any of it live? i doubt it - it's not gonna be the 90's Blur that had us all bouncing up and down. it's gonna be the 00's emotional and weird Blur. they'd no doubt nail a headline spot again, but it's hard to see why they'd want to (unless Albarn just loves the festival that much)

[robu]

It's a law of diminishing returns. it becomes about seeing a gig, not an event, not a triumph. Not the conquering heroes, not the underdog getting their dues. And you know they'll get back together next time the school fees or alimony need paying...

...or Alex James needs another ski holiday: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/features/11429342/Blurs-Alex-James-learns-to-ski-in-Solden-Austria.html

[neil999]

i really want it to happen, but you're right that there isn't much point of it - whilst they'll have a new album out, will anybody really want to hear any of it live? i doubt it - it's not gonna be the 90's Blur that had us all bouncing up and down. it's gonna be the 00's emotional and weird Blur. they'd no doubt nail a headline spot again, but it's hard to see why they'd want to (unless Albarn just loves the festival that much)

see i'd still love a much changed up setlist(theres alot of 'hits' they didnt play in 09) but your right the 'average' glasto go-er is gonna want the same set..

[FloorFiller]

see i'd still love a much changed up setlist(theres alot of 'hits' they didnt play in 09) but your right the 'average' glasto go-er is gonna want the same set..

they have far too many 'set standards' in their repertoire that would be noticed if they were omitted. be interesting to see how much new material they play - Coxon said in an interview that he was getting sick of playing the same old sets, so you'd imagine he'd want to include a fair bit

[Mardy]

The truly great thing about Blur is the way they can be both bouncy up and down and experimental and weird. The progression they made from early to late blur, no fuck it, from album to album is breathtaking. Fucking astonishing stuff.

[FloorFiller]

i was looking at their 2003 Reading setlist the other day and they played Think Tank almost in its entirety. i know the Reading crowd has changed a lot since then but that must've been a weird and sombre affair

also i know it's a bit of a shit song but i'd love them to start playing Charmless Man. don't think they've played it since they reformed surprisingly

[Gucci Piggy]

They do, 50 quid is the usual arena gig price now, the rest of the gigs on that tour were arenas. Just for London they went with consecutive nights at the RAH and Brixton Academy rather that just doing the O2, on the basis that the O2 is shit.

Not for an act of James' size it isn't. I saw Nine Inch Nails in an arena last year for £35, and QOTSA the year before for the same price, and both those bands are bigger than James.

[dentalplan]

'Tony Allen Review feat. Damon Albarn & Oxmo Puccino' is cropping up in a couple of festival announcements. Dunno if that affects the extent of the Blur comeback.

[neil999]

i was looking at their 2003 Reading setlist the other day and they played Think Tank almost in its entirety. i know the Reading crowd has changed a lot since then but that must've been a weird and sombre affair

also i know it's a bit of a shit song but i'd love them to start playing Charmless Man. don't think they've played it since they reformed surprisingly

MOR and on your own werent played at glasto(quite big hits), also they played alot of 'rarieties' - oily water, advert...they could easy swap these out and put in new songs without the average watcher noticing

also get rid of country house ffs!

Edited February 24, 2015 by neil999

[Mardy]

MOR and on your own werent played at glasto(quite big hits), also they played alot of 'rarieties' - oily water, advert...they could easy swap these out and put in new songs without the average watcher noticing

also get rid of country house ffs!

Advert is a great song. Really ace. But then I think 'On your Own' is probably (subject to change) my favourite Blur song

[Vanderlyle]

Blur isn't going to happen after '09.

And whilst I love them and have been happy to shell out £50 on a couple of occasions, there's going to be nothing new this year and £80 is better spent just buying 5 or 6 beautiful new vinyls.

[dentalplan]

Blur isn't going to happen after '09.

And whilst I love them and have been happy to shell out £50 on a couple of occasions, there's going to be nothing new this year and £80 is better spent just buying 5 or 6 beautiful new vinyls.

There's a new album in April.

[eFestivals]

i was looking at their 2003 Reading setlist the other day and they played Think Tank almost in its entirety. i know the Reading crowd has changed a lot since then but that must've been a weird and sombre affair

the whole set was dull.

[russycarps]

I'd like to see them do the one that was in trainspotting. Sing is it?

[neil999]

I'd like to see them do the one that was in trainspotting. Sing is it?

yep, love that song

wait... are your being ironic or something?!

[russycarps]

yep, love that song

wait... are your being ironic or something?!

no I like it! was just trying to think of songs I'd like them to play that they didnt do last time.

[The 38 year old virgin]

Tender

Bugman

Coffee & TV

End of a Century

Jubilee

B.L.U.R.E.M.I.

Advert

Popscene

For Tomorrow

Trimm Trabb

Battle

No Distance Left to Run

Encore:

Beetlebum

The Universal

Country Sad Ballad Man

To the End

This Is a Low

Encore 2:

Fried

Girls & Boys

There's No Other Way

Parklife

Song 2

Sing

This was the setlist when I saw them in 1999.

Definitely saw the band in a different light.

[brettredmayne]

Charmless man and stereotypes were also missing, add these and you could have quite a different set list.

[CaledonianGonzo]

i was looking at their 2003 Reading setlist the other day and they played Think Tank almost in its entirety. i know the Reading crowd has changed a lot since then but that must've been a weird and sombre affair

Fiarly sure that one year they headlined T in the Park in the rain with a Thirteen-heavy set that only perked up when they deployed Parklife at the end!

Unless I've also got it completely wrong, Pulp played the other night with a This Is Hardcore heavy set.

Despondent, late nineties downer times with the jaded Britpoppers.

[FloorFiller]

yep you're right

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/blur/1999/balado-kinross-scotland-73d44ab5.html

thank god for that encore or i'm sure people would've been ready to have a little cry

[Gnomicide]

I've never seen Blur so I'm all for it. The closest I got was the encore to Damon's set at Latitude last year. It was a thing of beauty.