Blur, O2 Academy, Newcastle
Gary Beckwith, Evening Chronicle
UNBLURLEIVABLE. Sorry, bad pun I know, but it describes last night’s performance from indie- pop band Blur in a nutshell.
Kicking off with She’s So High, the Academy erupted into a frenzy of waving arms and flying pint glasses as the night got under way.
Blur were clearly enjoying playing and if you squinted your eyes you could almost believe you were watching the band back in the early ’90s.
A little more weather-beaten maybe, but the four Britpop connoisseurs have lost none of their stage presence or energy when it comes to putting on a soaring live show.
Damon Albarn was a frenetic ball of energy as he stormed through the band’s most popular tracks.
Often in a review the phrase "highlights were..." is used, but last night was one big highlight.
Girls and Boys, Good Song, Trimm Trabb, Country House, End of a Century, There’s No Other Way, Parklife, On Your Own, The Universal and Beetlebum were all played to perfection in front of a packed house of grateful fans.
If I had to pick the tracks that stood out and got the biggest crowd response, it would be Coffee and TV, and Tender.
The latter seemed to last forever, but no-one was complaining as heads swayed to the looping chorus.
Beetlebum and Song 2 got special attention from Graham Coxon as he shredded his way through the guitar-heavy segments of the tracks.
At one stage, the bespectacled guitarist even managed to pull off an impressive foward roll across the stage while still playing.
I bet he’s regretting that this morning!
Alex James, meanwhile, reprised his role as the cool and lanky bassist, exuding an air of astuteness and decorum on stage.
Dave Rowntree’s drum playing was immaculate as ever as he sat perched behind the band, who were backed by a small brass section.
The crowd were treated to three lengthy encores and Albarn even managed a couple of stage- diving efforts.
Honestly... it was unblurleivable!
