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1. Brightslumber (about 1 month ago)

   This was a gig of plentiful change and expectation, whilst Blur ran
   the headline, support came from Foals, Crystal Castles and Golden
   Silvers.

   Crystal Castles were and interesting choice for support as they pilfer
   toward the underage Hoxton type, rather than the 30-something fans
   gathered to Coxon the herald ship. Alice Glass came alive for 30
   seconds of the start of the set, only to repeatedly hit herself over
   the head with the microphone in a post cocaine shamed glory. After
   she'd gathered her limbs, she let them loose on the front row,
   appearing to lunge and some of the, now, more confused members of the
   audience. Security had a field day and flexed their eager loins.
   As quickly as she appeared, the band left her alone on stage possibly
   disgusted by her loss of ability to stand up, or moreover the fallen
   vocal prowess. Crisp beats aside, no one likes a dickhead.

   Whilst the laughter and the confusion for the Castles’ efforts
   subsided, the slivered shaped of clean Golden Silvers took to their
   office. Not that I don’t like a good office, an orderly and proper run
   to a filled 50,000 capacity is good. However, this band aren’t
   Friendly Fires and don’t they know it. Many thought it ample time to
   check mobile Facebook updates, or finish the warm remains of cider to
   get a new one. The sag in attention was palpable.

   Friendly Fires pulled of the running at the last moment after a blazed
   Glastonbury appearance. IT’s only a matter of time until they are
   starliting the town with the meek bones of actresses and the
   ample-chested yoga fashionistas of Primrose. Don’t get me wrong, they
   deserve it; their debut, Friendly Fires and other EP’s are a delicate
   Technicolor of guitar loops and featherlite synch expectancies that
   are crafted with snow underfoot. But for the moment, I was queuing at
   the bar whilst GS’s finished thanking their mums.

   Foals lit up the stage with pop math rock and Yannis looked more
   appealing to young girls more than ever - an emo fringe goes a long
   way. Pity I know from personal friends that if they were ever to be
   courted by you, you’d give them an STD. Oxford is a small place
   Yannmister.

   That aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the set of Albini-discord pop, the
   punchy Gold Gold Gold got the crowd back on track. Cassius’ snare
   ensured that the toes of the many Conversed shoe lifted the dust to
   the air and energy back to one and all.

   We are back and the mighty Blur were next.

   The Farmer took to the bass first, followed by the Lawyer, Guitarist
   and Opera Writer. Let’s just put that side now however, they have
   reformed, they are now Blur (plus 10 years.)
   The set is as follows

   "She's So High"
   "Girls & Boys"
   "Tracy Jacks"
   "There's No Other Way"
   "Jubilee"
   "Badhead"
   "Beetlebum"
   "Out Of Time"
   "Trimm Trabb"
   "Coffee & TV"
   "Tender"
   "Country House"
   "Oily Water"
   "Chemical World"
   "Sunday Sunday"
   "Parklife"
   "End Of A Century"
   "To The End"
   "This Is A Low"
   "Popscene"
   "Advert"
   "Song 2"
   "Death Of A Party"
   "For Tomorrow"
   "The Universal"

   Albarn swiftly dealt with the first 3 songs without breaking a sweat
   whilst the crowd, simply, went, bonkers. If Boys and Girls were
   released today it would start the Britpop scene all over again, yet
   now the audience a little older and wiser. It dawns that Albarn is an
   insightful master of wordplay and social discourse, the club 18 to 30
   Greece never looked so sexually poised.

   Beetlebum and Song 2 staged the largest field of competent
   air-guitarists I‘ve ever witnessed. Never have riffs been so practiced
   and now relevant. Coxon returned the favour firmly, whilst we en masse
   all agreed that he is still a defining guitarist.

   Given the lenghty practice that I refer to, I was fearful that the
   songs which catalysed a aforementioned British movement wouldn’t hold
   to light. After NME and Top of the Pops spun Oasis / Blur track,
   Country House, I wondered. Parklife restored ground with Phil Daniels
   walking on stage, ah bless him.

   I’ve never been one personally for Tender, however the counter melody
   ‘oh my baby, oh my baby’ could be heard on the tubes back home. That
   aside, Albarn was visibly moved by the swooping audience participation
   and it was clear that the band were enjoying their time together. It
   was about time.

   For me it was all about 3 songs: To the End, This is A Low and The
   Universal. With the first two being played back to back, I was
   overwhelmed. The first bars of To The End, reduced me to tears and I
   didn’t stop until these two were over. Both songs of personal
   unrequited love, both songs of myself loathing for being completely
   unable to approach love with just candour, or sense. It was a
   revelation. This Is A Low contains some of the most beautiful guitar
   soloing from Graham I’ve ever heard, nimble and expansive.

   Reply

2. kaz.patwa (3 months ago)

   Ok - this isn't a like to a review but it's some photos and a few videos from the Blur set - http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaz_pics/sets/72157621855878237/

   Reply

3. tjsmasque (4 months ago)

   the weather is going to be awesome and here are the stage times :

   OPENING TIMES

   Doors are at 14:30, the music will start at 16:00. Blur will be last on as the headliners, finishing at around 22:30

   SHOWTIMES THURSDAY FRIDAY

   4:00 - 4:30 HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE DEERHOOF

   4:50 - 5:20 GOLDEN SILVERS FLORENCE & THE MACHINE

   5:40 - 6:20 CRYSTAL CASTLES AMADOU & MARIAM

   6:50 - 7:40 FOALS VAMPIRE WEEKEND

   8:15 - 10:15 BLUR BLUR

   http://www.livenation.co.uk/customerservice

   Reply

4. seweika (4 months ago)

   and weather forecast for tomorrow looks good too, as opposed to friday ;)

   Reply

5. seweika (4 months ago)

   I consider to go, there are loads of offers on scarlett mist!
   Does anyone know the timings, i.e. when does Blur start?

   cheers

   Reply

6. tjsmasque (4 months ago)

   Anyone knows if Friendly Fires will be playing on July 2nd?

   I think they have been replaced by Golden Silvers

   (and the gig disappeared from their myspace http://www.myspace.com/friendlyfires .... but is still mentioned on their official website http://www.wearefriendlyfires.com/)

   Reply