Tonight:
4°c
Rick Pearson's rating
, Blur bring Hyde Park to life again
By
Rick Pearson
3 Jul 2009
When Britpop luminaries Blur announced they were playing Hyde Park, the 50,000 tickets for the venue sold out in just two minutes — not bad going for a band who had barely strummed a chord since firing Graham Coxon back in 2002.
Now in their 40s but lacking none of their energy, they came to the capital a band reborn — little wonder Damon Albarn bounded on to the stage with a grin as wide as the Serpentine.
Gallery: check out our pictures of Blur at Hyde Park
Starting their two-hour set with She’s So High, their debut single from all those years ago, Blur sounded as vital as ever. Boys & Girls had the crowd pogo-ing to its manic beat, while Tracy Jacks was a punkish sing‑along best enjoyed while throwing a plastic beer bottle into the air.
It wasn’t all ladishness and lager. Out Of Time was dedicated to the two million people who marched into Hyde Park in 2003 to protest about the invasion of Iraq.
It was Tender, though, that really brought a sense of enormous wellbeing. As the sun emblazoned the sky in reds and yellows, its refrain of “love’s the greatest thing” had strangers — who wouldn’t so much as look at each other on the Tube — embracing like long-lost friends.
Blur were joined by a friend of their own — Phil Daniels — who appeared for his cockney cameo on Parklife, a song that Albarn claimed was inspired by this very park.
“We feel so privileged to have come back to this,” said Albarn, gesturing at the sea of bodies in front of him. As Song 2 snarled into gear for a triumphant encore, the privilege was all ours. Park life never felt so good.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (12)
It seems ironic that while Damon Albarn's witty and satirical lyrics during Blur's mid-90s pomp commented so acerbically on about the trappings and failings of the British way of life, that the very people who were mocked behind the cloak of a catchy song are indeed Blur's apparent fanbase who managed to secure hard-fought tickets for last week's Hyde Park reunion concert. Why were they there?
Having had a week to reflect on my experience, my anger and sadness has not abated. Those people know who they are. They are a generation of glib hobbyists who seem to crop up at all these kind of events (particularly the O2). They blithely bob up and down to the music because they think they should, not because they actually enjoy it. They only cheer when they know something and then degenerate into loutish yobs in order to somehow recapture their lost youth. Shame on you.
You are spoiling people's enjoyment of live music, the purest and most exhilarating way to experience a performance. Blur were superb and it was great to see them back. Unfortunately I had to detatch myself from the atmosphere since it turned sour almost immediately, by moving out to the side of the crowd where the beer bottles couldn't reach me.
The comments about the ubiquity of bottles and the paucity of security are all true. I don't want to see this again! It was a great pity.
- Richard, London, 10/07/2009 12:49
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Bottles were very bad. I blame the organisers. You cant chuck those plastic or paper squishy pint glasses very far. it's inevitable that in a poorly policed crowd of 55,000 you will get some people throwing them and then alot more copying them.
Someone fainted pretty bad next to us and we were calling for a medic but no one was looking into the crowd for any problems. It really was all-for-yourself in there.
change to plastic pint glasses you idiots - and put more toilets in!
- Bruce, Enfield, 07/07/2009 09:25
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Great gig fantastic atmosphere thanks to everyone for dragging me back up the three times I went down in the mosh. Also well done everyone down the front who didnt throw bottles but just seemed to care about ensuring everyone else was safe. Cheers
- Paul Richardson, Newcastle, 06/07/2009 21:45
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Blur were on top form and loving every minute of it - they had a new lease of life. The songs were so fresh and played with heart.
As for the bottle throwing idiots, there were three small children next to me who narrowly avoided being hurt. Get a grip fools and stop spoiling it for everyone else. Oh, and the girl behind me who sung at the top of her lungs (only to the newer songs) really really badly - if anyone deserved to be hit by a bottle it was you!!
- Sarah, Dumfries, Scotland., 06/07/2009 16:51
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I have perhaps seen Blur approaching 10 times now and this was probably the best I have seen them. They have so many good songs, they could have gone on all night. And so easy to get home from, too - one day all gigs will be like this! I lost my phone in the moshing, but I don't care, it was so much fun!
- Ian Hall, London, 06/07/2009 16:11
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The bottle-throwing was awful. The crowd were a ridiculously drunk group of 35+ year olds who seemed to think that throwing full bottles of beer was fun. It was a real shame as it totally spoilt the gig for us. I've never been to a gig (including green day, white stripes, yeah yeah yeahs, chilli peppers and lots more) with such a horrible crowd.
- Louise, London, 06/07/2009 12:56
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The reviewer should not be alluding to people chucking beer bottles around as anything that should even be remotely encouraged. Not only were most people sprayed in beer or even urine, many were hit in the forehead or back of the head with half-full bottles of beer which pack quite a punch from a distance. This was a display of loutishness and sheer inconsideration that I have never seen before, turning what should have been a great British summer concert into an extreme reminder of British beer culture. These people totally ruined the concert for me and the strangers around me, who constantly had to cover their heads or keep moving around to try and avoid being hit. This was not what we bought tickets for.
- Casey, London, 04/07/2009 10:14
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Totally agreed with Anisah - made the Friday gig and the bottle throwing was unbelievable. Me and my friend both got bashed in the head with half full bottles of beer and by the end of the night, I was soaked. Truly shameful. Blur were awesome though!
- Sarah, london, 04/07/2009 09:19
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I wish I´d been there...
- Tony, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 04/07/2009 06:01
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Damon .Graham.Alex.dave
I love you!!!
I love blur forever!!
- Jet, Asia, 03/07/2009 23:29
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It was a gig spoilt by idiots inane chatter throughout Blur peformance. If you want to chat over music - go home, stick a CD on and leave the enjoyment of listening to live music to genuine fans.
Was also annoyed by the number of flying bottles this reviewer seems so joyous to have seen. Was fantastic having my left arm covered in someone elses beer all night.
Blur were great though.
- Anisah, London, 03/07/2009 17:35
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One of the two best gigs I've ever seen (the other being Bowie at Phoenix Festival). The music was even tougher, funkier, more tender and more together than it was back in the day, and the sound, atmosphere, sunset and celebratory vibe made this my feel-good hit of the summer.
- Matt, London, 03/07/2009 14:02
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